Does Religious Pluralism Lead to Disbelief
By Prof Dr Mohd Asri bin Zainul Abidin
(Mufti of Perlis, Malaysia)
Is 'Religious Pluralism' an act of disbelief (kufr) or not? In fact, this question cannot be answered unless we first clarify what a person understands by this religious pluralism.
There are several fundamentals that must be understood:
1. If a person understands pluralism to mean that all religions have equal value in the sight of God, that truth is mutually shared, or that truth is relative, then this is certainly contradictory to the Islamic creed and leads to disbelief (kufr). This means that this understanding of pluralism is equivalent to the understanding of Relativism.
2. However, if a person considers pluralism to mean recognizing the diversity of religions, trying to understand each other more deeply, and adopting an attitude of tolerance without compromising the principles of the Islamic creed—especially the principle that Islam is the only religion accepted by Allah—then this does not lead to disbelief. In this context, the understanding of pluralism is not the same as Relativism, which regards truth as something relative.
3. So, the issue of pluralism depends on the interpretation of the person speaking. Every party has its own understanding of this matter. Some state that pluralism is not the same as relativism. Pluralism does not demand that a person abandon their identity and responsibilities. It also does not necessarily mean agreeing with everything said by the other party. Rather, it means agreeing to discuss, give, and listen to the views of others.
4. What is important is not the terminology, but the belief or creed (aqeedah) of a Muslim concerning this matter. If they believe that all religions share the same truth, or that truth is subjective and can be viewed from different dimensions, then that is the disbelieving pluralism (kufr). If they believe that Islam is the only revealed religion recognized by Allah, but that religious diversity is unavoidable, and that people must learn to understand each other, discuss in a good manner, be willing to dialogue, and review their attitudes and actions, then this is not disbelief. In fact, this is what has been practiced by many eminent Islamic scholars
5. A Muslim must hold the conviction that only Islam is accepted by Allah. Islam is the religion of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and all the Prophets before him. The word of Allah states:
وَمَنْ يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
(Meaning): "And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers." (Surah Ali 'Imran, verse 85).
Therefore, a Muslim does not believe all religions are equal in the sight of Allah in terms of truth and divine revelation. This is a matter of creed (aqeedah). However, this does not mean that Islam differentiates between people regarding justice and human rights.
6. Nevertheless, Islam recognizes the existence of other religions and their right to adhere to what they believe in. Thus, Islam affirms:
لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ
(Meaning): "There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion [Islam], for the right course has become clear from the wrong." (Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 256).
This verse was revealed concerning the Ansar group, some of whom had children who had become Jewish or Christian. When Islam came, their parents wished to force their children to embrace Islam, but Allah forbade them from doing so, leaving the choice to the children themselves. Then His word was revealed. Ibn 'Abbas said:
كَانَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ تَكُونُ مِقْلَاتًا فَتَجْعَلُ عَلَى نَفْسِهَا إِنْ عَاشَ لَهَا وَلَدٌ أَنْ تُهَوِّدَهُ، فَلَمَّا أُجْلِيَتْ بَنُو النَّضِيرِ كَانَ فِيهِمْ مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الْأَنْصَارِ فَقَالُوا: لَا نَدَعُ أَبْنَاءَنَا، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الغَيِّ
"There was a woman who could not conceive. She would make a vow that if she had a surviving child, she would make him a Jew. When the Banu Nadir Jews were expelled from Madinah, some of the children of the Ansar were among them. Their parents said, 'We will not let our children go with them,' so Allah the Almighty revealed the verse: 'There shall be no compulsion in the religion, for the right course has become clear from the wrong.'" (Narrated by Abu Dawud, Al-Albani classified it as sahih)).
This is the teaching of Islam. If parents cannot compel their own children to embrace a religion, then how can others?
7. Islam is not hostile to people of other faiths just because their religions are different. In fact, Muslims are commanded to treat with kindness those who do not display hostility toward Islam. The word of Allah states:
لَا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُمْ مِنْ دِيَارِكُمْ أَنْ تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ (8) إِنَّمَا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ قَاتَلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَأَخْرَجُوكُمْ مِنْ دِيَارِكُمْ وَظَاهَرُوا عَلَى إِخْرَاجِكُمْ أَنْ تَتَوَلَّوْهُمْ وَمَنْ يَتَوَلَّهُمْ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ
(Meaning): "Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes—from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly. (8) Allah only forbids you from those who fight you because of religion and expel you from your homes and aid in your expu1lsion—[forbids] that you make allies of them. And whoever makes allies of them, then it is those who are the wrongdoers." (Surah Al-Mumtahanah, verses 8-9).
8. Islam recognizes the good that exists in other religions and their followers, such as acknowledging the permissibility of the slaughtering (meat) of Jews and Christians, and the permission to marry their women. This is mentioned in Surah Al-Ma'idah, verse 5. Likewise, Islam recognizes the goodness found in the Christian clergy. Allah states in Surah al-Maidah, verse 82:
وَلَتَجِدَنَّ أَقْرَبَهُمْ مَوَدَّةً لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّا نَصَارَى ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنْهُمْ قِسِّيسِينَ وَرُهْبَانًا وَأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
(Meaning): "...and you will surely find the nearest of them in affection to the believers those who say, 'We are Christians.' That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant."
9. Islam forbids its followers from oppressing the adherents of other religions. Difference must not lead to persecution and injustice. The word of Allah states:
يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
(Meaning): "O you who have believed, be persistently firm [in your faith] for Allah, witnesses in [enforcing] justice, and let not the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness (taqwa). And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do." (Surah Al-Ma'idah, verse 8).
10. Islam encourages dialogue in a harmonious and good environment. Allah says:
ادْعُ إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُمْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ ضَلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ
(Meaning): "Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom (hikmah) and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided." (Surah An-Nahl, verse 125).
