Telling someone from a different faith/belief

[Spirit of Light]

I have thought a lot about this, and come to the conclusion that as a Muslim, it would be wrong of me to tell a person from a different faith or belief that they are wrong.

I can discuss with an other muslim about the understanding of the teaching, and accept that even fellow muslims understanding the teaching differently than my self. And be ok with it.

Any thoughts?

 

[Sirona]

This is a noble and praiseworthy attitude, @Conscious thoughts

Regarding your question, AFAIK Surah 1, Al-fatihah says

5 You (Alone) we worship, and you (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).
6 Guide us to the Straight Way,
7 The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger, nor of those who went astray.

I read that "those who earned Allah's anger" are the Jews and "those who went astray" are the Christians. Don't know whether this is true, but anyway, Al-Fatihah must be said around 19 times a day during obligatory prayer, so I don't know whether this prayer really corresponds to your attitude, which seems to be very tolerant. But admittedly I know Islam only from books and I know nothing about Sufism, so I don't know of any different approach to what to me looks like the letter of the law."

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I have thought a lot about this, and come to the conclusion that as a Muslim, it would be wrong of me to tell a person from a different faith or belief that they are wrong.

I can discuss with an other muslim about the understanding of the teaching, and accept that even fellow muslims understanding the teaching differently than my self. And be ok with it.

Any thoughts?

Why?

 

[Vinayaka]

When folks tell others that they're wrong, it often ends the discussion, unless the other person is also living in the right/wrong mindset, and if that's the case, the pointless argument begins.

Edited ... it can vary on the topic.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I’m of the mindset that telling another they are wrong about belief or faith is pointless and futile, not to mention rude.

In matters of faith or belief, no one knows for certain what another’s spiritual needs are, so “wrong’” is nothing more than personal perception.

ETA: Of course, if one holds a belief in something that conflicts with what is objectively evident, they yeah, they’re wrong, and I have no qualm about their being told they’re wrong.

 

[Spirit of Light]

Why?

I have enough with learning the scripture of my own faith, no need for me to tell others they are wrong as long I my self have much to learn.

Some of my own understanding may be still be wrong. So if i tell others their understanding or belief is wrong, i might not be able to back my own words.

 

[Altfish]

I have thought a lot about this, and come to the conclusion that as a Muslim, it would be wrong of me to tell a person from a different faith or belief that they are wrong.

I can discuss with an other muslim about the understanding of the teaching, and accept that even fellow muslims understanding the teaching differently than my self. And be ok with it.

Any thoughts?

But surely, by not accepting their faith you are by implication telling them , "It is wrong".

 

[Spirit of Light]

But surely, by not accepting their faith you are by implication telling them , "It is wrong".

Who say I personally does not accept they have a different religious belief than me?

 

[Twilight Hue]

I have thought a lot about this, and come to the conclusion that as a Muslim, it would be wrong of me to tell a person from a different faith or belief that they are wrong.

I can discuss with an other muslim about the understanding of the teaching, and accept that even fellow muslims understanding the teaching differently than my self. And be ok with it.

Any thoughts?

It shouldn't even be on the table. Religion ought to be just a personal journey imo.

 

[SalixIncendium]

But surely, by not accepting their faith you are by implication telling them , "It is wrong".

By accept, do you mean recognize and acknowledge, or do you mean take as one’s own?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I have thought a lot about this, and come to the conclusion that as a Muslim, it would be wrong of me to tell a person from a different faith or belief that they are wrong.

I can discuss with an other muslim about the understanding of the teaching, and accept that even fellow muslims understanding the teaching differently than my self. And be ok with it.

Any thoughts?

Is there a difference between telling people they are wrong out of debate or challenge or correcting them as a means of constructive critique?

How do you (and others?) personally tell the difference?

I honestly believe there is a difference but it depends on the person and their personality (passiveness for example) if he or she takes the correction as feedback or debate.

My third question is how do you know?

 

[exchemist]

I have thought a lot about this, and come to the conclusion that as a Muslim, it would be wrong of me to tell a person from a different faith or belief that they are wrong.

I can discuss with an other muslim about the understanding of the teaching, and accept that even fellow muslims understanding the teaching differently than my self. And be ok with it.

Any thoughts?

What I think one should do is not to say "you are wrong" but "Islam (or Christianity) teaches.....", or even better, "my understanding of what it teaches is.....".

It was actually living in the Middle East that convinced me of the absurdity of any one religion claiming, uniquely, to have "The Truth" and that all others must therefore be "wrong". Given the number of religions in the world, and the various things many of them seem to have in common, surely it must be more likely that they all, imperfectly, discern some form of truth. "Now we see through a glass darkly" as St Paul puts it.

 

[Revoltingest]

Any thoughts?

You're welcome to tell me that I'm not even wrong.
(While Pauli's phrase was an insult, I find it pleasing.)

 

[Unveiled Artist]

But surely, by not accepting their faith you are by implication telling them , "It is wrong".

What do you mean by accept?

You can accept a persons opinion without agreeing to it. So, you can accept someone believes Jesus is not the creator but can disagree with that belief. I had a friend who couldn't correct me when I asked or said something she disagreed with and thought it was an attack. It was hard for her if near impossible to say I'm wrong so she held that feeling and made her discussions about religion with me quite challenging to her set belief system.

Maybe tolerance is better than accept but they can still be wrong regardless.

Least that's how I'd see it.

 

[Altfish]

What do you mean by accept?

You can accept a persons opinion without agreeing to it. So, you can accept someone believes Jesus is not the creator but can disagree with that belief. I had a friend who couldn't correct me when I asked or said something she disagreed with and thought it was an attack. It was hard for her if near impossible to say I'm wrong so she held that feeling and made her discussions about religion with me quite challenging to her set belief system.

Maybe tolerance is better than accept but they can still be wrong regardless.

Least that's how I'd see it.

Maybe 'accept' was the wrong word?
I meant if you choose not to follow a particular religion/faith you are basically disagreeing with that faith. In other words you can find flaws with it which means that your faith is 'better'

 

[Quintessence]

What about this, @Conscious thoughts -

"From my perspective you are wrong, and here is why. Could you share with me how it is right from yours?"

There are many questions in the realm whose answers transcend rightness and wrongness in some absolute sense. That is, they are not matter-of-fact, but matters of values, perspective, preference, etc.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Maybe 'accept' was the wrong word?
I meant if you choose not to follow a particular religion/faith you are basically disagreeing with that faith. In other words you can find flaws with it which means that your faith is 'better'

True. I can see that. For example taking Christians and Muslims off the spot, if a Hindu believes God is consciousness by default they disagree with God being a Creator in the abrahamic sense of the term. Though it depends on the person if they feel comfortable saying that, though.

What I see (hopefully I'm right) is culture and personality clash. A passive aggressive person may say they accept a belief to not offend but really they tolerate it. I'm not sure how a passive person would handle it...maybe ignore it. Aggressives will challenge it.

Just spit balling (aka thinking out loud)

 

[Inquire of God]

I have thought a lot about this, and come to the conclusion that as a Muslim, it would be wrong of me to tell a person from a different faith or belief that they are wrong.

I can discuss with an other muslim about the understanding of the teaching, and accept that even fellow muslims understanding the teaching differently than my self. And be ok with it.

Any thoughts?

I agree and think that for anyone in any religion to tell someone in another religion they are wrong is unkind and therefore not something God approves.

 

[Nakosis]

But surely, by not accepting their faith you are by implication telling them , "It is wrong".

I see it as just saying their faith/belief is not right for me.

 

[Altfish]

I see it as just saying their faith/belief is not right for me.

ie it doesn't make sense