Islam and Peace
Religious Harmony
~ 137 ~
together by this process, they have developed rather
into new religions, a process which has either left
the problem of disharmony unsolved or has further
aggravated it. There are many examples of such
abortive efforts in the past.
In view of this historical reality, it is clear that the
suggestions made by Islam as to how to produce
harmony among the different religions is the only
viable solution. Any alternative suggestion,
however attractive it might appear, would be either
impracticable or counterproductive.
Once, when discussing this point with me, a
religious scholar said, ‘We have been attempting to
bring about interreligious harmony for the last one
hundred years, but the results have been quite
dismal. It would seem that there are
insurmountable obstacles in the way.’
I replied that the goal we want to attain is certainly
a proper one; it is simply that the strategy we
employ is impracticable. Religious harmony is
without doubt a desirable objective. But it cannot be
achieved by attempting to alter people’s beliefs-a
policy advocated by more than one scholar in this
