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Unification of Religions
While there may be accommodation in Shari’ah for co-operation between religious groups on common issues, protagonists of the inter-faith movement have now gone a step further. There has been a call for the unification of all religions, building mosques, temples, churches and synagouges in one compound, and even the printing of scriptures such as the Qur’ân and the Bible in one book.
Before giving a verdict on this new ‘unified’ religion, it is essential to know a few of the standing fundamentals of Islâm:
One of the fundamentals of Faith in Islâm is that there is no true religion on the earth except Islâm, and that it is the Final religion which abrogated all previous religions. Therefore, no other religion remains on earth by which Allâh can be worshipped except Islâm. says, "And whoever seeks a religion other than Islâm, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers." [3:85].
One of the fundamentals of faith that the Qur'ân is the last Book that was revealed by the Cherisher of the Worlds. It abrogated all the Books revealed by Allâh before it, and as such no other Book has been left by which Allâh can be worshipped except the Qur'ân. Allâh, The Most High, says, "And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book (the Qur'ân) in truth, confirming the Scriptures that came before it, and trustworthy in highness and a witness over it (old scriptures). So judge between them by what Allâh has revealed, and follow not their vain desires." [5:48]
The Torah and the Bible were abrogated by the Qur'ân, and that they were changed by means of additions or deletions by their followers, as Allâh says, "So because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard. They change the words from their (right) places and have abandoned a good part of the Message that was sent to them. And you will not cease to discover deceit in them, except a few of them." [5:13]
Accordingly, even whatever is considered as correct in these Books, has been abrogated by Islâm. The remaining parts are altered. This is proved by the following incident. The Prophet (SAW) got angry when he saw 'Umar ibn Al-Khattab holding a sheet containing some verses from the Torah and he said to him, "O 'Umar! Are you in doubt? Have I not brought (the Message) as clear as white? If my brother Musa had been alive, he would have followed me."
Another fundamental of Faith in Islâm is that our Prophet and Messenger Muhammad (SAW) is the seal of all the prophets and messengers. Allâh says, "Muhammad (sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allâh and the last (end) of the Prophets. And Allâh is Ever All-Aware of everuthing." [33:40] As such, no other messenger is left to be followed except Muhammad (SAW).
If any of Allâh's Prophets and Messengers had been alive, they too along with their followers would have followed Muhammad (SAW). Allâh says, "And (Remember) when Allâh took the Covenant of the Prophets saying 'Take whatever I gave you from the Book and Hikmah and afterwards there will come to you a messenger (Muhammad) confirming what is with you. You must then believe in him and help him.' Allâh said: 'Do you agree (to it) and will you take up My covenant (which I conclude with you)?' They said, 'We agree'. He said, 'Then bear witness; and I am with you among the witnesses (for this)." [3:81]
Another fundamentals of Islâm is that any Jew or Christian who does not embrace Islâm should be considered and designated as an unbeliever (Kafir), and such people will be the people of the Fire in accordance to Allâh's saying: "Those who disbelieve from among the people of the Scriptures (Jews and Christians) and among al-Mushrikun (Polytheists), wee not going to leave (their disbelief) until there came to them clear evidence." [98:1]
Adulterating the fundamentals of Islâmic Faith to serve the call (for the unification of religions) is but a devious call. It aims at mixing the Truth with Falsehood, destroying Islâm, demolishing its foundations and bringing all Muslims to clear apostasy (Riddah). This can be seen in the saying of Allâh, "And they will never cease fighting you until they turn you back from your religion (Islâmic Monotheism) if they can." [2:217]. Allâh Says, "They wish that you reject faith, as they have rejected (Faith), and thus that you will become equal (like one another)." [4:89]
The inevitable consequence of such evil calls are:
The cancellation of differences between Islâm and Kufr, Truth and Falsehood, and complete negation of enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong.
Breaking of barriers of alienation between Muslims and Unbelievers so that no loyalty nor Jihad nor struggle for the sake of elevating Allâh's Word on Allâh's earth may take place. Allâh, The Most High, commands: "And fight against the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolators, disbelievers in the oneness of Allâh) collectively, as they fight against you collectively. But know that Allâh is with the pious." [9:36]
If such a call (unifiocation) emanates from a Muslim, it would be considered explicit Riddah [apostasy] from Islâm. This call annuls what was proved by the Qur'ân as true, and denies that the Qur'ân has abrogated all the books that preceded it, and also negates that Islâm had abrogated all the previous religions. Based on this, the call for unification is rejected according to Shari'ah and is strictly prohibited by all evidences of Islâm in the Qur'ân, and the Sunnah.
Based on the aforesaid:
It is not permissible for any Muslim who believes in Allâh as the Rabb, in Islâm as the religion, and Muhammad (SAW) as a Prophet, to call for this abominable belief, or encourage others to join it.
It is prohibited for any Muslim to print the Torah and the Bible even independently. So how could it be permissible to print them with the Qur'ân in one book? This is but a combination of the Truth with the altered or abrogated books.
It is prohibited for any Muslim to respond to the call for building a mosque, a church, and a temple in one complex, as this would imply a confession that there are religions by which Allâh can be worshipped, besides Islâm. This would also involve a denial that Islâm is the purest of all the other religions. It would also imply a serious admission that religions are three and that people on earth may adopt whatever they wish of them, equally, and that Islâm has not superseded the religions that preceded it.
Undoubtedly, approving, believing, or accepting this call is considered Kufr (disbelief) and explicit error as it plainly contradicts the Qur'ân. It would also imply an agreement that the alterations done by the Jews and Christians are from Allâh. Moreover, it is not permissible to call churches ‘Allâh's houses’ as the Christians do not perform a correct worship that is accepted by Allâh, and it is a kind of worship not based on Islâm. Allâh says, "And whoever seeks a religion other than Islâm, it will never be accepted of him, and in the hereafter he will be one of the losers." [3:85]
Calling the Kuffâr and the People of the Book to Islâm is incumbent upon all Muslims. However, sometimes results are not achieved except through kind words and sound arguments. It should, nonetheless, be done on condition so as to not compromise any of the rules of Islâm, so that they might either be convinced of Islâm and embrace it, or reject it and die after a clear warning is given to them. Allâh says, "Say (O Muhammad) 'O People of the Scripture! Come to a word that is Just between us and you, that we worship none but Allâh, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords, besides Allâh. Then if they turn away, say, 'I bear witness that we are Muslims.'" [3:64]
