THE ROAD TO RELIGIOUS HARMONY

THE ROAD TO RELIGIOUS HARMONY Follow One, Respect All W HAT the world needs today—perhaps more than anything else—is an acceptable formula for the attainment of religious harmony. This being currently one of the most important topics under discussion, the Islamic viewpoint in this regard is presented here. If anyone seeks a religion other than Islam [submission to God], it will not be accepted from him; he will be among the losers in the Hereafter. (3: 85) A few commentators of the Quran take this verse to imply that salvation according to Islam is destined exclusively for Muslims. Islam thus appears to uphold the superiority of the Muslim community. But this is an out-of-context interpretation and is certainly not correct. Another verse of the Quran serves as an explanation of the above-quoted verse. It states that: The believers, the Jews, the Christians, and the Sabaeans—all those who believe in God and the Last Day and do good deeds—will be rewarded by their Lord; they shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve. (2: 62) This verse rules out the concept of community superiority for any given group, in so far as Muslims have been bracketed here along with other religious groups. The content of this verse makes it very clear that salvation, by Islamic standards, depends upon the individual’s own actions, and that it is not the prerogative of any group. No one can earn salvation by the mere fact of associating with a particular group. Salvation will be achievable only by a person who truly believes in God and the world Hereafter, and who has given genuine proof in this life of having lived a life of right action. Another important aspect of Islam is that it does not advocate belief in the manyness or multiplicity of reality. On the contrary, it stresses reality’s oneness. According to Islam, reality is one, not many. That is why, in describing monotheism, the Quran states: Salvation, by Islamic standards, depends upon the individual’s own actions, and that it is not the prerogative of any group. No one can earn salvation by the mere fact of associating with a particular group.