ACJU/NGS/2023/156
2023.06.08 (1444.11.18)
Coexistence means sharing in the joys and sorrows of others on a humane basis without insulting their cultures and religious beliefs while preserving their own identities, cultures and religious beliefs.
Our motherland Sri Lanka is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country. The development and progress of this country depends on the good relations that exist between the races and religions here.
The following Qur’anic verses clearly explain how to maintain a good relationship with other religious people, who do not harm us as Muslims and who live peacefully with us.
وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِهِۦ شَيْـًۭٔا ۖ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًۭا وَبِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱلْجَارِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْجَارِ ٱلْجُنُبِ وَٱلصَّاحِبِ بِٱلْجَنۢبِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًۭا فَخُورًا (سورة النساء: 36)
Worship Allah, and do not associate with Him anything, and be good to parents and to kinsmen and orphans and the needy and the close neighbor and the distant neighbor and the companion at your side and the wayfarer and to those (slaves who are) owned by you. Surely, Allah does not like those who are arrogant, proud.
لَّا يَنْهَىٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَـٰتِلُوكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَـٰرِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُقْسِطِين
( سورة الممتحنة:8)
Allah does not forbid you as regards those who did not fight you on account of faith, and did not expel you from your homes, that you do good to them, and deal justly with them. Surely Allah loves those who maintain justice.
Based on the above, it is necessary for Muslims to maintain social harmony with Buddhists, Hindus, Christians living in this country. While live with social harmony we should preserve our religious fundamentals and individuality too.
The points to be observed while maintaining coexistence are:
- Helping the poor, orphans, widows, cripples, sick etc. from other communities on humanitarian basis like we help the people in our own community.
- We should protect the rights of neighbors and develop good relations with them.
- Helping the needy among them.
- Giving gifts to them.
- Participating with them in public & social events (eg:- Shramadana), environmental protection activities, evil eradication activities etc. while keeping with religious norms.
- Helping their schools and public institutions.
- Those who do business with them should behave with integrity and generosity.
- Offering words of condolence to the families when someone passed away.
- Giving them clear explanations about our religion and culture.
- Avoiding activities that disrespect them such as involving them in our worship and seeking their help for it. In the same way, engaging us in their acts of worship and helping them is prohibited, so avoid them altogether.
- When they visit our places of worship or we visit their places of worship, then engaging them in our worship or we in their’s should be avoided. However, making those journeys between us a journey of introduction and understanding.
- Totally refrain from using the symbols associated with their worship.
- Do not disgrace their places of worship.
Also, the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama has issued a declaration on 27.12.2012 which includes guidelines on building coexistence with brothers of other religions.
Therefore, we request you to adhere to the above rules and guidelines with a view to developing good relations with other religious people.
Through this, we as Muslims want to give them an introduction to about our religion, culture and also this will be helpful for us in maintaining and protecting our basic beliefs and religious definitions.
May Almighty Allah help us all to follow the religious guidelines in all our affairs and maintain social peace and harmony!
Ash Shaikh Mufthi M.I.M. Rizwe
President
All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama
Ash Shaikh M. Arkam Nooramith
General Secretary
All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama
Ash Shaikh M.L.M. Ilyas
Secretary (Fatwa Division)
All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama
