Monday, July 7, 2025
Early Islamic Efforts In The Study Of Religions And Interfaith Dialogue
By Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi, New Age Islam
7 July 2025
This article explores early Islamic efforts in interfaith dialogue, highlighting scholarly engagement with Judaism, Christianity, and other religions through language learning, scripture study, and respectful understanding from the Prophet’s time onward.
Main Points:
1. Warqah bin Nawfal recognized the truth of the Prophet’s revelation.
2. Jewish schools in Madinah proved early religious understanding efforts.
3. Companions learned Hebrew and Syriac to deepen religious knowledge.
4. Comparative religious studies flourished in the Umayyad and Abbasid eras.
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The study of religions is a living and sensitive topic. Its importance has been acknowledged in every era. Historical study shows that efforts in this field have been ongoing throughout time. Even during the Prophetic period, there are clear signs and evidence indicating the presence of interreligious studies.
One such example is Warqah bin Nawfal, a noble, scholarly, and religious man from the Quraysh tribe. He was a cousin of Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) and possessed deep knowledge of Christianity and the Divine scriptures. He was well-versed in the Hebrew language and had studied both the Torah and the Gospel. Warqah had turned away from idol worship and was in search of truth. Though he had accepted Christianity, he was a seeker of pure monotheism.
When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) received the first revelation, Khadijah took him to Warqah bin Nawfal. Upon hearing the Prophet’s experience, Warqah said: "This is the same Namus (angel) that came to Moses. I wish I were alive when your people will drive you out."
Warqah was among the first to recognize the Prophet’s truth, though he passed away before accepting Islam formally. His example shows that sincerity, knowledge, and the search for truth can lead a person to the light of prophethood. His recognition of revelation is considered the earliest example of religious understanding.
Another example comes from Madinah, where a significant Jewish population lived. They had organized tribes known as Banu Qaynuqa, Banu Nadir, and Banu Qurayzah. Historical accounts mention a Jewish educational institution in Madinah where Jewish scholars taught the Torah. This suggests that non-Jews in Madinah must have had some awareness of Jewish beliefs and practices. It is also reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) visited this Jewish learning centre himself. These facts prove that the people of Madinah were familiar with Jewish teachings, which marks the beginning of religious understanding and dialogue in Islam.
A key aspect of studying religions and comparative religion is learning the languages in which the original scriptures are written. Only then can one access the original sources and understand the true spirit of a religion.
Jewish religious literature includes the Torah and Talmud, primarily written in Hebrew. A brief introduction of the Torah’s five books (Pentateuch) is as follows:
1. Genesis (Bereshit)
– It talks about the creation of the world, Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
2. Exodus (Shemot)
– It tells the story of how God saved the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and gave them the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai.
3. Leviticus (Vayikra)
– This book contains laws about worship, sacrifice, cleanliness, and how to live a holy life.
4. Numbers (Bamidbar)
It tells about the 40-year journey of the Israelites in the desert, and also includes some laws and events during that time.
5. Deuteronomy (Devarim)
This book repeats many laws and teachings, and includes the final speeches of Moses before his death.
The Talmud is a sacred and influential Jewish text consisting of commentary, interpretation, and legal discussions based on the Torah. It includes details of Jewish law, ethics, rituals, and daily life.
Understanding Judaism or Christianity requires knowledge of Hebrew and Syriac (or Aramaic) languages. Christian scriptures, especially the Gospels, are known as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, originally written in Aramaic or Syriac.
Similarly, Zoroastrians (Magians) have their own religious texts. Every religion has its own sacred literature, and its followers hold it dear. To understand other religions and their essence, it is essential to study their texts directly, which requires learning their original languages.
Islam clearly permits learning other languages. It is a universal and tolerant religion that encourages knowledge, understanding, dialogue, and harmony. In many cases, learning other religious languages is not only permissible but also necessary. The life of the Prophet and the companions offers several examples of this.
Sahabah Who Knew Hebrew and Syriac:
Zayd bin Thabit (RA): The Prophet (PBUH) instructed him to learn Hebrew to read Jewish letters and documents.
Abdullah bin Salam (RA): A Jewish scholar who accepted Islam and was deeply familiar with Hebrew and Jewish religious texts. A narration tells that when a verse of stoning (Rajm) in the Torah was hidden with a hand, he asked them to remove it, and the verse was revealed.
Umar ibn Al-Khattab (RA): Some narrations suggest that he understood Hebrew. It is reported that he once brought a Jewish book to the Prophet (PBUH), which caused displeasure.
During the Rightly Guided Caliphate, learning Hebrew was essential for religious and diplomatic purposes. Zayd bin Thabit’s skills helped the Islamic government interact with the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) effectively.
Umayyad Period:
In the Umayyad era, many scholars were well-versed in various cultures, sciences, and languages. As the Islamic empire expanded, interaction with different religions and philosophies increased, creating a need for comparative religious studies.
After the conquest of Persia, Muslims encountered Zoroastrians and began understanding their beliefs and rituals. Similarly, the conquest of Sindh brought Muslims into contact with Hinduism and Buddhism. This led to early knowledge about idols, karma, rebirth, and the Vedas. Arab historians and travellers wrote about Indian religions in detail.
The Sabians, mentioned in the Qur'an, were also studied. They were based in Iraq and Syria and believed in either star worship or monotheistic ideas.
Notable Scholars Who Knew Religious Languages:
Saeed bin Jubayr (d. 714): A famous Tabi‘i, known to have some knowledge of Hebrew to understand Jewish texts.
Wahb bin Munabbih (d. 732): A Yemeni scholar with expertise in Jewish and Christian texts, well-versed in Hebrew and Syriac, and known for narrating many Israelite traditions.
Ka‘b al-Ahbar (d. 652): A former Jewish scholar who accepted Islam and shared many Hebrew scriptures with Muslims. His teachings are preserved in Islamic commentaries as "Isra’iliyat." Scholars like Ibn Hajar, Ibn Taymiyyah, and Dhahabi confirmed his linguistic and scriptural knowledge.
Khalid bin Yazid bin Muawiyah: Though he did not translate directly, he supported translators and engaged with Jewish and Christian scholars.
Sahl bin Hassan: Mastered Syriac and contributed to the transmission of translated medical and philosophical texts into the Islamic world.
Although the translation movement became prominent during the Abbasid era, especially under Caliph al-Mansur and Caliph al-Ma’mun, the foundation for this movement was laid during the Umayyad period. Caliph Abdul Malik ibn Marwan initiated some translation activities, and skilled translators from Hebrew, Syriac, and Greek were active during his reign.
Conclusion:
From the time of the Prophet (PBUH) till now, Muslim scholars have contributed significantly to interfaith dialogue and the study of religions. The West later followed these traditions established by Muslim thinkers. These are our glorious traditions that must be revived. Understanding other religions and spreading the message of Islam require knowledge of other faiths, beliefs, and cultures. Our scholars not only studied these religions but also learned their languages.
Unfortunately, our modern institutions have neglected this area. For peaceful coexistence in a pluralistic society, we must revive the traditions of dialogue and religious study. Religious schools (madrasahs) need to pay special attention to this. From the Prophetic period to today, the continuity of religious dialogue and comparative religion has been maintained by great minds, proving that Islam supports such efforts with solid and comprehensive reasoning.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/islamic-religions-interfaith-dialogue/d/136100
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
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