WHAT QURAN SAYS ABOUT OTHER RELIGIONS
Salam.
Pronouncing the Shahadah does not make us a Submitter (Muslim in Arabic) or a Believer (Mu’min in Arabic).
The submission to the Will of God makes us Submitter. Our journey should start with the submission to the Will of God. It is a state of mind choosing between the two: God or Satan, good or evil, correct Shahadah or corrupt shahadah, worshiping God Alone or worshiping many gods, seeking the righteous path or seeking the unrighteous path, adopting the correct path or adopting the crooked path, performing a true jihad or killing innocent people, etc. , etc.
In verse 3:67, the religion of Submission (Islam in Arabic) is as old as Abraham who was Muslim (Quran 2:128, 2:131, 2:133). God specifically tells us that Abraham was neither Jewish nor Christian, but a monotheist Muslim. God even tells us that Jesus and the Disciples were Muslims (Quran 5:111), Solomon was Muslim (Quran 27:44) and all the prophets who were given the Torah were Muslims (Quran 5:44).
According to the Quran, Islam is not a new religion and Muhammad was one of the follower of Abraham’s religion, which is Islam (Quran 16:123). According to the Quran, a Jews, Christian, Muslim or any one can be Muslim if he/she is righteous based on the Quranic definition.
[3:85] Anyone who accepts other than Islam his religion, it will not be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter, he will be with the losers.
[2:62] Surely, those who believe, those who are Jewish, the Christians, and the converts; anyone who (1) believes in GOD, and (2) believes in the Last Day, and (3) leads a righteous life, will receive their recompense from their Lord. They have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
All Believers are Submitters but not all Submitters are Believers. We begin our journey with the submission to the will of God. We need to gradually develop our souls by observing righteous works and forsaking unrighteous works. Through this process, we gradually become a Believer from a Submitter. A Submitter and a Believer both get salvation, however a Believer gets higher rank because of their healthier soul.
[49:14] The Arabs said, “We are Mu’mens (believers).” Say, “You have not believed; what you should say is, `We are Muslims (submitters),’ until belief is established in your hearts.” If you obey GOD and His messenger, He will not put any of your works to waste. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
Thank you and may God guide me,
Muhammed Irtaza
[33:62] God’s Sunnah is unchangeable
[39:23] The Quran is the best Hadith
http://www.islamawakened.com/Quran/
On Fri, 4/15/11, Iftekhar Hai <> wrote:
Questions are asked in University of San Francisco class of Multi-Culturalism:
What does the Quran say about other religions?
Answer:
If we understand the TRUE or CORRECT definition of word ISLAM lot of religions can be explained or understood.
Hence let us see where has the Quran defined Islam. I have found that in Surah 42:13
Islam The Quran is very clear in explaining the definition of the word Islam. What does it mean and what does it stand for. The uniqueness of this word is – that it is not named after any person (in this case our Prophet). It means total surrender or submission to Allah (God).
Islam was the religion even before our Prophet Mohammed was born (pbuh) as is evidenced in The Quran in reference to 42:13.
“The same religion (Islam or submission and surrender) has He established for you (referring to Mohammed (p) that which He enjoined on Noah. That which We have send as inspiration to you (Mohammed pbuh) and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses and Jesus (and all Prophets are implied) : That you should stay steadfast in religion and make no divisions therein. (this means work for the unity of humankind because the commonality in all religions is submission and surrender to ONE CREATOR) As for those who worship other than God they are on (hard) wrong way to call from. God chooses and guides those whom He wills towards Him.
Commentary: According to this if a Christian, a Jew or any believer in One Supreme Being says “we surrender or submit to God.” They are falling within the definition of the word Islam. The art of surrender or submission is called Islam. This art of submission/surrender was shown to all the Prophets and their people as evidenced in The Quran 10:47, 14:4 & 16:36. Islam is very inclusive and broad in its definition. Muslims believe in Allah and take Mohammed (pbuh) as their messenger, just as Christians and Jews believe in the same God and take Jesus and Moses as their respective messengers. However Muslims believe in all the prophets from Jewish and Christian scriptures. One must refrain from judging other believers the depth of surrendering or submission of other believers. God is THE ONLY JUDGE.
Surah 3:85, “If anyone desires a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted of him.” Here the definition of Islam must be taken in its global context of surrendering and submission to One and Only One God.
Believer: Anyone who says, “We believe in One God” is a Believer. Let God be the ultimate judge. Humans will never have perfect knowledge to judge others.
Muslim: A Muslim is a person who says, “There is no God but One God (Allah) and Mohammed (pbuh) is a messenger of God.
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Iftekhar A. Hai
UMA Interfaith Alliance
www.umaia.net