The qur'anic verses of ahl al-kitab and the challenge of religious pluralism

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Mukarromah, Nilna (2009) The qur'anic verses of ahl al-kitab and the challenge of religious pluralism. Undergraduate thesis, IAIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya.

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Abstract

The Qur'anic concept of Ahl al-Kitab (people of the Book) has theological significance for Moslems; it has had considerable impact within Islamic society, making it possible for Moslems to accept the existence of other religious, particularly Jews and Christians, who share the monotheistic belief as Moslems, or in the other term called by religious pluralism. There are many references of Ahi al-Kitab in the Qur'an which may be categories in the sympathetic verses and ambivalent verses. The sympathetic verses were showing that there was positive perception on the Ahi al Kitab. In this study surah Al-Imran (3): 64,113,114,115 are chosen as an example of sympathetic verses. Five major works of selected classical and modem exegesis, from different school of thought, are used in the analysis of the verses. Their exegetical hopes can give the explanation on tenn of religious pluralism, is there the concept of religious pluralism in the Qur'an and how does it concept. As has been known, there was not Qur'anic terminology of the term nor in the Sunnah and also in the classical works. But it did mean Muslim or non-Muslim scholar did not keep their attention to discoursing this phenomenon. The Qur'an itself recognizes the existence of good people among Ahl alKitab and invites people of diverse faiths to come to a "common word (kalimatin sawain) to establish mutual understanding through critical dialogue. This would, in turn, enable all people to live side by side and facing the challenge of religious pluralism to build a new civilization and greater harmony.