Page 66 - Seekers Guide Book

Interfaith Dialogue in Islam
is wrong and no longer valid. So, a person is either an
immigrant to a country or a citizen of the country. This
is the universal norm and Muslim countries should
also adopt this principle. They should not differentiate
people on the basis of religion, because this would be
unacceptable to the modern mind.

16 Should we not encourage Muslims
to open communication with other

communities?

es, this is definitely required. When the Prophet went
Yto Madinah, half of the population comprised of Jews.
The direction of prayer for the Jews was not the Kabah,
rather it was facing Jerusalem. The Prophet adopted
the Jewish qiblah for the Muslim prayer as well. Today,
education is secular and the state too is administered
along secular principles. Why do Muslims not accept
this? If you do not change now, you shall have to pay the
price of being called backward.

17 Does Islam allow Muslims to wish
-
non Muslims on their festivals?

bsolutely! Opportunities for engaging in interaction
Ashould never be lost. Greeting others is a part of social
ethics, and not a part of belief system. One must strive
to live peacefully and humbly in society. A society is the

65