A Sincere Question: Balancing Respect and Disagreement in Interfaith Matters
As-Salamu Alaikum everyone. I wanted to bring up something I've been reflecting on, and I'm asking with a genuine heart, not to criticize anyone's faith. Sometimes I notice that in some communities, Muslims are raised with a very strong disapproval of other religions, to the point where mocking or bullying someone for their beliefs might happen. This confuses me because our beautiful Quran teaches us to be respectful towards others and what they hold sacred. Just look at Surah Al-An'am (6:108), where Allah (SWT) tells us not to insult what others worship, so they don't turn around and insult Allah out of ignorance. That feels like a direct instruction to be careful and show respect, even when we disagree. Of course, as Muslims, we believe in the truth of our deen. We have theological differences with Christianity, Judaism, and other paths-that's natural. But having a difference of belief is one thing; showing hostility or making fun of others is something else entirely. Do you think this might come more from cultural practices than from the religion itself? Could some communities be misunderstanding the message? Or are there other parts of the Quran or scholarly opinions that help explain this situation better? I'd truly value some thoughtful insights from anyone who has looked into this topic more deeply. Jazakum Allahu Khayran.