THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN
Personal Experiences
Interaction, dialogue, and thought exchange are crucial, but they should not be used to establish superiority over others. Instead, they should be tools for learning, which has no end. The universe of facts is limitless, and our learning process is an eternal one.
The purpose of interfaith dialogue is not to discover uniformity among religions or to establish one’s superiority over other religions. Instead, it is based on mutual learning. All participants in the dialogue must try to learn from each other.
When envy and arrogance enter man, wisdom goes out.
It’s generally accepted that interfaith dialogue aims to establish harmony among religious groups. However, I believe history suggests otherwise. Interfaith dialogue has been ongoing for centuries, possibly even several hundred years. The earliest recorded instance was the World’s Parliament of Religions in 1893, Chicago, where representatives from various major religions gathered. Despite these efforts, I’ve found that these dialogues have been largely fruitless and ineffective. Religious harmony among different groups remains an elusive dream. If this was the purpose of dialogue, we must reevaluate its effectiveness. The question arises: why have these efforts failed?
DIALOGUE NOT FOR UNIFORMITY OR DEBATING
I believe the method employed in these interfaith dialogues was flawed. There were two main models: one based on the concept of uniformity. This idea posits that all religions are essentially one and the same, with an inherent unity that needs to be discovered and shared. Achieving this unity, according to this thinking, would lead to harmony between religious groups. However, this approach has proven to be a complete failure. Thousands of renowned figures have supported this method, yet it has consistently failed.
THE REASON FOR FAILURE
The reason for this failure lies in the unnatural nature of the uniformity concept. It contradicts the Creation Plan of God. Nature embraces diversity and differences. Both the material and human worlds are built on differences. It’s impossible to find two identical individuals. The word “uniformity” exists in dictionaries but not in society or the human world. Since this formula of uniformity is unnatural and not aligned with God’s creation plan, it’s no wonder it has failed.
Another model for interfaith dialogue is based on debating. This model believes that truth is one, and that the truth someone follows is the only truth, not anything else. In this model, everyone tries to establish their superiority, which has also failed. We know that many conferences on interfaith dialogue have been held, and a lot of literature has been published on the subject, but these exercises have failed to establish harmony. Now, we need to reassess the whole matter and find a formula other than these two.
Dialogue for Mutual Learning: The Faruqi Formula
I have studied this matter and participated in numerous dialogues at both the national and international levels. After studying and experiencing, I have discovered a third formula. In my opinion, this third formula is quite in accordance with the Creation Plan and is undoubtedly feasible, with no question of failure. This third formula is based on a principle, which I can call the Faruqi formula. It was adopted by Umar bin al-Khattab, the second Caliph of Islam. We read about him in books: “He used to learn from everyone.”
This third formula is based on the learning process. When I apply this to the concept of interfaith dialogue, I would say that it is the formula of mutual learning. The purpose of interfaith dialogue is not to discover uniformity among religions or to establish one’s superiority over other religions. Instead, it is based on mutual learning. All participants in the dialogue must try to learn from each other. I can say this is completely based on the law of nature. It is workable, with no doubt about it.
This formula isn’t religious; it’s universal. We apply it in every aspect of life, from education and industry to social interactions. Mutual learning is the cornerstone of life, so why single out religion? Why not apply it to interfaith dialogue? By doing so, it becomes part of the universal process, transcending its religious boundaries.
My experiences in interfaith dialogue have been invaluable. I’ve studied diverse religious texts and participated in numerous dialogues. I’ve never sought to establish superiority; I’ve always been open to learning from others. Books and experiences have been my primary sources of knowledge.
Follow One and Respect All
Religion is a matter of conviction. When I say I believe in a particular religion, I mean it with absolute certainty. Without this conviction, I can’t have faith. If religion fails to provide conviction, it loses its purpose. The fundamental goal of religion is to instil conviction in the purpose of life and the nature of existence. I have great conviction in Islam; it’s become my faith. I believe in it with unwavering conviction. I have no doubts about it.. However, this belief has never engendered hatred in me. I love every human being. This is a fact. Anyone who knows me can attest to my lack of hatred. I respect every religion from the depths of my heart.
I can say that this is possible for every human being. Humans have an enormous capacity, and they are able to live with contradictions. It is quite possible for the human mind to hold both beliefs simultaneously. An American writer, Walt Whitman (1819-1892), famously said, “I am large enough to contain all these contradictions.” Therefore, if you believe that one religion is the absolute truth, you should respect other religions. Our minds can hold both concepts. It’s not just lip service; it’s a genuine belief.
Interfaith dialogue is about religious learning. Establishing harmony is a different matter. The best formula for it is given by a reformer: peaceful coexistence. The UN has already adopted this formula, and it applies to religious groups as well.
In terms of social harmony, we must adopt the principle of coexistence. In terms of interfaith dialogue, we must take it as a process of mutual learning. This is my finding, experience, and discovery. I have personally adopted this formula in my life. For me, it’s not just a matter of giving speeches; it’s my way of life. By nature, I am a seeker, always eager to learn from others. My seeking spirit has no end. I learn from secular people and people of other religions. There’s no difficulty in doing this.
Religious Belief and Social Harmony
We must reassess our approach to interfaith dialogue. When the previous models failed to yield positive results, we must explore alternative formulas. As I mentioned earlier, the model based on uniformity and the model based on debate have both proven ineffective. Therefore, we must find a new formula. I propose the Faruqi formula, which is based on mutual learning.
We must separate the issues of social harmony and religious truth. We are all seekers of truth, and this pursuit is an ongoing and eternal process. To achieve conviction, we must study and interact. Interfaith dialogue serves this purpose of mutual learning and sharing. Everyone should share their experiences and learn from others. This healthy interaction is essential.
Interaction, dialogue, and thought exchange are crucial, but they should not be used to establish superiority over others. Instead, they should be tools for learning, which has no end. The universe of facts is limitless, and our learning process is an eternal one.
As for social harmony, we should adopt the tested formula of peaceful coexistence. As for interfaith dialogue, we should approach it as a learning process, exchanging thoughts and ideas. By following this method, we can achieve both goals: discovering the truth and establishing harmony. By taking interfaith dialogue as mutual learning, we can continue our pursuit of truth. By adopting the formula of coexistence, we can establish harmony in society. This is my experience, and I believe it aligns with the law of nature or the Creation Plan of God. There is no contradiction between this formula and nature. It is the only formula for interfaith dialogue. Dialogue for its own sake is meaningless, so if you want dialogue to have a purpose, you must discover it. In my experience, the purpose is sharing, mutual learning, and interaction.
Once you have a goal, you must adopt a peaceful method to achieve it. If creates problems or negative thinking, it is not the correct method at all. A peaceful method is one that, after following, does not create further problems. It must be highly peaceful. The method should not give rise to any problems. I have found this to be my finding and have adopted it as my way of life.
