What is the ruling on the call for rapprochement between religions?
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Question:
He says: We hear the claim of rapprochement between religions, and in some countries Muslim scholars meet with priests on occasions and festivals. What is the ruling on that? They consider those priests and the Christians to be their brothers.
Answer:
Bringing religions together and rapprochement between religions is bringing together disbelief and faith. Is it permissible to bring together disbelievers and Muslims? After the mission of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), there is no religion except the religion of this Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
Be aware that after the mission of this Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), there is no religion except the religion of this Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), whom Allah commanded them to follow. He commanded the jinn and mankind, the Jews and the Christians, the illiterates, and the rest of humanity to follow this Messenger[Al-A'raf 7:158]. So there is no religion after the mission of this Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) except the religion of Islam which he brought. There is no Judaism, no Christianity, and no other religion that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) accepts. How can we bring together disbelief and faith? How can you bring together the one who says "Allah is the third of three" or [Al-Ma'idah 5:17] and the one who says "There is no god but Allah"? How can you bring together the one who says "Allah is poor and we are rich," as the Jews said, and the one who says "The hand of Allah is closed"? How can you bring him together with a Muslim who is monotheistic toward Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)? So these people should fear Allah, know their religion, leave these misleading calls, and spread among the people that there is no religion except the religion of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Mishkat al-Masabih 177Isnād Da'īf (Zubair `Aliza'i) So what about others?
How can one bring together the religions of disbelief and the correct religion? This is impossible. As for visiting them for the sake of calling to Allah, so that perhaps they may submit to Islam, there is no harm in visiting them for the sake of calling to Allah, explaining Islam to them, and clarifying Islam to them, so that perhaps they may submit to Islam. There is no harm in that. But visiting them for the sake of taking comfort in their company, affirming them in what they are upon of disbelief, and agreeing with them, this is forbidden and not permissible.
He says: We hear the claim of rapprochement between religions, and in some countries Muslim scholars meet with priests on occasions and festivals. What is the ruling on that? They consider those priests and the Christians to be their brothers.
Answer:
Bringing religions together and rapprochement between religions is bringing together disbelief and faith. Is it permissible to bring together disbelievers and Muslims? After the mission of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), there is no religion except the religion of this Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
Be aware that after the mission of this Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), there is no religion except the religion of this Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), whom Allah commanded them to follow. He commanded the jinn and mankind, the Jews and the Christians, the illiterates, and the rest of humanity to follow this Messenger
Say, [O Muhammad], "O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allah to you all, [from Him] to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death." So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him that you may be guided.
قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ النَّبِيِّ الْأُمِّيِّ الَّذِي يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَكَلِمَاتِهِ وَاتَّبِعُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَAllah is Christ, the son of Mary
اللَّهَ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَNo Jew or Christian hears of me and then does not believe in what I have brought except that he will enter the Fire
لا يسمع بي يهودي ولا نصراني ثم لا يؤمن بالذي جئت به إلا دخل النارif Moses were alive he would feel it absolutely necessary to follow me
لو كان أخي موسى حيا ما وسعه إلا اتباعيHow can one bring together the religions of disbelief and the correct religion? This is impossible. As for visiting them for the sake of calling to Allah, so that perhaps they may submit to Islam, there is no harm in visiting them for the sake of calling to Allah, explaining Islam to them, and clarifying Islam to them, so that perhaps they may submit to Islam. There is no harm in that. But visiting them for the sake of taking comfort in their company, affirming them in what they are upon of disbelief, and agreeing with them, this is forbidden and not permissible.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، ما حكم الدعوة للتقارب بين الأديان؟ للشيخ الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.