INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES Vol. 4, Issue 4, April, 2018 ISSN (Online): 2454-8499 Impact Factor: 1.3599(GIF), 0.679(IIFS) 10 th April, 2018 Page No: 1 Web: www.irjms.in Email: irjms2015@gmail.com, irjms.in@gmail.com Interfaith Dialogue and Rationality Reflected through the ‘Uswah’ (Role Model Life) of Imam Reza (A.S) Dr. Sumaiyah Ahmed Lecturer, Dept. of Islamic Studies, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110062 Abstract: Interfaith dialogue has not only become an indispensable need of the hour but it has always been a necessity because it had been the only way of peaceful coexistence for humans with different faiths and beliefs as it promotes the spirit of interdependence and plays a vital role in sorting out solutions for the existing socio-economic, political and religious issues. This fundamental reality of co-existence among inter-faith communities has never been ignored by Islamic or Quranic teachings, nor it had been disregarded by great Islamic scholars and leaders. Rather, the explicit examples of interfaith dialogue in religions along with rationality are conducted by Muslim scholars which are presented in the history of Muslim civilization. One among these examples is of Imam Ali Reza (Alaihis Salaam [A.S], Peace Be Upon Him), the eighth Imam in the line of ‘Imamate’ among the Ahl-e Baith (people of the house) of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). Imam Reza (A.S) is not only a role model for Muslims but also for the entire mankind. One can learn from his life and teachings to overcome the problems anyone face in any age as his teachings are based on what is taught through Quran and Sunnah which are not only universal but also egalitarian and rational in nature which are very much acceptable to human minds. Imam Reza’s (A.S) Uswah (Role Model Life) has served as the guiding light to all the human communities not only of his time but also to later coming ages through centuries. His life gives the idea of not only believing in peaceful co-existence but also to participate in the interfaith dialogues with rationality to co-exist in any society with peace as it is the essence of Islam. This paper deals essentially to understand the teachings of Imam Reza (A.S) for the peaceful co-existence between inter-faith communities in the human societies. Key Words:Interfaith dialogue, Peaceful co-existence, Muslim civilization, Imamate, Uswah, Ahl- e-Baith, Quran and Sunnah, universal, egalitarian, rational and etc. INTRODUCTION: Dialogue in religions had been an existing reality of different societies of mankind. The very origin of religion was an attempt of the humans to understand the world around them through a guiding light towards what is considered to be right and good. Hence, philosophy, ethics and religion had close ties with each other as each deals in one way or the other the question of right or wrong or good or evil. According to what humans experienced, they came up with reasons and explanations to that and moved towards rationality as well as faith and belief system and therefore, varied religions came into being. All these religions stand connected by the people and their encounters and interactions through the ages.