Islam and Christianity Islam and Christianity Dialogue or Dialogue or MonologueMonologueJoshva RajaJoshva Raja

Islam and ChristianityIslam and Christianity

First period – 6First period – 6thth to 12 to 12thth Century – Ignorance, fear, Century – Ignorance, fear, suspicion.suspicion.

The prophet instructs: “O people of the scripture come to a word that is equitable between us and you.” (3/64)…do not argue with the people of the scripture except in a way that is best.”

“And were it not that Allah checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques in which the name of Allah is much mentioned” (22/40).

Second Period after 12Second Period after 12thth Century Century

Firstly, the Christian world begins to know the Islamic civilisation and its religion through its source – the Koran. At this same time, Western scholars began to be influenced by Muslim philosophy, scholastic knowledge, and world view.

The second phenomena of this period is its marking by blood, as the first of seven crusades begin. In this time, the Islamic caliphate and its state was very strong, but when the Moguls successfully took Baghdad in 1258, they gave the Christian world the courage to believe it could conquer the Islamic world in war.

After 18After 18thth Century Century

The end of the 18th century marked the beginnings of Western concern about the East, especially the Chinese, Indian, and Muslim worlds through the study of anthropology and sociology.

Orientalism - Edward Said - Orientalism - Edward Said - http://www.freezaoui.org.nz/docs/lecthttp://www.freezaoui.org.nz/docs/lecture03.pdfure03.pdf

St Francis of AssisiSt Francis of Assisi Francis began his prophetic resistance to Francis began his prophetic resistance to

the violence of the Crusades by meeting the violence of the Crusades by meeting first with his own religious leaders, begging first with his own religious leaders, begging Cardinal Pelagius, the Christian commander, Cardinal Pelagius, the Christian commander, to stop the fighting. Pelagius refused.to stop the fighting. Pelagius refused.

Francis then took a companion, Illuminatus Francis then took a companion, Illuminatus and set out, unarmed and filled with love and set out, unarmed and filled with love for his "enemy" brother, to visit the Sultan for his "enemy" brother, to visit the Sultan of Egypt, Malik-al-Kamil. The men of the of Egypt, Malik-al-Kamil. The men of the Sultan's army captured Francis and Sultan's army captured Francis and Illuminatus and dragged them, beaten and Illuminatus and dragged them, beaten and exhausted, before the Sultan - just as exhausted, before the Sultan - just as Francis had wished.Francis had wished.

http://www.tentofabraham.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=22

Islam and ToleranceIslam and Tolerance

We have Honored ( We have Honored ( karramna karramna ) the Children ) the Children of Adam [with of Adam [with karam karam , that is, 'noble nature'] , that is, 'noble nature'] and carried them on land and sea, and and carried them on land and sea, and provided them with good things, and provided them with good things, and preferred them greatly over many of those preferred them greatly over many of those We created. Quran 3:64 We created. Quran 3:64

Those who believe (in the Quran ), and Those who believe (in the Quran ), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians ,- any who the Christians and the Sabians ,- any who believe in God and the Last Day, and work believe in God and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Quran 2:62 shall they grieve. Quran 2:62

References for tolerance and References for tolerance and dialoguedialogue

Say: "We believe in God, and that which has Say: "We believe in God, and that which has been sent down to us, and sent down on been sent down to us, and sent down on Abraham and Ishmael, Isaac and Jacob, and Abraham and Ishmael, Isaac and Jacob, and the Tribes, and in that which was given to the Tribes, and in that which was given to Moses and Jesus, and the Prophets, of their Moses and Jesus, and the Prophets, of their Lord; we make no distinction between any of Lord; we make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we surrender ( them, and to Him we surrender ( Muslimun Muslimun ) ) Quran 3:83-84. Quran 3:83-84.

"Let there be no compulsion (or coercion) "Let there be no compulsion (or coercion) in the religion (Islam). The right direction in the religion (Islam). The right direction is distinctly clear from error." (2:256)is distinctly clear from error." (2:256)

Surah 109, thus:-Surah 109, thus:-

O you disbelivers, I do not worship what you O you disbelivers, I do not worship what you worship. Nor do youworship. Nor do youworship what I worship. Nor will I ever worship worship what I worship. Nor will I ever worship what you worship. Nor will Iwhat you worship. Nor will Iever worship what you worship. Nor will you ever worship what you worship. Nor will you ever worship what I worship.ever worship what I worship.To you is your religion and to me is my religion. To you is your religion and to me is my religion.

[3:199] Surely, some followers of the previous [3:199] Surely, some followers of the previous scriptures do believe in scriptures do believe in GODGOD, and in what was , and in what was revealed to you, and in what was revealed to revealed to you, and in what was revealed to them. They reverence them. They reverence GODGOD, and they never , and they never trade away trade away GODGOD's revelations for a cheap price. 's revelations for a cheap price. These will receive their recompense from their These will receive their recompense from their Lord. Lord. GODGOD is the most efficient in reckoning. is the most efficient in reckoning.

Islamic principles of DialogueIslamic principles of Dialogue

Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive from His Path, and who receive guidance. guidance.

——Al-Qur’an, 16:125 Al-Qur’an, 16:125

Dialogic principlesDialogic principles

Al Qist (equity)Al Qist (equity) Al-adl (Justice)Al-adl (Justice) Al-birr (Kindness)Al-birr (Kindness) Peace, Justice, Negotiation, KindnessPeace, Justice, Negotiation, Kindness ref – Quran LX 8ref – Quran LX 8