A call to bring out our common beliefs!

The true faiths have provided the same basic belief and ethical model. They all possess the same essential beliefs regarding the existence and oneness of God, the purpose behind the creation of mankind and all beings, the ideal behavior and life style that is pleasing to God, the nature of the concepts of good and evil, right and wrong, and what one must do for the eternal life.

When we look at the Gospel, the basis of Christianity, the Torah, the basis of Judaism, and the Qur’an, the basis of Islam, we see that the finest speech and behavior is recommended in interpersonal relations. The form of behavior that believers should adopt towards other people is described as follows in the Gospel:

… always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

In many verses of the Qur’an, our Lord describes moral virtue, goodness and the importance of responding to evil with good, and He commands Muslims to treat Jews and Christians, the People of the Book, with affection.

We are explicitly told in the Qur’an that the People of the Book are closer to Muslims than are idolaters (meaning pagans or the irreligious). The People of the Book possess moral criteria, based on revelation from God, and the concepts of lawful and unlawful. For that reason, it is lawful for Muslims to eat food prepared by the People of the Book. In the same way, Muslim men are permitted to marry women from the People of the Book. These are things that will make warm human relations and the building of a peacefully shared life possible. Since such a moderate and affectionate perspective is advised in the Qur’an it is inconceivable for a Muslim to hold any other view.

God has told Muslims in the Qur’an to speak pleasantly to the People of the Book. There is no doubt that the most important feature common to Muslims and the People of the Book is faith in the One God:

… Only argue with the People of the Book in the kindest way saying, “We believe in what has been sent down to us and what was sent down to you. Our God and your God are One and we submit to Him.” (Surat al-‘Ankabut, 46)

Say, “People of the Book! Come to a proposition which is the same for us and you – that we should worship none but God and not associate any partners with Him and not take one another as lords besides God.” … (Surah Al ‘Imran, 64)

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