THE ROAD TO RELIGIOUS HARMONY

religion of Jews for the Jews. In order to perpetuate the atmosphere of mutual harmony, the Quran enjoins the Muslims in their dealings with people of other faiths: ‘Do not revile those [beings] whom they invoke instead of God, lest they, in their hostility, revile God out of ignorance.’ (6: 108) This principle formulated by Islam is best described not as religious harmony, but as harmony among religious people. This is a principle whose utility is a matter of historical record. It is evident that in the past as well as in the present, wherever religious harmony has existed, it has been based on unity despite differences, rather than on unity without differences. It is not based on agreeing to agree, but on agreeing to disagree. One revolutionary example of this principle is to be found in the life of the Prophet Muhammad. It concerns the conference of three religions which was held in the Prophet’s mosque in Madinah. This conference is described by Mohammed Hussein Heikal in his book, The Life of Muhammad: The three scriptural religions thus confronted one another in Madinah. The delegation entered with the Prophet into public debate and these were soon joined by the Jews, thus resulting in a tripartite dialogue between Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This was a truly great congress which the city of Yathrib (another name of Madinah) had witnessed. In it, the three religions which today dominate the world and determine its destiny had met, and they did so for the greatest idea and the noblest purpose. Although Islam believes in the oneness of reality, it lays equal stress on the practice of tolerance in everyday dealings, even if it means going to the extent of permitting people of other faiths to come to an Islamic place of worship for religious discussion, and if it is time for their prayers letting them feel free to perform their worship according to their own ways in the mosque itself. Tolerance has been the rule throughout the history of Islam. It has, in fact, been one of the main underlying causes of its successful dissemination. Encyclopedia Britannica makes a note of this fact: Although Islam believes in the oneness of reality, it lays equal stress on the practice of tolerance in everyday dealings.