IslamiCity Forum - Islamic Discussion Forum: Is interfaith dialogue really a good idea?

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sultan

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Topic: Is interfaith dialogue really a good idea?
Posted: 02 July 2012 at 1:32pm

Assalamu alaykum,

New guy here, probably soon to be "that guy" haha.

I find interfaith dialogue to be treading on a fine line. I just don't see the point or any usefulness of discussion. Is it for da'wah? Is it to clear up misconceptions?

And I think it often just provides shaitan an opportune moment for us to slip. I mean, how do we know that certain things will be insulting to other faiths? Even if we say, God has no son, that may be insulting.

"And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, for fear that they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them about what they used to do." 6:108

And then someone will say God has a son. Allah has informed us through the Qur'an that every time someone says this, the heaven would almost collapse, the earth split and mountains fall. (19:90, 19:88-93) Why would we welcome that?

To my understanding, the Qur'an is supposed to be a reminder to mankind, relay that message and just say peace to whatever insult come our way. It is then Allah's will to open anyone's heart. Allah knows best.

I know there are rules, and it is moderated, but I do not see a purpose.

Just saying.. peace.

Edited by sultan - 02 July 2012 at 1:43pm

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Caringheart

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Posted: 02 July 2012 at 11:29pm

Originally posted by sultan

Assalamu alaykum,

New guy here, probably soon to be "that guy" haha.

I find interfaith dialogue to be treading on a fine line. I just don't see the point or any usefulness of discussion. Is it for da'wah? Is it to clear up misconceptions?

And I think it often just provides shaitan an opportune moment for us to slip. I mean, how do we know that certain things will be insulting to other faiths? Even if we say, God has no son, that may be insulting.

"And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, for fear that they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them about what they used to do." 6:108

And then someone will say God has a son. Allah has informed us through the Qur'an that every time someone says this, the heaven would almost collapse, the earth split and mountains fall. (19:90, 19:88-93) Why would we welcome that?

To my understanding, the Qur'an is supposed to be a reminder to mankind, relay that message and just say peace to whatever insult come our way. It is then Allah's will to open anyone's heart. Allah knows best.

I know there are rules, and it is moderated, but I do not see a purpose.

Just saying.. peace.

Thank you sultan for sharing this message.
Interfaith dialogue is for just this purpose... to increase understanding. Smile

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Chrysalis

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Posted: 04 July 2012 at 4:48am

Sultan: Unfortunately many a times it ceases to be a 'dialogue' and becomes an argument or debate with either side trying to win. Unless both parties know when to quit and ''agree to disagree''. Also, not many people have the correct etiquette of discussion which makes most ''interfaith dialogues'' detrimental to interfaith harmony.

"O Lord, forgive me, my parents and Muslims in the Hereafter. O Lord, show mercy on them as they showed mercy to me when I was young."

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Nausheen
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Posted: 04 July 2012 at 9:07pm

As far as I remember correctly many sub-forums came into existence on the new message board, which were not there on the old one.

The purpse at that time was to categorize the discussions and make the boards more tidy, instead of having a mix of discussions almost everywhere.

Interfaith dialogue helps us and the non-muslims to know where to post and discuss matters which would relate mostly to the non-muslims.

This indicates a muslim who might be seeking a muslim point of view to their day-to-day problems, or other questions, should not discuss them in this forum. At the same time the non-muslims would know, if a muslim as asked for a very islamic opinion on something in the other forum, they don't begin a debate there.

hope this clarifies the logic for this place being set up :)

Wanu nazzilu minal Qurani ma huwa
Shafaa un wa rahmatun lil mo'mineena
wa la yaziduzzalimeena illa khasara.

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Abu Loren
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Posted: 12 July 2012 at 3:13am

Walaikkum As'alaam

My opinion on this is that it a good idea AND a bad idea. It is a good idea when people who has never knew what Islam is about to have a basic understanding of what Islam represents. It's probably an opportunity for an non Muslim to ask questions that they wanted to ask but didn't find the opportunity nor the avenue in which to ask. Having said this Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala guides whom He will and leads astray whom He will. He has told us in the Holy Qur'an that He has set a seal on the unbelievers.

It is a bad idea because most if not all of these dialogues are pointless and fruitless. you'd find that the people who are engaging in these dialogues go away at the end of this as they came, not really changing their minds about anything. There is also the remotest danger that an atheist, for example, can lead a believer astray, no matter how strong his believes are.

As far as I am aware interfaith dialogues have never produced any mass migration from one side to the other, people gnerally are happy to be following what their forefathers followed.

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sultan

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Posted: 12 July 2012 at 8:54am

Originally posted by Chrysalis

Sultan: Unfortunately many a times it ceases to be a 'dialogue' and becomes an argument or debate with either side trying to win. Unless both parties know when to quit and ''agree to disagree''. Also, not many people have the correct etiquette of discussion which makes most ''interfaith dialogues'' detrimental to interfaith harmony.

Yes! This is the problem. It stops to be about understanding at a certain point when something is felt personally right is questioned.

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sultan

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Posted: 12 July 2012 at 8:55am

Originally posted by Nausheen

As far as I remember correctly many sub-forums came into existence on the new message board, which were not there on the old one.

The purpse at that time was to categorize the discussions and make the boards more tidy, instead of having a mix of discussions almost everywhere.

Interfaith dialogue helps us and the non-muslims to know where to post and discuss matters which would relate mostly to the non-muslims.

hope this clarifies to some extent, the logic for this place being set up :)

Thank you, yes that clarifies it. I guess in that perspective, this subforum is required.

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Caringheart

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Posted: 12 July 2012 at 8:12pm

Originally posted by sultan

Yes! This is the problem. It stops to be about understanding at a certain point when something is felt personally right is questioned.

I presume you mean this both ways. Do Muslims seek to understand the faith of others?
You see I do not feel there is anything wrong with questioning. My faith is questioned all the time. I welcome questions. We should shouldn't we? I feel that it does lead to further understanding one of the other. If the conversations are treated as having a one-way only objective though, then you are right, there's not much purpose in them.

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Interfaith Dialogue
IslamiCity Forum - Islamic Discussion Forum : Religion - Islam : Interfaith Dialogue

Topic: Is interfaith dialogue really a good idea?
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Author	Message
sultan Newbie Joined: 21 June 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Topic: Is interfaith dialogue really a good idea? Posted: 02 July 2012 at 1:32pm
	Assalamu alaykum, New guy here, probably soon to be "that guy" haha. I find interfaith dialogue to be treading on a fine line. I just don't see the point or any usefulness of discussion. Is it for da'wah? Is it to clear up misconceptions? And I think it often just provides shaitan an opportune moment for us to slip. I mean, how do we know that certain things will be insulting to other faiths? Even if we say, God has no son, that may be insulting. "And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, for fear that they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them about what they used to do." 6:108 And then someone will say God has a son. Allah has informed us through the Qur'an that every time someone says this, the heaven would almost collapse, the earth split and mountains fall. (19:90, 19:88-93) Why would we welcome that? To my understanding, the Qur'an is supposed to be a reminder to mankind, relay that message and just say peace to whatever insult come our way. It is then Allah's will to open anyone's heart. Allah knows best. I know there are rules, and it is moderated, but I do not see a purpose. Just saying.. peace. Edited by sultan - 02 July 2012 at 1:43pm
	Islamic Personal Finance Blog Dua, A Definitive Collection from Quran
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Caringheart Senior Member Joined: 02 March 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1311	Posted: 02 July 2012 at 11:29pm
	*Originally posted by sultan* Assalamu alaykum, New guy here, probably soon to be "that guy" haha. I find interfaith dialogue to be treading on a fine line. I just don't see the point or any usefulness of discussion. Is it for da'wah? Is it to clear up misconceptions? And I think it often just provides shaitan an opportune moment for us to slip. I mean, how do we know that certain things will be insulting to other faiths? Even if we say, God has no son, that may be insulting. "And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, for fear that they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them about what they used to do." 6:108 And then someone will say God has a son. Allah has informed us through the Qur'an that every time someone says this, the heaven would almost collapse, the earth split and mountains fall. (19:90, 19:88-93) Why would we welcome that? To my understanding, the Qur'an is supposed to be a reminder to mankind, relay that message and just say peace to whatever insult come our way. It is then Allah's will to open anyone's heart. Allah knows best. I know there are rules, and it is moderated, but I do not see a purpose. Just saying.. peace. Thank you sultan for sharing this message. Interfaith dialogue is for just this purpose... to increase understanding.
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Chrysalis Senior Member Joined: 25 November 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2030	Posted: 04 July 2012 at 4:48am
	Sultan: Unfortunately many a times it ceases to be a 'dialogue' and becomes an argument or debate with either side trying to win. Unless both parties know when to quit and ''agree to disagree''. Also, not many people have the correct etiquette of discussion which makes most ''interfaith dialogues'' detrimental to interfaith harmony.
	"O Lord, forgive me, my parents and Muslims in the Hereafter. O Lord, show mercy on them as they showed mercy to me when I was young."
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Nausheen Female Islam Senior Member Senior Member Joined: 10 January 2001 Location: Japan Online Status: Offline Posts: 4146	Posted: 04 July 2012 at 9:07pm
	As far as I remember correctly many sub-forums came into existence on the new message board, which were not there on the old one. The purpse at that time was to categorize the discussions and make the boards more tidy, instead of having a mix of discussions almost everywhere. Interfaith dialogue helps us and the non-muslims to know where to post and discuss matters which would relate mostly to the non-muslims. This indicates a muslim who might be seeking a muslim point of view to their day-to-day problems, or other questions, should not discuss them in this forum. At the same time the non-muslims would know, if a muslim as asked for a very islamic opinion on something in the other forum, they don't begin a debate there. hope this clarifies the logic for this place being set up :)
	Wanu nazzilu minal Qurani ma huwa Shafaa un wa rahmatun lil mo'mineena wa la yaziduzzalimeena illa khasara.
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Abu Loren Male Islam Senior Member Joined: 29 June 2012 Location: United Arab Emirates Online Status: Offline Posts: 568	Posted: 12 July 2012 at 3:13am
	Walaikkum As'alaam My opinion on this is that it a good idea AND a bad idea. It is a good idea when people who has never knew what Islam is about to have a basic understanding of what Islam represents. It's probably an opportunity for an non Muslim to ask questions that they wanted to ask but didn't find the opportunity nor the avenue in which to ask. Having said this Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala guides whom He will and leads astray whom He will. He has told us in the Holy Qur'an that He has set a seal on the unbelievers. It is a bad idea because most if not all of these dialogues are pointless and fruitless. you'd find that the people who are engaging in these dialogues go away at the end of this as they came, not really changing their minds about anything. There is also the remotest danger that an atheist, for example, can lead a believer astray, no matter how strong his believes are. As far as I am aware interfaith dialogues have never produced any mass migration from one side to the other, people gnerally are happy to be following what their forefathers followed.
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sultan Newbie Joined: 21 June 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Posted: 12 July 2012 at 8:54am
	*Originally posted by Chrysalis* Sultan: Unfortunately many a times it ceases to be a 'dialogue' and becomes an argument or debate with either side trying to win. Unless both parties know when to quit and ''agree to disagree''. Also, not many people have the correct etiquette of discussion which makes most ''interfaith dialogues'' detrimental to interfaith harmony. Yes! This is the problem. It stops to be about understanding at a certain point when something is felt personally right is questioned.
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sultan Newbie Joined: 21 June 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Posted: 12 July 2012 at 8:55am
	*Originally posted by Nausheen* As far as I remember correctly many sub-forums came into existence on the new message board, which were not there on the old one. The purpse at that time was to categorize the discussions and make the boards more tidy, instead of having a mix of discussions almost everywhere. Interfaith dialogue helps us and the non-muslims to know where to post and discuss matters which would relate mostly to the non-muslims. This indicates a muslim who might be seeking a muslim point of view to their day-to-day problems, or other questions, should not discuss them in this forum. At the same time the non-muslims would know, if a muslim as asked for a very islamic opinion on something in the other forum, they don't begin a debate there. hope this clarifies to some extent, the logic for this place being set up :) Thank you, yes that clarifies it. I guess in that perspective, this subforum is required.
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Caringheart Senior Member Joined: 02 March 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1311	Posted: 12 July 2012 at 8:12pm
	*Originally posted by sultan* Yes! This is the problem. It stops to be about understanding at a certain point when something is felt personally right is questioned. I presume you mean this both ways. Do Muslims seek to understand the faith of others? You see I do not feel there is anything wrong with questioning. My faith is questioned all the time. I welcome questions. We should shouldn't we? I feel that it does lead to further understanding one of the other. If the conversations are treated as having a one-way only objective though, then you are right, there's not much purpose in them.
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