read your article in the Nov,2002 issue of monthly “Renaissance” titled “Religious Tolerance: An Islamic Perspective”. In it, you referred to a lecture of Mr. Badham titled: “The case of Religious Pluralism: An inaugural lecture given at St.David’s University College, Lampeter”.
In the above perspective while discussing the issue of religious pluralism, Mr. Shehzad Saleem (Editor of Renaissance) told me that the Vatican, through a decree, has accepted Mohammad as a prophet, although a local one i.e. one sent by God for the Arabs only.
I have tried without success to verify this fact by visiting the official web-site of the Vatican.
I would be thankful if you could help me in this respect. Are you in knowledge of such a decree and if so could you direct me to any website which contains it?
Answer
I don’t have direct access to the entire document called the Vatican Declaration, but I can quote for you, what Professor Badham has quoted what the Declaration says about Islam. It goes like this:
“The Church has a high regard for the Muslims. They worship God, who is one living and subsistent, merciful and almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, who has also spoken to men. They strive to submit themselves without reserve to the hidden decrees of God, just as Abraham submitted himself to God’s plan, to whose faith Muslims link their own. Although not acknowledging him as God, they venerate Jesus as a prophet, his virgin mother they also honour. And even at times, devoutly invoke. Further they await the day of judgment and the reward of God following the resurrection of the dead. For this reason, they highly esteem an upright life and worship God especially by way of prayer, alms-deeds and fasting. Over the centuries many quarrels and dissensions have arisen between Chrisitians and Muslims. This sacred Council now pleads with all to forget the past, and urges that a sincere effort be made to achieve mutual understanding.” (A.Flannery, “The Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions” Vatican II: the Conciliar and Post-Conciliar Documents, Dominican Publications 1975 p.739)
I hope it helps, even though I know that it doesn’t mention exactly what you are looking for.