ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the Brotherhood’s perspectives on the concept and practice of religious pluralism in Muslim majority contexts such as that of Egypt and in a scenario in which the Shari‘a is more fully and comprehensively implemented. The Brotherhood have consistently proclaimed from the time of El Banna to this day that they believe in full equality for all citizens, Muslims and non-Muslims, in accordance with the principle of ‘lahum ma lana wa ‘aleihum ma ‘aleina’ or ‘they have the same rights as us and the same duties as us’. 1 Here, the doctrinal basis for such a position, its nuances and its implications for Muslim–non-Muslim relations is explored at length. In a context in which Islamic scholarship is well established (Al-Azhar University, many of the scholars belonging to the Salafi and other Islamic movements), the fiqh basis of such a position is extremely important in determining the extent of its legitimacy and credibility as a policy vis-à-vis the non-Muslim other.
