Consequently, the situation of equating or conflating "People of Scripture" with "disbelievers" is not as true and proper as it may seem to you. Yet, the two categories of ahl al kitaab and mushrikin are very distinct, and we need to discern the difference between what is pure and simple and ignorant idol-worship, and what is a revealed form of worship which may appear to be as diametrically opposed to our own forms of worship and belief systems, but which in all fairness, may stem from an authentic revelation. Again the principle of 'benefit of the doubt' (husni zunn) is important here.
This kind of inclusive approach is more conducive to a Quranic understanding of the supra-confessional attitude towards salvation through God and Faith (Iman) in the One God who Reveals Himself to all People through the diversity of revelations and religions in space and time which the Quran upholds. Take for example the following verse which distinguishes the faith of Muslims from the 'faith' of other People of Scripture, while universalizing the notion and reality of faith and salvation to INCLUDE all groups and peoples who possess three essential qualities: 1.Those who accept the Oneness of the Divine Principle/Reality (Belief in God), 2. Those who recognize human accountability (Belief in The Last Day) and 3. Those who are virtuous (work righteousness):
"Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and the Jews, and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in God and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. " (2:62)
I trust that a very postive reading of this verse can in principle include all of humanity which sincerely struggles and strives to follow the form of revealed guidance (rushd) given to them which one sincerely believes the Origin of which to be 'Divine'. Now on the one hand, you can believe that your understanding of orthodox Islam, or Islam in general is the "best religion", the "most preserved religion", the "most complete" religion, and even the final religion intended to "abrogate" all other religions. Yet on the other hand, as a Muslim for you to say that Islam is the only religion which has followers with "Iman" (Faith in God) and is the only exclusively 'valid' religion is problematic from a Quranic perspective. One should again note that the criteria for being a true 'believer' and even truly 'saved' then is left for God to decide on the Last Day, who apart from His Sheer Mercy which alone is sufficient for Salvation, shall use the following essential criteria as outlined above in Quran 2:62. The following Quranic verse in this regard is also significant:
"And We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a protector over it. So judge between them by what God has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. Had God willed, He would have made you one Nation, but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you [all]; so compete in the good (fastabakul khayraat). To God is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ." (5:48)
Regarding your comment, "On a final note, if a person wishes to use ghair Muslim (non-muslim) than that is for him, he/she cannot impose his/her understanding and prevent others using terms Kaafir or Kuffar (ie, disbelievrs). We do not act to please others or for the sake of not offending (refer to Quran 2:105) but do what Allah SWT has commanded and as long it is within the shariah it is ok.".
I would respond with the following Quranic command: "And call unto your Lord with Wisdom and Fair exhortation, and hold discourse with them in the finest manner" (16:125). Now to call with Wisdom means to know your context. We do not live in medieval or classical Islamic times which bifurcate Iman (Faith) and kufr (disbelief) to regions of 'dar al Islam' (Abode of Peace) and 'dar al harb' (Abode of War) for more or less political purposes. We live in the Modern/Post Modern world which is a secular yet multi-religious world in which diverse Sacred worlds interpenatrate eachother. To not recognize one's 'equal' or one's 'like' in piety and faith in adherents of other faith traditions when confronted with this existential possibility is to be dishonest before God. In other words, if a contemporary Muslim's experience leads them to recognize that the "most noble before you (akramakum) is he who is the most reverant of God between you all (atqaakum)--(49:13)-- and not necessarily one's co-religionist, then one has to expand one's awareness of God-Awareness to include the religious Other in a manner that does justice to both the truth of the Quran, and the veracity of one's experience as Willed by God. Truly, and in light of Quranic Wisdom, the most universal aspects and dimensions of our beautiful religion and OUR Western Heritage should be called upon in the name of Wisdom and the Truth, in order to call all of us (including others and ourselves) to God!
This kind of inclusive approach is more conducive to a Quranic understanding of the supra-confessional attitude towards salvation through God and Faith (Iman) in the One God who Reveals Himself to all People through the diversity of revelations and religions in space and time which the Quran upholds. Take for example the following verse which distinguishes the faith of Muslims from the 'faith' of other People of Scripture, while universalizing the notion and reality of faith and salvation to INCLUDE all groups and peoples who possess three essential qualities: 1.Those who accept the Oneness of the Divine Principle/Reality (Belief in God), 2. Those who recognize human accountability (Belief in The Last Day) and 3. Those who are virtuous (work righteousness):
"Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and the Jews, and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in God and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. " (2:62)
I trust that a very postive reading of this verse can in principle include all of humanity which sincerely struggles and strives to follow the form of revealed guidance (rushd) given to them which one sincerely believes the Origin of which to be 'Divine'. Now on the one hand, you can believe that your understanding of orthodox Islam, or Islam in general is the "best religion", the "most preserved religion", the "most complete" religion, and even the final religion intended to "abrogate" all other religions. Yet on the other hand, as a Muslim for you to say that Islam is the only religion which has followers with "Iman" (Faith in God) and is the only exclusively 'valid' religion is problematic from a Quranic perspective. One should again note that the criteria for being a true 'believer' and even truly 'saved' then is left for God to decide on the Last Day, who apart from His Sheer Mercy which alone is sufficient for Salvation, shall use the following essential criteria as outlined above in Quran 2:62. The following Quranic verse in this regard is also significant:
"And We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a protector over it. So judge between them by what God has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. Had God willed, He would have made you one Nation, but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you [all]; so compete in the good (fastabakul khayraat). To God is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ." (5:48)
Regarding your comment, "On a final note, if a person wishes to use ghair Muslim (non-muslim) than that is for him, he/she cannot impose his/her understanding and prevent others using terms Kaafir or Kuffar (ie, disbelievrs). We do not act to please others or for the sake of not offending (refer to Quran 2:105) but do what Allah SWT has commanded and as long it is within the shariah it is ok.".
I would respond with the following Quranic command: "And call unto your Lord with Wisdom and Fair exhortation, and hold discourse with them in the finest manner" (16:125). Now to call with Wisdom means to know your context. We do not live in medieval or classical Islamic times which bifurcate Iman (Faith) and kufr (disbelief) to regions of 'dar al Islam' (Abode of Peace) and 'dar al harb' (Abode of War) for more or less political purposes. We live in the Modern/Post Modern world which is a secular yet multi-religious world in which diverse Sacred worlds interpenatrate eachother. To not recognize one's 'equal' or one's 'like' in piety and faith in adherents of other faith traditions when confronted with this existential possibility is to be dishonest before God. In other words, if a contemporary Muslim's experience leads them to recognize that the "most noble before you (akramakum) is he who is the most reverant of God between you all (atqaakum)--(49:13)-- and not necessarily one's co-religionist, then one has to expand one's awareness of God-Awareness to include the religious Other in a manner that does justice to both the truth of the Quran, and the veracity of one's experience as Willed by God. Truly, and in light of Quranic Wisdom, the most universal aspects and dimensions of our beautiful religion and OUR Western Heritage should be called upon in the name of Wisdom and the Truth, in order to call all of us (including others and ourselves) to God!
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