View of Islam about Other Religions
Question:
How does Islam view other religions? Does it see all as worthless or are some worthwhile?
Answer:
For all practical purposes I would like to first answer your question with an alteration in wording before answering your exact question:
“How do Muslims view other religions? Do they see all as worthless or are some worthwhile?”
Dominant view among Muslims is that all the past true religions of God were valid at their own time but that they are all abrogated by the religion of Islam.
“How does Islam view other religions? Does it see all as worthless or are some worthwhile?”
There has always been just one religion that God sent to human beings (Qur’an 2:132, 3:19). That is the religion of islam (path of submission to God). Educated Muslims also agree with this.
In my understanding based on the verses of the Qur'an, when a prophet was sent to a nation or community, a version of islam (path of submission to God) that would suit that particular community and its culture and norms was revealed (13:7, 14:4). Consequently, for the Arabs in Arabia 1400 years ago prophet Muhammad (pbuh) brought the version of islam that we now know as Islam (45:18). Any other communities or nations who joined these primary addressees of prophet Muhammad (pbuh) are also equally in the same religious path (Islam).
God never wanted every nation or community to necessarily follow a same version of islam . Each nation and community are to follow their own version (5:48). As long as they adhere to monotheism, belief in the hereafter, and accordingly, righteous deeds, they will be fine with the grace of the Almighty (2:62).
Please note that the view that I shared with you in the last two paragraphs is by no means a common or a popular view among Muslims. This is why I thought it might help to first share the popular, common view with you.
Also, it is worth mentioning that there are certain false beliefs and wrong practices emerged in some of the religious communities in the past that the Qur'an does not approve and are contrary to the concept of islam. Among them are polluting a monotheism view with aspects of polytheism, sectarian attitudes (e.g. belief that belonging to a particular religious group is enough to make the person successful in the hereafter) and immoral acts motivated by wrong religious beliefs.
Hope this is clear.
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September 2016
Farhad Shafti
How does Islam view other religions? Does it see all as worthless or are some worthwhile?
Answer:
For all practical purposes I would like to first answer your question with an alteration in wording before answering your exact question:
“How do Muslims view other religions? Do they see all as worthless or are some worthwhile?”
Dominant view among Muslims is that all the past true religions of God were valid at their own time but that they are all abrogated by the religion of Islam.
“How does Islam view other religions? Does it see all as worthless or are some worthwhile?”
There has always been just one religion that God sent to human beings (Qur’an 2:132, 3:19). That is the religion of islam (path of submission to God). Educated Muslims also agree with this.
In my understanding based on the verses of the Qur'an, when a prophet was sent to a nation or community, a version of islam (path of submission to God) that would suit that particular community and its culture and norms was revealed (13:7, 14:4). Consequently, for the Arabs in Arabia 1400 years ago prophet Muhammad (pbuh) brought the version of islam that we now know as Islam (45:18). Any other communities or nations who joined these primary addressees of prophet Muhammad (pbuh) are also equally in the same religious path (Islam).
God never wanted every nation or community to necessarily follow a same version of islam . Each nation and community are to follow their own version (5:48). As long as they adhere to monotheism, belief in the hereafter, and accordingly, righteous deeds, they will be fine with the grace of the Almighty (2:62).
Please note that the view that I shared with you in the last two paragraphs is by no means a common or a popular view among Muslims. This is why I thought it might help to first share the popular, common view with you.
Also, it is worth mentioning that there are certain false beliefs and wrong practices emerged in some of the religious communities in the past that the Qur'an does not approve and are contrary to the concept of islam. Among them are polluting a monotheism view with aspects of polytheism, sectarian attitudes (e.g. belief that belonging to a particular religious group is enough to make the person successful in the hereafter) and immoral acts motivated by wrong religious beliefs.
Hope this is clear.
--------
September 2016
Farhad Shafti
