To what extent should Muslims interact with people of other faiths?

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2022). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. 10 marks AO1 – Knowledge and understanding
2. 15 marks AO2 – Analysis and evaluation
3. Mark according to the levels of response marking grids for AO1 and AO2. Answers may refer to any Islamic religious theory or teaching. Candidates may propose, analyse and evaluate some of the following arguments. All relevant arguments must be credited.
4. Introduction: Candidates may start by explaining that some Muslims live as a majority with people of other faiths and others as a minority and that they can interact in different ways according to their different circumstances.
5. Muslims are allowed to interact with people of other faiths to some extent. The Qur'an says: 'Allah does not forbid you from dealing kindly and fairly with those who have neither fought nor driven you out of your homes. Surely Allah loves those who are fair.' (Qur'an 60:8-9)
6. It is permissible, in fact, recommended for Muslims to be civil and show respect to their non-Muslim friends and relatives. When Asma, daughter of Abu Bakr asked the Prophet (pbuh) if her non-Muslim mother can visit her, he told her to maintain good relations with her (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
7. Muslims living in multi-faith societies also have a great opportunity to interact with non-Muslims in different spheres of their life. For example, they can attend the same schools/colleges or workplace. This will allow them to be models on how Islam promotes good behaviour with people of other faiths and even give them a chance to call to Islam (da'wah).
8. The Prophet (pbuh) can be cited as example as he had a non-Muslim as his business partner.
9. Muslims are also encouraged to engage socially with the people of other faiths, as the Prophet (pbuh) had cordial relations with the Jews living in Medina, attending their funerals, and encouraging his wives to share food with their Jewish neighbour. He even accepted and ate the meat sent over from a Jewish woman, which was later found to be poisoned. He also visited a young Jewish boy who used to work for him, when the latter fell ill.
10. However, candidates can argue that even though it is possible to interact with people of different faiths to some extent, living in a multi-faith society can be challenging.
11. Some Muslims might argue that it is not advisable to have a non-Muslim as a best friend, quoting Qur'an 3.28: 'Let not the believers take for friends or helpers unbelievers rather than believers...' or the following Hadith of the Prophet (pbuh): 'A man follows the religion of his friend; so, each one should consider whom he makes his friend.' (Abu Daud). They argue that it is better to avoid taking non-Muslims as best friends as Muslims with weak faith can be easily influenced by them, for example young girls might be tempted to dress like their non-Muslim friends.
12. Furthermore, some Muslims also feel that there are some restrictions to be aware of when they engage with people of other faiths socially, such as participating in their celebrations if it involves shirk or eating food on which the name of other than God is taken. It can also be hard to invite or accept an invitation from a non-Muslim as their food may contain something that is prohibited (haram) in Islam such as alcohol or pork. However, other Muslims argue that it is allowed for Muslims to eat food prepared by the people of the books (ahlul Kitaab), the Jews and Christians.
13. Conclusion: Candidates should arrive at a conclusion at the end as to whether interaction with people of other faiths while adhering to the Islamic teachings, is possible to some extent or completely.