Pluralistic Position of Islam

Islam generally adhered to a pluralistic position from its very beginnings, i.e. the Prophet of Islam created a single community where citizenship for and cooperation with non-Muslims were essential. One of the earliest messages of peaceful co-existence given is stated in Chapter 109 of the Qur’an as: Say: “O unbelievers! Neither do I worship what you worship; nor do you worship what I worship. Neither is I going to worship what you worship; nor are you going to worship what I worship. To you shall be your religion and to me shall be my religion.” (109:1-6) “Say you! Do you dispute about Allah, though He is our Lord and yours too; and our doings are with us and your doings with you, and we belong totally to Him alone”. (2:139)

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH's) life is display for Muslims to learn and device pluralistic demeanor. In his entire life, particularly amid Prophethood, these tolerant strategies are self-evident. After a major battle, the Prophet demonstrated a group and Islam succeeded yet in Medina not in Makkah as he (SAW) confronted a lot of resistance in Makkah. The making of the group implied that the Prophet needed to think about the most critical issue and enormous difficulties in Medina, which is, the connections between various religious gatherings.

In Medina, there were other Abrahamic social orders including Jews. Among their experience, there built up a dialect among the Muslims that talks a dialect of resistance. Amid the start of Islam, for example, the Prophet Muhammad relegated an assention between the Muslims and the Jews, restricting every religious group to regard each other's convictions and to give common assurance.In another occasion during the Prophet Muhammad’s life, a group of Christian visitors stayed at the mosque where they were given the authorization to lead their religious Practices in a single segment of the mosque while Muslims implored in another. Amid the lead of the Umayyids and Abbasids, individuals were given huge posts on justify bases without respect to religious convictions.

These few out of numerous illustrations are in opposition to the present routine with regards to religious judgment against the individuals from minority confidence groups clearly happening in some Muslim greater part nations. It gives us the message about the requirement for instruction, especially in Muslim social orders and neighborhood groups where Islam appreciates the energy of political, social and good money. Thusly, single word springs to mind which appears to be edifying. As per Islamic conviction, it was the primary word accepted to have been uncovered by God to the Prophet Muhammad.

While Islam powers over the solidarity of humankind, it likewise perceives human decent variety and gives important morals to manage ethnic, racial and religious contrasts in the public eye. Be that as it may, this pluralistic part of Islamic lessons has gotten little consideration in our chance in spite of its indispensable noteworthiness for society. In the present globalized and now and again energized world, there is a loathsome need to comprehend the pluralistic points of view of Islamic lessons with a specific end goal to build up a situation of serene conjunction and amicability in the public eye. There are numerous cases and occasions to comprehend the pluralistic point of view of Islam.

There are a few verses in the Quran that states about human majorities, for example, social, natural and religious contrasts. Quran says, every individual are from a similar soul however they have been made with contrasts. The accompanying verse delightfully depicts human majority: “O humankind We [God] have created you male and female, and made you into communities and tribes, so that you may know one another. Surely the noblest amongst you in the sight of God is the most God-fearing of you. God is All-Knowing and All-Aware” (49:13).

The verse unveils that decent variety is a characteristic piece of human culture and vital for human personality. The predominance of a person relies upon one's activities and Allah is the special case who can judge the religiousness and nobility of an individual. The Quran features the majority of religious groups as well. It says that Allah has conclusively made distinctive groups, or something bad might happen, he could have made all humankind one group. Allah says, “For each [community] We have appointed from you a law [-giver]) and a way. Had God willed, He could have made you one community. But that He might try you by that which He has given you [He has made you as you are]. So vie with one another in good works” (5:48).

By recognising the plurality of faith and communities, the Quran teaches us not to impose one’s faith on others; rather, it urges to tolerate the differences: “Let there be no compulsion in religion” (2:256); and “To you is your path [religion]; to me mine” (109:6). So, the teachings of the Quran are very clear over plurality in human society. The practices and the teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), too, provide the best examples of the pluralistic approach and practices in Islam. Historically, there were many events occurred where the Prophet showed tolerance and respect for the people of other faiths and treat respectfully with his opponents.

Once, when a Christian delegation came from Najran to appoint the Prophet in a religious debate in Madina, its members were invited to live in the Prophet’s mosque and also allowed to perform their religious activities inside the mosque. Similarly, during the famous agreement of Hudaibiya, the Prophet showed a highly pluralistic approach while accepting the superficially bitter demands of the Quraish without the latter’s recognition of his prophethood.

Constitution of Medina is a true expression of pluralistic approach. It is a series of agreements that held among Abrahamic tradition i.e. Jews, Christians and Muslim emphasizing important things. These conditions were written in the agreement and became the essential principles of code of conduct in defining relations with other faiths across centuries. Muslims have not always lived up to these ideals, they have warred against other religious groups, nor have they always succeeded in translating these values into practice. But these remained guiding rules in conducting of relations between Muslims and non-Muslim. The conquest of Makkah was another event of the Prophet’s pluralistic approach.

After the downfall of Makkah he not only arranged forgiveness to the people of Makkah but also declared the house of his bitter opponent Abu Sufyan as a place of shelter and peace, regardless of their beliefs. There are many such events in the life and the teachings of the Holy Prophet which help us understand Islam’s recognition and respect for pluralism in society. It is evident that in the last 1,400-year history of Islam, whenever Muslim societies grew and set up highly developed societies, pluralism was a key role of those societies.

Today, we live in a globalized world where communication technology has brought different nations, different cultures, and different religious groups closer; however, this process has also created tensions and misunderstandings amongst nations as well as within their respective societies. This situation needs following to Islamic teachings and ideals which helped set up pluralistic societies in the past. Pakistan is a country where diversity is a basic stuff of its society in terms of their varied societies, cultures, languages, faiths, interpretations of the same faith and so on. Sometimes this diversity can lead to polarisation and become a challenge to manage and maintain. It is therefore, important to identify this diversity as a living reality and respect it rather than try to eliminate it under one or the other forced ideology.

The teachings and the history of Islam give us the best principles and practices. Keeping in view the realities of today’s world and, particularly of our own country, it is imperative that we understand the pluralistic ideals and approaches that have the full sanction of Islam. Sincere efforts are needed to make the pluralistic teachings of Islam a part of the individual as well as social life in order to shape and sustain a peaceful society.