Muslim and Non-Muslim Relations: A Comparative Analysis Between Hadith and Gospel Perspectives

Abstract

Various perspectives on relations between Muslims and non-Muslims have been debated in religious studies, especially in Islam and Christianity. Hadith as the second source in Islam and the Gospel as the main text in Christianity provide different views on inter-religious interaction. This study aims to analyse the comparison of the concept of Muslim and non-Muslim relations in the perspectives of hadith and gospel, by highlighting aspects of tolerance, social cooperation, and theological boundaries contained in the two texts. A qualitative approach was used with a comparative analysis method of hadith texts and Gospel verses related to interfaith relations. The study found that the Prophet Muhammad's hadith contains principles of respect and protection of non-Muslims, especially in social and legal contexts, as reflected in the Medina Charter and various narrations of the Prophet's interactions with the Jewish and Christian communities. Meanwhile, the Christian Gospel emphasises the teaching of universal love and does not differentiate the treatment of fellow humans based on religious background. The two texts have common ground in terms of morals and social ethics, although there are differences in their normative frameworks. This study demonstrates that harmonious interactions between Muslims and non-Muslims, grounded in religious teachings, can serve as a foundation for interfaith dialogue in the modern era - a period increasingly challenged by misperceptions and systemic exclusion of marginalized religious groups.

Keywords

• muslim-non-muslim relations
• hadith
• gospel
• interfaith dialogue
• tolerance