- By: Dr. Muhammad Tayyab Khan Singhanvi (Ph.D)
In today’s world, where civilizational clashes, cultural contradictions, and rising religious extremism dominate the global landscape, the pursuit of interfaith harmony and dialogue is no longer a matter of intellectual indulgence it has become a vital necessity for peaceful coexistence. Globalization has indeed transformed the world into a “global village,” but it has also presented the challenge of preserving religious and cultural diversity while promoting mutual respect and cooperation. In this context, identifying shared moral and spiritual values between Islam a religion of mercy and other revealed and non-revealed faiths is one of the most urgent needs of our time, particularly for promoting global peace.
At its core, Islam conveys a universal message intended not only for Muslims but for all humanity a message rooted in guidance, justice, mercy, and inner tranquility. The Qur’an enjoins Muslims to remain firm in their beliefs, while also advocating kindness, compassion, and justice in dealings with followers of other religions. Islam permits dialogue with any school of thought that upholds human nature, ethics, and societal well-being.
Islam shares several foundational values with other Abrahamic religions such as Judaism and Christianity. These values stem from divine revelation and emphasize the principles of monotheism, righteousness, justice, mercy, and sincerity. All revealed religions teach belief in the Creator, adherence to the teachings of the prophets, affirmation of holy scriptures, and belief in the Day of Judgment. Ethically, they promote truthfulness, justice, filial piety, the rights of neighbors, helping the needy, and avoiding oppression.
These religions also view acts of worship as means of spiritual purification and societal cohesion. Practices such as fasting, prayer, charity, and sacrifice exist in some form across all major faiths. Furthermore, human beings are seen as stewards or responsible agents on Earth, entrusted with the task of upholding justice, peace, and righteousness. This common ground demonstrates that the ultimate objective of divine religions is to guide humanity toward individual and collective welfare, spiritual elevation, and moral excellence. These shared values offer a foundation upon which interfaith dialogue and harmony can be built.
Non-revealed religions those not based on prophetic revelation but rather on spiritual insights, philosophical contemplation, and historical human experience also possess numerous values that resonate with Islamic teachings. Notable among these are Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Buddhism, based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha, emphasizes liberation from suffering, purification of the self, and adherence to the Eightfold Path. Jainism upholds Ahimsa (non-violence) as the highest religious virtue. Taoism promotes cosmic balance, simplicity, and harmony with nature, while Confucianism emphasizes social ethics, justice, family systems, and humanitarian values.
Remarkably, Islamic teachings encompass all of these principles in depth. The Prophet Muhammad ? emphasized compassion, forgiveness, patience, justice, truth, and public service as core Islamic values. He famously said, “None of you truly believes until he desires for his brother what he desires for himself.” This foundational principle known globally as the “Golden Rule” is common to nearly every major religion and philosophical tradition.
In Buddhism, a similar principle states: “Treat your neighbor as you would treat yourself.” Confucianism likewise teaches: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Such ethical harmony not only indicates philosophical alignment but also demonstrates the feasibility of a moral alliance between faiths built upon compassion, justice, and mutual respect.
The principle of non-violence, which is central to Jainism, is also intrinsic to Islam. The Prophet ? was known as “Mercy to the Worlds” and upheld moral conduct even in warfare, strictly prohibiting cruelty toward enemies. The Qur’an declares that “Whoever kills a person unjustly, it is as if he has killed all of humanity.” Similarly, in Buddhism, avoiding killing, lying, stealing, and sexual misconduct form the foundation of ethical living values that align closely with Islamic morality.
The concept of public service is also a shared value. Followers of Buddhism and Taoism continue to operate free clinics, temple schools, and community kitchens. In Islam, acts of charity such as Zakat, Sadaqah, Waqf, and Fitrana are not only encouraged but are elevated to acts of worship. The Prophet ? stated: “The best of people is the one who is most beneficial to others.”
In the realm of spirituality, non-revealed religions emphasize meditation and mindfulness to attain inner peace and spiritual purity. Concepts such as Nirvana (in Buddhism) and Dao (in Taoism) represent the pinnacle of spiritual attainment. Islamic Sufism also offers a well-developed spiritual framework, emphasizing remembrance of God (Dhikr), contemplation, trust in God (Tawakkul), patience (Sabr), and contentment (Qana‘ah) as paths to inner purification.
The Prophet Muhammad’s ? conduct toward other religions was a model of exemplary tolerance and respect. He allowed the Christian delegation from Najran to worship in the Prophet’s Mosque, signed the Charter of Medina granting full civil rights to Jews, and maintained cordial relations with Christians and Jews from Najran, Yamama, and Abyssinia. He declared: “Whoever oppresses a non-Muslim minority shall find me their opponent on the Day of Judgment.”
Islamic jurists such as Imam Qurtubi emphasized that Islam provides a global ethical framework that encourages respectful and just relations with all nations. The same respectful approach can and should be extended to non-revealed religions, provided we transcend religious prejudice, ignorance, and self-interest, and instead focus on human welfare.
In today’s world riddled with terrorism, warfare, racism, and Islamophobia interfaith dialogue, moral alliances, and religious cooperation are more relevant than ever. Educational institutions should teach world religions accurately and impartially, media should promote positive and balanced interfaith content, and both national and international forums should be established to foster religious and intellectual harmony.
Interfaith dialogue must go beyond theological comparison or assertions of superiority. Instead, it should focus on practical cooperation to address shared human challenges such as poverty, environmental degradation, moral decay, and global security. Islam not only permits such cooperation it actively encourages it. As the Qur’an states: “And cooperate with one another in righteousness and piety” (Surah Al-Ma’idah: 2).
The Qur’an affirms the inherent dignity of all human beings: “We have honored the children of Adam” (Surah Al-Isra: 70). This declaration underscores that human worth transcends religion, race, or ethnicity. It offers a universal platform on which all religions whether revealed or non-revealed can unite around the principles of morality, justice, peace, and mutual respect.
It is no exaggeration to say that if we sincerely adhere to these shared values, and foster dialogue, cooperation, and mutual understanding, we can build a peaceful, just, and civilized global society. Kindness toward followers of all religions, mutual understanding, and collaboration for common goals are not only reflective of Islam’s true spirit but are a reflection of the noble example set by the Prophet Muhammad ?.