What For Muslims: What do we mean when we say " I respect your faith"???

Reading through posts here, I often note brothers and sisters saying, " It doesnt matter to me what the guy next to me belives" or "I respect other faiths".

I am lead to wonder if this is timidness on our behalf being covered up by this excuse.

We are called upon to be polite and respectful to other people and IF they are open to hearing our case, we should let them know that they are wrong.

What would have happened if the Prophets said " hey, let these guys worship their idols in peace" or " it doesnt matter what these people around me believe".Even Allah cares waht the people belive as evidenced by his constant teaching through the Prophets.

The fact is Abraham smashed his fathers idols, Moses made a fool of the Pharoh and Muhammad (pbuaot) smashed the idols int he Kaaba.

We SHOULD care about what the guy next to me belives. We SHOULD respect their RIGHT to belive what they want. BUT we SHOULD NOT respect their belifs as equals.

"The Religion in the sight of Allah is Islam." (Qur'an 3:19)

It has been ince th ebeginning, it will be till the end.



These are my opinions, and I would like yours too brothers and sisters as I may have gone overboard a bit!

Re: What For Muslims: What do we mean when we say " I respect your faith"???

Thread Approved - some good points raised.

Re: What For Muslims: What do we mean when we say " I respect your faith"???

Selam aleykum
Good point, I guess it would be more correct to say: "I respect your decision of faith.", rather then: "I respect your faith.".

Re: What For Muslims: What do we mean when we say " I respect your faith"???

to them is their faith and to us is ours

there is no compulsion in religion

but no way will i ever respect another religion, they are all fabrications branched from distortion and desires

Re: What For Muslims: What do we mean when we say " I respect your faith"???


Thing is we aren't Prophets - so we can't go around smashing idols etc - calling people to Islam we can do (but I believe that I am not adequate in terms of knowledge to do this as well as/to the extent of scholars or imaams etc).

One of the main reasons why I respect people's beliefs is that if one is to look at the core teaching of (pretty much any) religion as a whole, one sees beauty and not destruction (as certain people would like you to believe). But I think the Qur'an sums it up nicely: to you your religion and to me mine.

It is more important (to me atleast) that I practice Islam properly and completely (there is so much to learn about Islam - 1400 or so years worth of history!) rather than criticise someone elses religion. And whilst I am able to make educated decisions between the many faiths (one of the reasons I have remained Muslim!), I try to do so without disrespecting them. That's just how I was raised and due to the city I live in, which is considerably mulicultural and VERY tolerant (to my knowledge, there are people of all the abrahamic religions actually inhabiting the ciy of Leicester - not to mention the many buddhists, sikhs and hindus!)

And there are probably a lot of people who hate me for this stance (that's just the way the world goes - I accepted that a long time ago...remember my marmite 'love me hate me' signature?) but what does it matter? A person's judgement of me or Allah's?

Re: What For Muslims: What do we mean when we say " I respect your faith"???

I think it is perhaps also important to remember that all people are on a journey with God - even those who don't believe at all!

God may lead people on paths and in ways we may never imagine in our wildest dreams!

Re: What For Muslims: What do we mean when we say " I respect your faith"???

glo said:

I think it is perhaps also important to remember that all people are on a journey with God - even those who don't believe at all!

God may lead people on paths and in ways we may never imagine in our wildest dreams!

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I disagree, the other paths, assuming that they have heard the truth, are only to their detriment because they followed their desires and lies. All people are indeed on a journey to Allah but we do our Lord a disservice when we paint all the false paths with rainbows and roses.

Re: What For Muslims: What do we mean when we say " I respect your faith"???

AntiKarateKid said:

We SHOULD care about what the guy next to me belives. We SHOULD respect their RIGHT to belive what they want. BUT we SHOULD NOT respect their belifs as equals.

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That is, of course, completely fine as long as you don't expect 'the guy next to you' to respect your beliefs as equal to his own.

Re: What For Muslims: What do we mean when we say " I respect your faith"???

AntiKarateKid said:

I disagree, the other paths, assuming that they have heard the truth, are only to their detriment because they followed their desires and lies. All people are indeed on a journey to Allah but we do our Lord a disservice when we paint all the false paths with rainbows and roses.

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What I meant was that it is always possible for God to lead somebody on the path to truth ... no matter how lost they are!
In that sense there are no unbelievers ... only potential believers-to-be.

I agree with you in that we should stay true to our own beliefs and convictions - and not tire to share what we believe to be the truth with those who are willing to hear.

Re: What For Muslims: What do we mean when we say " I respect your faith"???

I saw this posted, on another forum.

Mr A is walking down the street. He is a Labour voter and has been all his life. He bumps into Mr B who is a Tory voter. They have a chat and Mr A says the following:

"I don't agree with your opinions on the economy but I respect your right to believe them and to express those views however you want."

All happy with that scenario?

Mr A carries on walking. He also happens to be an atheist and bumps into Mr C who is a theist. They have a chat and Mr A says the following:

"I don't believe in God but I respect your right to believe in Him and express that belief however you want."

What's the difference?

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Re: What For Muslims: What do we mean when we say " I respect your faith"???

AntiKarateKid said:

The fact is Abraham smashed his fathers idols, Moses made a fool of the Pharoh and Muhammad (pbuaot) smashed the idols int he Kaaba.

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None of us are prophets. If we smash idols that do not belong to us, we get arrested for property damage.

Re: What For Muslims: What do we mean when we say " I respect your faith"???

Muezzin said:

None of us are prophets. If we smash idols that do not belong to us, we get arrested for property damage.

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Of course there are other ways to smash them as in refuting false beliefs.

Remember, the ink of the scholar is holier than the blood of the martyr.

Re: What For Muslims: What do we mean when we say " I respect your faith"???

The following is not my opinion it is the opinion of the Islam according to What Allah has said in the Quraan and what stated in the Sunnah and what the scholars said along more than 1400 years ..

Islam respects the humanity of All people , Allah bestow Both Muslims and non-Muslims in this life.

But Allah doesn't respect any other belief, than Islam. how can he respect a path then punish those who follow it.

Muslims are following their God in this, they respect the humanity of all the human being but they don't respect other beliefs.


these are 3 examples:

1-Soul respect : narated by Jabir ibn Abdellah : A funeral passed before us,the Prophet (peace be upon him) stood up , we said O messenger of Allah its a Jewish funeral? The Prophet replied, "Is it not a human soul?" (Al-Bukhari-1228).

here the prophet respected the soul not the religion.

2- Honoring children of Adam : Surat Al-issra : verse 70 : And indeed We have honored the Children of Adam, and We have carried them on land and sea, and have provided them with At-Taiyyibât (lawful good things), and have preferred them above many of those whom We have created with a marked preferment. (70)

3- feeding captives : Surat Alinsan: verse-8 :And they give food, inspite of their love for it , to Miskin[] (the poor), the orphan, and the captive, (8)


1- Surat Maryam verses from 88-91 :And they say: "The Most Gracious (Allâh) has begotten a son (88) Indeed you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil thing. (89) Whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins, (90) That they ascribe a son to the Most Gracious (Allâh). (91)

Heavens, earth and mountains Follow their God's displeasure and anger , so should be the Muslim.

2- Surat Almumtahanh verse -6 :Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibraaheem (Abraham) and those with him, when they said to their people: ‘Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allaah, we have rejected you, and there has started between us and you, hostility and hatred for ever until you believe in Allaah Alone”

we do respect the humanity of non-Muslims but we reject their faith .look attentively to what the prophet Ibraham said.

contact me if you want more evidences from the Quraan and sunnah and the scholars quotes.



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Re: What For Muslims: What do we mean when we say " I respect your faith"???

AntiKarateKid said:

Of course there are other ways to smash them as in refuting false beliefs.

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Oh, I know, I'm just being facetious.

Remember, the ink of the scholar is holier than the blood of the martyr.

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Very true.

Re: What For Muslims: What do we mean when we say " I respect your faith"???

AntiKarateKid said:

"The Religion in the sight of Allah is Islam." (Qur'an 3:19)

It has been ince th ebeginning, it will be till the end.



These are my opinions, and I would like yours too brothers and sisters as I may have gone overboard a bit!

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My Dear Brother what you mentioned isn't just your own opinion , its the only Valid opionion in Isalm. jazak Allah khairn.

Re: What For Muslims: What do we mean when we say " I respect your faith"???

What do I mean when I say, "I respect your faith"?

For myself, I can respect the sincerity of a person's faith in the One God as he understands Him to be and the purity of his life as he tries to follow the teachings of his religion.

Re: What For Muslims: What do we mean when we say " I respect your faith"???

MustafaMc said:

What do I mean when I say, "I respect your faith"?

For myself, I can respect the sincerity of a person's faith in the One God as he understands Him to be and the purity of his life as he tries to follow the teachings of his religion.

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Perhaps then you mean that you respect their "devotion" and not their faith which used as a noun is another thing altogether. Allah never put down people who strive hard, just what they are striving towards so that they may redirect their efforts towards truth.

Re: What For Muslims: What do we mean when we say " I respect your faith"???

When I say "I respect your faith", I mean I respect the fact that they truly believe their faith is the right one. And, I hope not to insult or offend them with things I say. But, I can't refrain from challenging them all the same

Re: What For Muslims: What do we mean when we say " I respect your faith"???

I want a pony

Re: What For Muslims: What do we mean when we say " I respect your faith"???

RoseGold said:

When I say "I respect your faith", I mean I respect the fact that they truly believe their faith is the right one. And, I hope not to insult or offend them with things I say. But, I can't refrain from challenging them all the same

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MustafaMc said:

What do I mean when I say, "I respect your faith"?

For myself, I can respect the sincerity of a person's faith in the One God as he understands Him to be and the purity of his life as he tries to follow the teachings of his religion.

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Brother MustafaMC
Sister Rosegold

please read this post in this thread.. very important.

http://www.islamicboard.com/comparative-religion/134270418-what-muslims-what-do-we-mean-when-we-say-i-respect-your-faith.html#post997159