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Unification of Religions
The Presidency of Islamic Research and Ifta - Riyadh
Under The General Supervision of the Grand Council of Scholars
Fatwa No: 19402, Dated 25 Muharram 1418H
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Praise be to Allah alone, and salaat and salaam be upon
Muhammad, his family, companions, and those who righteously
follow him until the Day of Judgment.
The Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Ifta has
reviewed the inquiries, opinions and essays propagated in the
mass media concerning the "Call for the Unification of
Religions" ie; Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, and studied
what has originated from the call to:
Build a Mosque, a Church, and a Jewish Temple in one area,
especially in universities, airports, and public squares etc.
Print the Noble Qur'an, the Torah, and the Bible in one book.
Other consequences of such a call in the form of conferences,
symposiums, and solicitations to be established both in the East
and the West.
After comprehensive study the committee resolves the following:-
1. One of the fundamentals of Faith in Islam, which is known as
an essential part of the religion and upon which all Muslims
have agreed, is that there is no true religion on the earth
except Islam, and that it is the Final religion which abrogated
all previous religuions and creeds. Therefore, no other religion
remains on earth by which Allah can be worshipped except Islam.
Allah The Most High says, "And whoever seeks a religion other
than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the
Hereafter he will be one of the losers." [Al-Qur'an 3:85].
2. One of the fundamentals of faith in Islam is what Allah's
Book (the Qur'an) is the last Book that was revealed by the
Cherisher of the Worlds. It abrogated all the Books revealed by
Allah before it, such as the Torah, the Psalms, and the Bible,
and as such no other Book has been left by which Allah can be
worshipped except the Qur'an. Allah, The Most High, says, "And
We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book (the Qur'an) in
truth, confirming the Scriptures that came before it, and
trustworthy in highness and a witness over it (old scriptures).
So judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not
their vain desires." [Al-Qur'an] 5:48]
3. It is our belief that both the Torah and the Bible were
abrogated by the Qur'an, and that they were changed by means of
additions or deletions by their followers. This was indicated in
some verses in Allah's Book - the Noble Qur'an. Allah, The Most
High, says in His Qur'an, "So because of their breach of their
covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard. They
change the words from their (right) places and have abandoned a
good part of the Message that was sent to them. And you will not
cease to discover deceit in them, except a few of them." [Al-
Qur'an 5:13]
"Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and
then say, 'This is from Allah.' To purchase with it a little
price! Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to
them for thet they earn thereby." [Al-Qur'an 2:79]
"And verily, among them is a party who distort the Book with
their tongue (as they read), so that you may think it is from
the Book, but it is not from the Book, and they say, 'This is
from Allah', but it is not from Allah; and they speak a lie
against Allah while they know it." [Al-Qur'an 3:78]
Accordingly, even whatever is considered as correct in these
Books, has been abrogated by Islam. The remaining parts are
altered. This is proved by the following incident. The Prophet
(sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam) got angry when he saw 'Umar ibn Al-
Khattab holding a sheet containing some verses from the Torah
and he said to him, "O 'Umar! Are you in doubt? Have I not
brought (the Message) as clear as white? If my brother Musa
('alaihi salam) had been alive, he would have followed me."
Narrated by Ahmed, Ad-Daarimi and others.
4. Another fundamental of Faith in Islam is that our Prophet and
Messenger Muhammad (sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam) id the seal of
all the prophets and messengers. Allah says, "Muhammad
(sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is not the father of any man among
you, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the last (end) of the
Prophets. And Allah is Ever All-Aware of everuthing." [Al-Qur'an
33:40] As such, no other messenger is left to be followed except
Muhammad (sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam).
If any of Allah's Prophets and Messengers had been alive, they
too along with their followers would have followed Muhammad
(sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam). Allah, The Most High, says, "And
(Remember) when Allah took the Covenant of the Prophets
saying 'Take whatever I gave you from the Book and Hikmah
(understanding of the Laws of Allah etc.) and afterwards there
will come to you a messenger (Muhammad) confirming what is with
you. You must then believe in him and help him.' Allah said: 'Do
you agree (to it) and will you take up My covenant (which I
conclude with you)?' They said, 'We agree'. He said, 'Then bear
witness; and I am with you among the witnesses (for this)." [Al-
Qur'an 3:81]
When Jesus ('alaihi salam), the Prophet of Allah, comes in a
later time he will follow Muhammad (sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam)
and rule according to Muhammad's (sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam)
legislation. Allah, The Most High, says, "Those who follow the
Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write (Muhammad)
whom they find written with them in the Taurah (Torah) [Deut.
CVIII,15] and the Injeel [Gospel of John XIV,16]" [Al-Qur'an
7:157]
In addition, one of the basic pillars of faith in Islam is that
Muhammad (sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam) was ent to all human
beings, and Allah says, "Say (O Muhammad) 'O mankind! Verily, I
am sent to you all as a Messenger of Allah - to Whom belongs the
dominion of the heavens and the earth, none has the right to be
worshipped but He." [Al-Qur'an 7:158]
5. One of the fundamentals of Islam is that any Jew or Christian
who does not embrace Islam should be considered and designated
as an unbeliever (Kafir) as well as an enemy of Allah, of His
Messengers and the Believers (Muminoon), and such people will be
the people of the Fire in accordance to Allah's Saying,
that, "Those who disbelieve from among the people of the
Scriptures (Jews and Christians) and among al-Mushrikun
(Polytheists), were not going to leave (their disbelief) until
there came to them clear evidence." [Al-Qur'an 98:1]
And Allah says, "Verily, those who disbelieve (in the religion
of Islam, the Qur'an, and the Prophet Muhammad
(sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam)) from among the people of the
Scriptures (Jews and Christians) and al-Mushrikun (Polytheists)
will abide in the Fire of Hell. They are the worst of
creatures." [Al-Quran 98:6]
It was narrated in Sahih Muslim that the Prophet
(sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Anyone of this Ummah,
whether a Jew or a Christian who heard about me and died without
believing in what was revealed to me, he will be among the
people of the Hell-Fire."
Based on the above, anyone who does not charge Jews and
Christians with Kufr will be a Kaafir himself according to the
Shari'ah principle. (ie; Anyone who does not charge the Kaafir
with Kufr will be Kaafir himself.)
6. Adulterating the fundamentals of Islamic Faith and the facts
of Islamic Law (Shari'ah) to serve the call (for the unification
of religions), by mixing them together and casting them to one
mould is but a wicked call. It aims at mixing the Truth with
Falsehood, destroying Islam, demolishing its foundations and
bringing all Muslims to clear apostasy (Riddah). This can be
seen in the saying of Allah, The Most High, "And they will never
cease fighting you until they turn you back from your religion
(Islamic Monotheism) if they can." [Al-Qur'an 2:217]. Allah
Says, "They wish that you reject faith, as they have rejected
(Faith), and thus that you will become equal (like one
another)." [Al-Qur'an 4:89]
7. The inevitable consequence of such evil calls are:
The cancellation of differences between Islam and Kufr, Truth
and Falsehood, and complete negation of enjoining the right and
forbidding the wrong.
Breaking of barriers of alienation between Muslims and
Kafiroon (unbelievers) so that no loyalty nor Jihad nor struggle
for the sake of elevating Allah's Word on Allah's earth may take
place. Allah, The Most High, commands "Fight against those who
(1) do not believe in Allah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor
forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger,
(4) those who acknowledge not the religion of Truth - ie Islam,
among the people of the Scriptures (Jews and Christians), until
they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves
subdued." [Al-Qur'an 9:29]
"And fight against the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans,
idolators, disbelievers in the oneness of Allah) collectively,
as they fight against you collectively. But know that Allah is
with the pious." [Al-Qur'an 9:36]
Had this (unification) call emanated from a Muslim, it would be
considered explicit Riddah (apostasy) from Islam, as it is in
conflict with the principles of Islamic faith, and accepts
disbelief in Allah - The Glorified. This call annuls what was
proved by the Qur'an as true, and denies that the Qur'an has
abrogated all the books that preceded it, and also negates that
Islam had abrogated all the previous religions. Based on this,
the call for unification is rejected according to Shari'ah and
is strictly prohibited by all evidences of Islam in the Qur'an,
the Sunnah, and Ijmaa' (consensus).
Based on the aforesaid:
It is not permissible for any Muslim who believes in Allah as
the Rabb (Creator/Provider/Owner), in Islam as the religion, and
Muhammad (sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam) as a Prophet and
Messenger, to call for this abominable belief, or encourage
others to join it, or spread it among other Muslims, let alone
accepting it, attending its conferences or symposiums and
affiliating with its assemblies.
It is prohibited for any Muslim to print the Torah and the
Bible even independently. So how could it be permissible to
print them with the Qur'an in one book? Accordingly, whoever
does that, or calls for it, has strayed far away (from the Right
Path), as this is but a combination of the Truth (the Noble
Qur'an) with the altered or abrogated books of the Torah and the
Bible.
It is prohibited for any Muslim to respond to that call for
building (a mosque, a church, and a temple) in one complex, as
this would imply a confession that there are religions by which
Allah can be worshipped, besides Islam. This would also involve
a denial that Islam is the purest of all the other religions. It
would also imply a serious admission that religions are three
and that people on earth may adopt whatever they wish of them,
equally, and that Islam has not superseded the religions that
preceded it.
Undoubtedly, approving, believing, or accepting this call is
considered Kufr (disbelief) and explicit error as it plainly
contradicts the Noble Qur'an, the Purified Sunnah, and the
Muslim Ijmaa' (consensus). It would also imply an agreement that
the alterations done by the Jews and Christians are from Allah -
Glory Be to Him. Moreover, it is not permissible to call
churches, Allah's houses', as the Christians do not perform a
correct worship that is accepted by Allah, and it is a kind of
worship not based on Islam. Allah, The Most High, Says, "And
whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be
accepted of him, and in the hereafter he will be one of the
losers." [Al-Qur'an 3:85]
Rather they - (churches) are houses where Kufr in Allah is
practiced. We seek refuge with Allah from Kufr and those who
belong to it. Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah rest his
soul in peace) stated in "Majmoo` Al-Fatawa" (collection of
Islamic Rulings) 162/22, as follows:-
"Churches and Synagogues are not Allah's houses, but Allah's
Houses are the Mosques. Rather, they (churches and synagogues)
are houses of Kufr even though Allah's name is mentioned in
them. Houses are regarded acording to the creed of the people.
These people rejected Allah's last Prophet (sallalahu 'alaihi wa
sallam) and as such they are Kuffaar (disbelievers), hence
theirs are but houses designated for the worship practiced by
the Kuffaar."
It is noteworthy that calling the Kuffaar in general and the
People of the Book in particular to Islam is incumbent upon all
Muslims as per the explicit texts of our Noble Book, the Qur'an,
and the Sunnah. However, a response may not be achieved except
through kind words and sound arguments. It should, nonetheless,
be done on condition not to drop any of the rules of Islam, so
that they might either be convinced of Islam and embrace it, or
reject it and die after a clear warning (had been given) to
them. Allah, The Most High, Says, "Say (O Muhammad) 'O People of
the Scripture! (Jews and Christians) Come to a word that is Just
between us and you, that we worship none but Allah, and that we
associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take
others as lords, besides Allah. Then if they turn away, say, 'I
bear witness that we are Muslims.'" [Al-Quran 3:64]
However, debates, meetings, and dialogue held with them in order
to enable them in achieving their desires, fulfilling their
aims, breaking the bonds of Islam, and bending the Fundamentals
of Islamic Faith are all considered as invalid, which is
rejected by Allah, His Messenger (sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam),
and all believers. Allah, The Most High, Says, "And follow not
their vain desires, but beware of them lest they turn you (O
Muhammad) far away from some of that which Allah has sent down
to you." [Al-Qur'an 5:49]
The committee, in resolving and issuing this verdict for all
people also seeks all Muslims in general and scholars in
particular, to fear Allah and protect Islam and preserve the
Muslim Creed from error, and its callers to error and from Kufr
and its people.
It also urges them to take precautions against this obvious Call
for Unbelief (for the Unification of Religions) and against
falling into its traps. We seek refuge with Allah for every
Muslim from becoming a reason for bringing such an error to the
Muslim nations and dpreading it among them. We ask Allah by His
Supreme Names and Attributes to protect us from these devious
afflictions and make us guides and be guided to The Right Path,
and majke us protectors of Islam deriving light and guidance
from our Rabb till we meet Him and he is pleased with us. He is
the Grantor of success, and may His salaam be upon our Prophet
Muhammad (sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam) his family and all his
companions.
The Permanent Committee for Academic Research and Ifta
(Verdict)
Abdul-Aziz Ibn Baz, President
Abdul-Aziz Ibn Abdullah Al-Shaykh Abdullah, Vice President
Salih Ibn Fawzan Al-Fawzan, Member
Bakr Ibn Abdullah Abu Zaid, Member
