Religious Pluralism and Its Impact on Social Security in Islam (The Prophet's Covenant with the Christians of Najran as a Model)

Abstract

This research carries out an analytical research on the covenant the prophet entered with the people of Najran, Christians and the role it played in creating social security in an Islamic state where inter-religious diversity prevails.In order to gain an insight into what can be meant by religious pluralism from an Islamic perspective, the clauses of the covenant that the Prophet made with the Christians of Najran are analyzed in the study and the premises of social security embedded in this covenant are determined.The researcher has opined that Prophet’s covenant is indeed important because of the values and the concepts on which the political social contract can be drawn that outlines civil liberties and rights, justice, and equality. The study establishes how the covenant shaped the civil peace of the society where it was implemented while establishing how it gave full recognition and protection for human dignity and freedom of worship thus creating religious tolerance. Furthermore, it asserts the importance of living with others, and living at peace with the other, as grounded in principles of acknowledging the other and harmoniously coexisting with the other without nullifying the principles of Islamic law inherited from tradition. Such an approach solves the problem of diversity on an international and international level and opens up possibilities to create a civil state where none of the representatives of society and its diverse segments feels insecure and endangered and where all people have equal rights and proper treatment.Islamic law lays down the laws to live with others in the society.