PROMINENT THINKERS IN

INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE
 Contemporary Muslim scholars
1. Ismail Raji al-Faruqi
is the first Muslim thinker who has advocated the need
to have mutual respect and unbiased understanding of
Christians and others way of belief.

Regards inter-religious engagement , especially with

Christians, as a more objective, scholarly shift of study.

Emphasises that Islams theory of engagement with

followers of other faiths involve:
i) honour one anothers convictions without
denying their own
ii) The legitimate foundation for seeking religious
unity in humankind.

Genuine inter-faith engagement can take place

only when people of different faiths are
interested in each others claims by means of a
friendly engagement
 becomes the removal of all barriers and is the only
kind of inter-humane relationship worthy of man.

A Muslim is obliged to engage in inter-faith dialogue

as a means of presenting Islam to others.

Also should be prepared to listen to others account

of their faith.

Inter-faith engagement is a two-way affair

freedom to be convinced as well as to convince, of
the truth.
2. Murad Wilfred Hofmann
Inter-faith engagement will take place when
there is a truism (penyataan yg memang benar) in their
cooperation to solve contemporary problems
faced by humanity.

to have peace in this Global Village, Muslims,

Christians and others are urged to engage in
inter-faith dialogue under the climate of mutual
respect and better understanding of one
another.
 He argues that a peaceful co-existence between
Muslims and Christians will happen only when
western Christians have a serious understanding of
Islam, on the one hand, and the Muslim World
towards Western Christianity, on the other.

The clash between the Occident and the Orient

should be avoided.

Their coming together is the only solution to block

the destructive mans of tyrant leaders against the
weak nations (Muslim world).
 The Muslims have two major references: a
definitive Book and a definitive example
(Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h.), which are
historical certainties that all other religions
lack.

It is in the light of these two sources that the

Muslims can construct a peaceful co-existence
with followers of other faiths respecfully
living next to each other.
 Islam did not come to reject other faiths, but
to purify these systems of faith from certain
deviation from the original Abrahamic
Monotheistic foundation.
3. Irfan Abdul Hamid Fattah

In inter-faith engagement, the Muslims have to adapt

themselves with the Islamic norm towards the Christian
fellows and others by understanding and accepting them
as they are, and why they are so, and not imposing
subjective, normative claims in the form of why they are
not.

They have to replace the monopolistic methodology of

the early Muslim scholars, which was built on two
attitudes: refutation versus justification, with inter-faith
dialogue that is built on mutual respect and better
understanding of the others way of belief.
 In order to have a successful inter-faith engagement
with others, the Muslims have to adapt themselves
with the following rules:

i) To commence an openness in faith with the followers

of other Traditions who believe in One God, on the
Judgement Day, and do good deeds, which ought to
be consistent with the Quranic stance and the
Prophetic way of conduct.

ii) To rough its twin stances: confirmation and

ratification, otherwise its coming after the Torah and
Gospel becomes insignificant.
iii. To acknowledge the eternal Quranic attitude
of honouring the children of Adam as the
family of God regardless of their languages,
races, cultures or religious convictions and to
build their stance towards other religions.
4. Abbas al-Jirari
the Islamic concept behind dialogue: Dialogue,
conducted on this Islamic basis, is the ideal way for
attaining truth.

It is necessary to establish understanding , strength,

cooperation and narrow the gap between people.
5. Muhammed Abu Nimer
Interfaith dialogue provide the framework to:
i. Relearn the art of listening to each other

ii. Understand our similarities and differences through theological

and philosophical discussion on an intellectual level.

iii. Value other peoples spirituality by learning about different

religions through their sacred writings and narratives.

iv. Work together on joint projects at multiple levels to bring

greater justice, humanitarian aid and peace to society.

v. Operate in a peaceful atmosphere so that charitable and human

service programs can be provided to everyone.
 CONTEMPORARY WESTERN THINKERS
1. Martin Buber
IRD according to Buber - in such a dialogue exists a
feeling of fellowship and vivid sense that the other
human being is as myself (me), listening with the heart,
and not merely the intellect.

Therefore, the total involvement of both participants in

the inter-religious dialogue allows heart to speak to heart
and illuminates the idea of neighbour-love.
2. Leonard Swidler
interfaith dialogue (IRD) is a conversation among
people of different faiths on a common subject, the
primary purpose of which is or each participant to
learn from the other so that he/she can change and
grow.

But dialogue is not debate. In dialogue each

partner must listen to the other as openly and
sympathetically as s/he can in an attempt to
understand the others position as precisely and, as
it were, as much from within, as possible.
 Swidler asserts that IRD operates in three
areas:
i. the practical where we collaborate to help
humanity;
ii. the depth or spiritual dimension where we
attempt to experience the partners religion or
ideology from within;
iii.the cognitive where we seek understanding
of the truth.
 The new paradigm shift of inter-religious
dialogue came as a result of the pluralistic
nature of the world, i.e., people of different
faiths living next door to each other.

Therefore, it is logical to respect the faiths of

other people, even though their understanding
of the nature of the Ultimate Reality differs
from each others.
iii) Jane I. Smith
Dialogue is to bring together Muslims and
Christians for conversation and engagement.

It is an experience of mutual cooperation and

support

To find some common ground for conversation

It is an initial get-together so that people could

begin to know each other
 Dialogue involve coming into contact with a
person who was different from us.