Islam, Nonviolence, and Interfaith Relations

Just finished a good article by M. Mazzahim Mohideen (Islam, Nonviolence, and Interfaith Relations) who compared the monotheistic religions seeking areas of commonality. He also reached out to the non-monotheistic religions and philosophies saying, "The message of Islam is one of love, goodwill, understanding of others, truth, justice to all, kindness to all creatures created by God, and charity, which are the core values of all religions." There aren't fundamental differences in beliefs as to behavior of the human being and the human spirit---truth, justice, kindness and charity seem to be the common theme amongst them all--reaching to Buddhism and Hinduism.
In the more narrow stream of the religions of Abraham, several themes are very similar and clear:

• "The Christian God and Allah are the same supreme God"
• "If you ask a Muslim when Islam began, he would say it is as old as time, as old as God’s creation, as old as Adam and Abraham and Moses. Was not Abraham himself a Muslim and his son Ishmael the father of the Arab race? Every person is born a Muslim"
• There is "respect for life in its various forms."
• There are Similar prophets including Jesus, Abraham, Moses, David.

But a distinct difference in Islam from our more secular Western style is that "The Qur‘an makes it clear that religion cannot confine itself to one segment of human life, nor can it choose to abstain from exercising any decisive influence over everyday life. Religion is not a private matter for each individual. The moral dimension of human activity—be it political, social, or economic—is the concern of religion. Moral issues affect the relations not only between individuals but also among groups, communities, and nations."

"Islam preaches the brotherhood of man. The Muslim brotherhood is a community within the wider brotherhood of those who subscribe to the belief in the existence of the One God and the accountability of man on the Last Day."