Islam's Response to Contemporary Issues — Page 25
Inter-Religious Peace 25 Although Islam also shares this view with other religions (some having highly ambitious programmes of world domination), within this apparent commonality, Islam stands distinctly different in its attitude to the aforementioned ambitious claim. This is no place for developing this controversial theme further and to enter into a debate as to which religion has actually been commissioned by God to gather the whole of mankind under one Divine banner. But it is very important for us to understand the implications of such claims by more than one religion of the world. If two, three or four powerful religions with long-established historical tradition simultaneously claim to be universal religions, will it not generate monstrous confusion and uncertainty in the minds of all human beings? Will their mutual rivalry and struggle for domination not pose a real and substantial threat to world peace? Such movements of global dimension on the part of religions are a matter of grave concern themselves. But to add to that the danger of such movements falling into the hands of an irresponsible, bigoted and intolerant leadership means that the risks will be manifold and more real than academic. In the case of Islam, unfortunately, there is widespread propaganda to the effect that Islam promotes the use of force wherever possible for the spread of its ideology. Such words emanate not only from opponents of Islam but also from medieval-minded Muslim ‘clergy’. Obviously, if one religion opts for the offensive, the others will have the right to defend themselves with the same weapons. Of course, I do not agree and strongly reject the notion that Islam advocates the use of force for the spread of ideologies—but to this aspect, I will return later.