Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Another question. It is about “Abrahamic Faiths’. Allah says in the Quran that Ibrahim [a] was neither a Jew nor a Christian. Now, these days, we have movements that claims that Christianity, Judaism and Islam are all Abrahamic Faiths. How could this be possible? Isn’t Islam is the only Abrahamic Faith?
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate
May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon His Messenger Muhammad, his folk, companions, and followers
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
Wisdom is one of the pillars of successful da`wah, and the successful promotion of relationships with other communitieswhich is essential to the survival and strength of Muslim communities themselves.
This wisdom entails opening dialog with others on the basis of shared values and understandings, without compromising one’s own. This is the spirit of the Qur’an,
003.064 Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to a true word (kalimatin sawa’) between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him).
And,
016.125 Call unto the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation, and reason with them in the best of ways. Lo! your Lord is Best Aware of him who strays from His way, and He is Best Aware of those who go aright.
In this light, emphasizing that we share a common Prophetic traditionthat of the Father of Prophets, Sayyiduna Ibrahim (Allah bless him and give him peace)is from wisdom.
However, this should not be done in ways that compromises one’s principles and values, or that plays into others’ agendas. It is clear from the life-example of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that the sunna is for Muslims to act with deep thought and with an eye on the future and on consequences.
And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani