An Impeccable Framework for The Fellowship Between Faiths
By T.O. Shanavas, New
Age Islam
19 August
2024
“Faith Is Mysterious
And Ineffable. It Is An Emotional, Not Necessarily A Rational, Experience.
Religion, On The Other Hand, Is The Language We Use To Express Faith. It Is A
Language Made Up Of Symbols And Metaphors That Allows People To Express To Each
Other (And To Themselves) What Is, Almost By Definition, Inexpressible.
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The wise
words of renowned religious scholar Reza Aslan have deeply resonated with me,
especially as I struggle to find the right words to express my faith and
religious beliefs. Aslan's framework, which highlights the shared essence of
faith across various religious traditions, offers a meaningful perspective.
His wisely
staid, “Faith is mysterious and ineffable. It is an emotional, not necessarily
a rational, experience. Religion, on the other hand, is the language we use to
express faith. It is a language made up of symbols and metaphors that allows
people to express to each other (and to themselves) what is, almost by definition,
inexpressible. I am Muslim not because I think Islam is "truer" than
other religions (it isn't), but because Islam provides me with the
"language" I feel most comfortable with in expressing my faith. It
provides me with certain symbols and metaphors for thinking about God that I
find useful in making sense of the universe and my place in it…while my
personal well may be different and unique, the water I draw from it is the same
water drawn from everyone else's wells. Indeed, having drunk from many wells in
my spiritual journey, I consider it my mission in life to inform the world
that, no matter the well, the water tastes just as sweet.”1
Then he
quotes from Jalaluddin Rumi the following parable:
A Persian,
a Turk, an Arab and a Greek are traveling to a distant land when they begin
arguing over how to spend the single coin they share in common. The Persian
wants to spend the coin on Angur; the
Turk, on Uzum; the Arab, on Inab; and the Greek, on Stafil.
A linguist
passing by overhears the argument. "Give the coin to me," he says.
Taking the coin, the linguist goes to a nearby shop and buys the travellers
four small bunches of grapes.
"This is my Angur!"
cries the Persian.
"But this is what I call Uzum,"
replies the Turk.
"You have brought me my Inab,"
the Arab says.
"No! This in my language is Stafil,"
says the Greek.
The
travellers suddenly realize that they were all asking for the same thing, but
in different languages.
If people
of all faiths approached their beliefs as Reza Aslan describes, the world would
become a more peaceful and harmonious place to live.
As a
Muslim, I find no inherent contradiction between my faith, Islam, and the
framework described by Reza Aslan. The Qur'an supports this perspective in many
verses, including the following:
“It is neither dependent on your
(Muslim’s) whims nor the whims of the People of the Books (Jews and
Christians), but whosever does misdeeds shall be punished for it, and will find
no protector or friend apart from God; whoever, whether man or woman, does righteous
deeds and is a believer of God will surely enter Paradise. None shall be
deprived even an iota of his/her reward.” (Quran 4:123-124);
"Every soul will receive its
reward by measure of its endeavour." (Quran 20:15);
"And to all are assigned degree
according to the deeds which they have done, and in order that God may
recompense the deeds, and no injustice be done to them." (Quran 46:19);
“Those who believe (in the Qur'an),
and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the
Sabians, - any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness,
shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall
they grieve.”
(Qur’an 2:62);
“We sent down the Torah which
contains guidance and light…Later, in the train of Prophets We send Jesus, son
of Mary, confirming the Torah which has been send down before him, and gave him
the Gospel containing guidance and light. …Unto to you [O Muhammad] this writ
(Qur’an) and a way and a pattern of life, confirming what were revealed
before…Unto every one of you have We appointed a different law and way of
life. And if God had so willed He could
surely have you all made one single community professing one faith. But He
wished to try you and test you. So try to excel in good deeds” (Quran: 5:44-48).;
“…Did not Allah check one set of
people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down
monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is
commemorated in abundant measure…” (Quran 22:40);
"Abraham was neither a Jew nor
a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, a Muslim [submitting to
Allah]. And he was not of the polytheists.” (Qur’an 3:67);
“When his Lord said to him, Be a
Muslim (أَسْلِمْ), he said: I submit myself (أَسْلَمْتُ) to the Lord of the worlds. And the same did Ibrahim enjoin on his sons
and (so did) Jacob. O my sons! surely Allah has chosen for you (this) faith
(الدِّينَ), therefore die not unless you are Muslims
(مُسْلِمُونَ), Or were you witnesses when death approached
Jacob, when he said to his sons, "What will you worship after me?"
They said, "We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Abraham
and Ishmael and Isaac - one God. And we are Muslims [in submission] to Him
(مُسْلِمُونَ)." (Quran 3:131-133);
Here Jacob's instruction to his sons to die
only as Muslims, aligning with the worship of one God, a testament to their
submission.
“When
Jesus found Unbelief on their part He said: "Who will be My helpers to
(the work of) Allah?" Said the disciples: "We are Allah's helpers: We
believe in Allah, and do thou bear witness that we are Muslims (مُسْلِمِينَ).” (Qur’an 3:52).
Ref: Reza Aslan: Why I am a Muslim
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T.O. Shanavas is a native of Kerala, but is now based in the USA. He is
the author of “Islamic Theory of Evolution The Missing Link Between Darwin and
The Origin of Species.” Co-author of the book, And God Said, "Let There Be
Evolution!": Reconciling The Book Of Genesis, The Qur'an, And The Theory
Of Evolution. Edited by Prof. Charles M. Wynn and Prof. Arthur W. Wiggins.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/framework-fellowship-faiths/d/132979
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