Islam’s View on Religious Pluralism in Surah Al-Kafirun
Some believe that this verse, which is in Surah Al-Kafirun, is evidence of Islam’s confirmation of religious pluralism.
Al-Kafirun is the 109th chapter of the Quran, which has 6 verses and is in the 30th Juz.
It is Makki and the 18th chapter revealed to the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
The Surah is about Kafirun (unbelievers), with the word Kafirun coming in the first verse, and hence the name of the Surah.
God in this chapter orders the Prophet (PBUH) to voice his opposition to idolatry and announce that he has no interest in the religion of Kafirun and will not make peace with them. God also informs him that unbelievers would not accept his religion.
Neither the religion of unbelievers is accepted by the Prophet (PBUH) nor do they accept religion of the Prophet (PBUH). Hence, they should not expect the Prophet (PBUH) to make peace with them.
This chapter is God’s mission to the Prophet (PBUH) to respond to unbelievers.
In the first three verses God orders the Prophet (PBUH) to always worship Him and tell unbelievers that they would never worship God and so there is no common ground between Muslims and unbelievers in religion.
This is the case as long as unbelievers insist on their belief.
This concept is repeated in the next verse.
“(Muhammad), tell the disbelievers, ‘I do not worship what you worship, nor do you worship what I worship, I have not been worshipping what you worshipped, nor will you worship what I shall worship. You follow your religion and I follow mine.”
This repetition is an emphasis on the fact that the Prophet (PBUH) should be worshipping God under any circumstances.
The last verse fully separates the path of Muslims from unbelievers. Here some may say that Islam has agreed with unbelievers’ choice of religion and God has urged the Prophet (PBUH) not to oppose them. Some also have interpreted this verse to mean Islam’s acceptance of religious pluralism.
But these interpretations cannot be correct because Islam is always after inviting people to monotheism and moving away from Kufr and Shirk.
Some interpreters believe that the word ‘Deen’ in the last verse means reward and punishment, not religion. Hence, the verse means every group of people will be rewarded or punished based on the Deen and the path they take.
