Can We Call Idol Worshippers Mushriks?
I take this verse as a proof that all religions on earth lead towards God as long as one is sincere and engaged in good deeds “Had Allah willed He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (He hath made you as ye are). So vie one with another in good works. Unto Allah ye will all return, and He will then inform you of that wherein ye differ.” Quran 45:23 In this verse, God tells people of all religions to compete with each other in good deeds. Why would God instruct Jews, Christians, Hindus (I believe Prophets were sent to India) etc to do good deeds if they were of no value in his sight ? From this verse, it seems God will remove the misunderstanding between all religious followers on the day of judgment and shower his mercy on all those who were sincere. As for this verse, “Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam” Quran 3:19 I take Islam in this verse to be submission before God in the general sense of the word. On a final note, we can find many verses in the Quran which don’t only reprimand but warn, threaten and curse certain Jews, Christians and Polytheists. We can understand them in two ways. Firstly, these verses were specifically addressed to various groups of people who were not sincere towards God, i.e, Kafirs and Munafiqs. Secondly, these verses were neccessary to separate Islam (the specific Deen brought by Muhammad (s) ) from other religions. This happens in all religions. If a religion doesn’t have limits and boundaries, then anyone can enter or leave. Such a religion no longer remains a religion. So the verses condemning all other religions are meant to condemn them in appearance only, not in reality. Their only purpose is to give the Unmah of Muhammad (s) and his Deen a distinct identity.