Ismail Raji Al-Faruqi’s Study of Religions - (Part Two)

By Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi, New Age Islam 5 August 2025 This article delves into the scholarly contributions of Ismail Raji al-Faruqi, focusing on his balanced and inclusive approach to the comparative study of religions. Al-Faruqi is recognized for his deep commitment to Islam as well as his respectful engagement with other world religions, including Judaism and Christianity. His works emphasize the central Islamic concept of Tawhid (the oneness of God) and promote interfaith dialogue based on universal ethical values, tolerance, and human dignity. Al-Faruqi argued that Islam supports science, technology, social justice, and modern education, and he consistently advocated for the integration of Islamic teachings with contemporary knowledge systems, which he called the "Islamization of knowledge". His writings highlight Islam’s moral principles like justice, equality, compassion, and humility, and stress the need to empower marginalized communities through charity, education, and ethical governance. He also strongly supported women's rights and used Islamic sources to back his views. Al-Faruqi called for deeper, spiritual understanding between faiths, moving beyond superficial interfaith exchanges. His academic approach combined philosophical depth with educational reform, urging Muslims to reinterpret eternal Islamic values using modern frameworks and terminology. The article concludes by stressing that al-Faruqi's vision is vital for today's world, where global issues like bioethics, AI, environmental crisis, gender equity, and human rights require intellectual renewal (ijtihad) rooted in Islamic principles. His legacy encourages Muslims to engage confidently with the modern world while remaining faithful to the timeless message of Islam. Main Points: 1. Al-Faruqi emphasized Tawhid as Islam’s universal spiritual foundation. 2. Promoted interfaith dialogue through mutual respect and deep understanding. 3. Advocated Islamization of knowledge aligning faith with modern sciences. 4. Strongly supported women’s rights using authentic Islamic sources. 5. Stressed social justice through charity and ethical wealth distribution. 6. Called for ijtihad to address modern global intellectual challenges. ----- Ismail Raji Al-Faruqi approached the study of religions with remarkable open-mindedness and without prejudice. He conducted deep research not only on various world religions but also studied Islam in detail, which shows his scholarly insight. In fact, he dedicated his life—especially in Western academic institutions—to the study and promotion of Islam. Al-Faruqi was an expert in religious affairs, philosophy, history, comparative religion, and human studies. He encouraged young people to understand and spread Islamic principles and emphasized the importance of humanity. His thinking was grounded in Qur'anic teachings, Islamic history, and philosophical analysis. His work not only focused on comparative religion but also addressed fundamental issues such as Tawhid (Oneness of God) and a deep understanding of Islam. He authored several books and essays at the international level, which left a lasting impact on society. He translated and edited books on religions like Judaism and Islam in both English and Arabic. Much of his work focused on comparing Islam with Christianity and other faiths. Al-Faruqi wrote over 25 books and more than 100 research articles for various journals. His comparative religious studies were also included in other disciplines, offering logical and scientifically grounded arguments for understanding Islam. His Views on Islam: In his book Historical Atlas of the Religions of the World, Al-Faruqi writes: "A Muslim believes in monotheism and an ethical worldview, which is rooted in the Qur'anic perspective of religion. This perspective is based on unity, universality, tolerance, and affirmation of life. These principles enable Muslims to confront contemporary challenges like materialism and religious-racial conflicts. This Qur'anic outlook also facilitates Muslim participation in dialogue between religions, cultures, and civilizations." Al-Faruqi distinguishes between monotheistic religious worldviews and mythical religious worldviews. The latter are based on belief in multiple gods and symbolic interpretations of spiritual truths. He criticizes mythical thought for obstructing the intellectual growth needed to understand monotheism in its pure, abstract form. According to him, it is necessary to help the world understand the true nature of God, worship Him alone, obey Him, and follow the eternal divine laws revealed by Him. He emphasized the finality of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), arguing that no prophet would come after him. He declared the Qur’an as the final and unaltered divine revelation, which was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and will continue to guide humanity until the end of time. He emphasized Islam’s moral teachings, stating that values like justice, equality, compassion, honesty, and humility are essential Islamic principles that promote peace and harmony in society. Women’s Rights and Interfaith Dialogue: Al-Faruqi strongly advocated for women’s rights, dignity, and protection, providing arguments based on Islamic sources. He emphasized interfaith understanding and cooperation, advocating for respect of each religion’s uniqueness while also finding common values through comparative religion. He believed that true interfaith dialogue should move beyond superficial discussions to reach deeper spiritual understanding. That is why he passionately promoted the respect of Prophet Jesus (Isa A.S.) and Mary (Maryam A.S.), based on Islamic traditions. Islam, Science, and Modernity: Al-Faruqi clarified that Islam is not against science or modern thought—whether related to the past or the future. He supported utilizing science and technology within the framework of Islamic values. He also praised Islam’s system of charity (zakat, sadaqah, etc.), seeing it as essential for social welfare and justice. He stressed the importance of fair distribution of resources and empowering underprivileged communities based on Islamic teachings. He mostly used philosophical and academic methods and tried to present Islamic knowledge in line with modern academic requirements. His unique style shows that he advocated interfaith harmony and proposed the idea of "Islamization of knowledge", arguing that Islamic values should be integrated with modern disciplines to advance Muslim scholarship. He worked to incorporate Islamic philosophy into modern educational curricula and taught at various academic institutions. He promoted interreligious dialogue through research, academic debates, and exchange of ideas among religious scholars. His studies aimed at creating harmony among different religions. It would be fair to say that his work revolved around academic research, writing, and curriculum development. He tried to present Islamic philosophy and sciences in modern educational frameworks. He worked deeply on philosophical ideas, attempting to align Islamic teachings with contemporary thought, opening up new avenues for scholarly discussion. A Comprehensive Vision: Al-Faruqi’s study of Islam and other religions was done with great responsibility and clarity. He argued that Islamic teachings should be taught in a broader, more open-minded way in educational institutions. Islam encourages understanding, dialogue, research, observation, and experimentation. In today’s world dominated by science and technology, Al-Faruqi proved that Islam is not in conflict with modern science. Instead, science can be used beneficially within the moral and spiritual framework of Islam. He also emphasized the promotion of social and ethical values found in Islam, especially those related to community welfare and justice. Al-Faruqi’s writings affirm that Islam is a universal and timeless religion, not limited to any one era. While its foundational principles remain unchanged, its message must be presented in a language and method that resonates with modern times. He advocated the need for Muslims to engage in intellectual renewal (ijtihad) and address new challenges—like AI, digital economy, bioethics, gender justice, and environmental crises—with scholarly wisdom grounded in Qur'an and Sunnah. Islam encourages scientific thinking and research. However, Muslim societies lag behind in this field. That’s why there’s a strong need to integrate Islamic and modern sciences in educational institutions. Updating Islam for modern times does not mean changing its core principles. Instead, it means expressing those eternal values in a relevant and meaningful way—just as scholars like Al-Ghazali, Shah Waliullah, Iqbal, and Maulana Maududi did in their eras. Muslim societies must take part in global academic and social conversations, including those on human rights, environment, and ethics, while confidently presenting Islam’s perspective. Conclusion: Islam is a complete and universal way of life, and it is the responsibility of Muslims to present its eternal message in a rational, constructive, and modern framework. For this, we need renewed interpretation, education, research, and global engagement. Al-Faruqi’s works provide a model of balanced, intellectual, and faith-based scholarship, showing how Islam can meet the demands of the modern world without compromising its identity. ----- First Part of the Article: Ismail Raji Al-Faruqi’s Study of Religions - (Part One) Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi is an Author and Columnist URL: https://www.newageislam.com/books-documents/ismail-raji-faruqi-religions-part-two/d/136403 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism