Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is’haq Sahib (Daamat Barakaatuhu)
Interfaith is being presented to the world as the Abrahamic religion – attributing their unity to Hadhrat Ibraheem (Alaihis Salaam) – who was a monotheist. He worshipped One Allah whereas both Christianity and Judaism have elements of Shirk.
The Christians embrace Shirk with their belief in the trinity. A group among the Jews claimed that Uzair was the son of God and they too fell into Shirk:
“The Jews say, ‘Uzair is the son of Allah’; and the Christians say, ‘The Messiah is the son of Allah.’ That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before (them). May Allah destroy them; how are they deluded?”
[Surah At-Taubah 9:30]
HADHRAT IBRAHEEM (ALAIHIS SALAAM)
Hadhrat Ibraheem’s (Alaihis Salaam) aversion for Shirk was manifest in his destroying the many idols that his people worshipped. He did not adopt any kind of “unity” and “tolerance” with his people regarding their idol worship; rather he took an axe and he broke their idols, one after the other, without any hesitation or regret. There can be no reconciliation with this great Nabi of Allah Ta’ala and the interfaith movement.
NO COMPROMISE
It is mentioned in the Tafsier of Surah Al-Kaafiroon that the pagans of Makkah Mukarramah approached Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam with various proposals, including the following compromise: “At least touch some of our gods and we will believe in you.”
The request was to touch the idols; not worship them. This was also in view of proposing tolerance, leniency and some kind of acceptance. It was upon this that Allah Ta’ala revealed Surah Al-Kaafiroon, decisively and strongly prohibiting any kind of compromise. There is absolutely no scope for negotiation in the principles and beliefs of Islam.
RASULULLAH (SALLALLAAHU ‘ALAYHI WASALLAM)
The entire Seerah affirms that Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam had an absolute hatred for Shirk and idol worship from his childhood days. He could not tolerate it and kept far away from such practices. He never participated in anything remotely affiliated to idol worship. On the Conquest of Makkah, there were 360 idols in and around the Ka’bah Sharief. Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam struck them down with a stick while reciting the Ayah:
“And Say: ‘Truth (i.e. Islamic Monotheism or this Qur’aan or Jihad against polytheists) has come and Baatil (falsehood) has vanished. Surely! Baatil is ever bound to vanish.’”
[Surah al-Isra 17:81]
Hadhrat ‘Amr bin Abasah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam: “With what were you sent?”
He said: “I was sent to uphold the ties of kinship, to break the idols, and so that Allah would be worshipped alone with no partner or associate.”[1]
After the conquest of Makkah Mukarramah, Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam sent the Sahabah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum) to destroy the idols, Uzza, Manaat and Suwaa. The people were also instructed to destroy the idols they kept in their homes. Idol-worship was fully uprooted and the land was purged of idolatry.
HADHRAT ISA (ALAIHIS SALAAM)
It is mentioned in the Ahadith regarding the Nuzool (descent) of Hadhrat Isa (Alaihis Salaam), that he will break the cross – signalling the abolishment of Christianity. Nabi Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “The Hour will not be established until the son of Maryam descends amongst you as a just ruler, he will break the cross, kill the pigs and abolish the Jizya tax….”[2]
Our entire Dien of Islam and the way of all the Ambiyaa (Alaihimus Salaam) express abomination and rejection of Shirk yet the interfaith scholars of today visit churches, carry candles and participate in vigils, respectfully listen to others read from their scriptures, etc. They, themselves, will not dare to read those verses of the Qur’aan Sharief which expressly state the grievous punishment of hellfire for those who commit Shirk or even point out the ambiguities and errors found in their beliefs. …And this is adequate proof to show their deviance from the Straight Path of Islam.
NIFAAQ
Hadhrat Wasiullah (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had said in his time: “The currency of the time is nifaaq (hypocrisy).”
What to say in our time? …Dressed in the garb of the scholars, manipulating and influencing the masses using the words of the Qur’aan Sharief and Sunnah, collaborating with the enemies of Islam and raising the flag of Kufr, we have predators destroying from within!
On the same note of interfaith, we find that in the Arab world, cathedrals and temples are being built. Those who identify as Arabs and Muslims – in various countries – are honouring and participating in idol worship, Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremonies, Christmas, etc. All of these affiliations and collaborations are with the same intent: interfaith. This is the materialisation of the prophecy of Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam who said: “The Hour shall not be established until tribes of my Ummah unite with the idolaters and until they worship idols.”[3]
THE REMINDERS
The interfaith movement should not even be a fitnah for us. In the Sunnah, we find Surah Kaafiroon and Surah Ikhlaas brought together time and again.
· In the Sunnah of Fajr, it is Sunnah to read Surah Kaafiroon and Ikhlaas.
· In the Sunnah of Maghrib, it is Sunnah to read the same two Surahs.
· In the two Rakaats after Witr, it is Sunnah to read Surah Zilzaal and Surah Kaafiroon
· In the two Rakaats which are read before travelling out, it is Sunnah to read Surah Kaafiroon and Surah Ikhlaas.
· In the two Rakaats which are read after Tawaaf, it is Sunnah to read these same two Surahs.
· Before sleeping, it is Sunnah to read Surah Kaafiroon. Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “Recite Surah Kaafiroon before sleeping, for it is a protection from Shirk (polytheism).”[4]
The message of Surah Kaafiroon is clear as daylight: There is no integration and no union of religions.
The message of Surah Ikhlaas is being further impressed on our hearts and minds, repeatedly: There is only One Allah.
Similarly, when we wake up, we read the Dua:
أَصْبَحْنَا عَلَى فِطْرَةِ الإِسْلَامِ ، وَ كَلِمَةِ الإِخْلَاصِ ، وَ دِينِ نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ ،
وَ مِلَّةِ أَبِيْنَا إِبْرَاهِيْمَ ، حَنِيْفًا مُسْلِماً وَ مَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ
We witness the morning on the fitrah (natural way) of Islam, and the word of Ikhlaas (Sincerity) and the Dien of our Nabi Muhammad (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and the ‘milla’ (way) of our father, Ibraheem (Alaihis Salaam) – Haneef (pure from Shirk) and Muslim.
When we carry out the great Ibaadah of Qurbani, we again free ourselves of Shirk.
إنِّي وَجَّهَتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِيْ فَطَرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ عَلَى مِلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ حَنِيْفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ
إِنَّ صَلَاتِيْ وَنُسُكِيْ وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِيْ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَبِذٰلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ
اَللّٰهُمَّ مِنْكَ وَلَكَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ وَأُمَّتِهِ بِاسْمِ اللهِ وَاللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ
Verily I have turned my face to Him Who has created the heavens and the earth, upon the creed of Ibraheem (Alaihis Salaam) – Haneef (free from Shirk) and I am not from the polytheists.
My Salaah, my rights of sacrifice, my life and death are all for Allah, Rabb of the worlds. He has no partner. With this, I have been commanded and I am among the Muslims. O Allah, from You and to You, from Muhammad Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam and his Ummah. In the name of Allah, and Allah is Most Great.
It should be impossible for even an ordinary Muslim to subscribe to interfaith – because it is so clearly false. It cannot be reconciled with Islam in any way – yet interfaith is being validated and sanctioned by liberal scholars.
When intoxicated by the love of dunya and love for name and fame, it becomes extremely easy to sacrifice one’s principles and ethics; even one’s religion. These scholars have become slaves of the governments. Their alliance may be very lucrative in this world but it will prove to be a miserable pact in the next world – unless sincere Taubah is made.
May Allah Ta’ala guide us and protect us.
[1] Sahih Muslim
[2] Sahih Al-Bukhari
[3] Jami` at-Tirmidhi
[4] Sunan Tirmidhi
