ASK MAULANA

What are your views on coexistence, peace, tolerance and the ethics of dialogue? These values are universal, and are all very good. Without peace, without peaceful coexistence and tolerance, you can’t do anything positive. Islam stresses upon these values. What is the Islamic approach to coexistence, to dialogue between people of different faiths? The Quran says as-sulh khair, which means ‘reconciliation is best’. According to Islam, our choice should be peace, rather than confrontation. This is reflected very clearly in the teachings of the Sufis. The Sufis believed in what is called sulh-e kul or peace with all. Peace with all is a fundamental Islamic teaching. Why? This is because dawah is a central concern of Islam. Dawah cannot be effectively engaged in without peace, without peaceful interaction with others. Islam is a religion of mission. It has a mission—which is to convey the word of God everywhere. This was the Prophet’s mission. It is the duty of believers in Islam to explain to people the Creation Plan of God, to convey to them God’s message to humanity. This is our mission. This mission requires peace. It also requires interaction and dialogue with others. What do you think Muslims might gain from such dialogue? As I said, dialogue is necessary for dawah, and dawah is a basic duty and mission of followers of Islam. I do not think there is any negative point in dialogue at all, provided it is serious discussion and intellectual exchange, not polemics or debate. When you dialogue and interact with others, you exchange thoughts and views. If the other party accepts your position or views, you gain a companion. And if the other party does not accept your view, if it is not convinced about it, at least you gain valuable experience in terms of intellectual exchange. So, either way you stand to gain from dialogue and interaction. Peaceful dialogue, then, is very good and useful in all circumstances. I have personally experienced that interaction and dialogue between people of different faiths and backgrounds are always useful for Muslims (and for others, too)—in terms of intellectual development or in terms of conveying the message of Islam to others. There’s an important point I need to add here. I have participated in several interfaith dialogue initiatives, in India and abroad. But according to my experience, these efforts were not very beneficial. It