IN the chain of conspiracies hatched at different times, various devices have been adopted to tarnish the image of Islam one way or the other. Of late, some people have started labelling it as a religion hostile to all other religions, including the monotheist religions, and thus likely to play major role in the so called upcoming conflicts of civilisations.

To expose the fallacy of the above mindset, it will be appropriate to explain first as to what Islam actually means. Islam, in the literal sense, means submission which in the Quranic context implies submission to the Will of Allah (2:128)(3:85). This is the main theme not only of Islam but of all other monotheist religions by whatever name called. (3:19).

Secondly, Islam is a religion that was not prescribed for Muhammad (peace be upon him) alone but was, in fact, laid down for all the Prophets who came before him. As the Quran says “He laid down the same religion for you as He enjoined on Noah: that which We revealed to you which We enjoined on Ibrahim, Moses and Jesus Christ: Establish the religion and do not make division in it.” (42:13).

It further says “Say, we do believe in Allah, and what has been sent down to us and what was sent down to Ibrahim, Ismail, Ishaq and Yaqub and Tribes, and what Moses and Jesus Christ and all the Prophets were given by their Lord. We do not differentiate between any of them. We are Muslims submitted to Him. If any one desires anything other than Islam, it will not be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers” (3:54,85).

The word Islam in the context of this verse implies reference to the religions of all the Prophets mentioned therein. This fact according to another verse (3:19) was very much in the knowledge of the people of the Book i.e. the people of other scriptures, but if in spite of that they differed it could be only because of envy and nothing else. The Quran being latest in the series of Divine scriptures confirms all the scriptures that were revealed before it. As it says “It is He Who sent down to you in truth, the Book, confirming what went before it, even as He revealed the Torah and Gospels” (3:3).

It is an undeniable fact that distortions had occurred in all the Divine scriptures that were revealed before the revelation of the Quran. None of these scriptures or religions was in its original form at the time the Quran was revealed. But in spite of that the Quran accorded due recognition and respect to whatever of these scriptures and religions remained intact and rather enjoyed belief in all the scriptures and Prophets to whom they were revealed in the same way it enjoined belief in itself and Muhammad (peace be upon him) (2:177).

It further says “those who deny Allah and His Messengers and (those who) wish to separate Allah from His Messengers saying we believe in some and reject others. and (those who) wish to take middle course, they are in truth not believers”(4:150,151). It means that when the Quran speaks of faith in Allah, it automatically implies faith in Allah and all His Prophets.

The Prophet also explained the term “faith” as belief in Allah and all His Prophets and in His angels and in His Books and in the Day of Judgment and in the fact that no good or evil can come but by His Providence. This is also evident from another Quranic verse which says “Whoever among the Muslims or the Jews or sabaeans or the Christians believe in Allah and the last Day and does the righteous deeds will have no cause of fear or grief”(5:69). In this verse also the words “believe in Allah” imply belief in Allah and in all His Prophets, including Muhammad (peace be upon him).

The Quran does not exhibit any kind of hostility or animosity towards other scriptures and monotheist religions nor it holds their laws (sharia) in contempt. But rather exhorts the followers of other religions to follow their own laws (sharia) (5:43)(5:47). And wishes them to be true to their religions. As it says “If only the people of the Book (other scriptures) had believed and had been righteous. If only they had stood by Torah, the Gospels and all revelation that went to them. There is among them a party on the right course but many of them follow the wrong course” (5:65)(5:66).

It further says “Not all of them are alike. Of the people of the Book (other scriptures) are a portion that stand for the right, they believe in Allah and they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. They are in the rank of righteous” (3:113,114). The “party on the right course” in the verses (5:65,66) and “a portion” in the verses (3:113,114) have reference to those people of the other scriptures who were true to their religions and at the same time believed that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the Prophet of Allah.

Thus what the Quran expects from the followers of other monotheist religions is to have faith in Allah and all His Books and Prophets including Muhammad (peace be upon him), even while following their own law (sharia), in the same way as it enjoins the believers to believe in Allah and all His Prophets and Books, including Moses and Jesus Christ, while following their own law (sharia). This fact is further explained by the Quran when it says “To each among you We have prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah Willed, He would have made you a single people but (His plan) is to test you in what He has given you. So strive as in race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah.” (5:48).

It is thus obvious that the Quran enjoins the course of conciliation towards all other monotheist religions and not that of confrontation or hostility. It affirms and exhibits the requisite degree of coherence, compatibility, consistency and linkage in various facets of Divine guidance from the day it started. That is one reason that the Quran is said to be the last Divine Message for all the worlds (68:52). It will, therefore, be against the spirit of Islam if a Muslim shows any hostility or disrespect to any other religion.