Al-Ghazali's Reflections in Interfaith Dialogue

Understanding and mastering the thoughts and reference sources of dialogue partners is one of the best approaches in dialogue. This is so that the topic of dialogue applies scientifically and achieves the objective of dialogue. This article discusses the framework of interfaith dialogue of Imam al-Ghazali (d. 1111M) in interfaith dialogue. This study uses a content analysis approach to the major works of Imam al-Ghazali which discusses the subject of other religions, particularly Christians in the book of al-Radd al-jamilli ilahiyyat 'Isa bi-sarih al-Injil. The study found that there are three approaches of Imam al-Ghazali in dialogue, namely debate, theological comparison and apologetics. Through this approach, al-Ghazali first identifies the main issue that is the difference between Islam and Christian doctrines, namely the divinity of Jesus. He then made a theological comparison by reinterpreting the text based on other texts in the Bible and the Qur'an. Al-Ghazali also used the element of rationality in criticizing the weakness of Christian doctrine. The study suggests the use of al-Ghazali's dialogue approach in the context of theological dialogue to identify meeting points and differences between religious believers objectively and critically.