Aisha Lemu was born in Poole, Dorset, United Kingdom, on 14th October 1940, as Bridget Anne Honey. At the age of thirteen, she began to question her faith and began exploring other religions including Hinduism and Chinese Buddhism. She attended Uplands School, Parkstone, Doorset between 1950 and 1955, and proceeded for a year course at Oxford Technical College 1955 — 56. She continued her education at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), pursuing her interest in Chinese history, language and culture. While there, she met Muslims who gave her Islamic literature to read and she converted to Islam at the Islamic Cultural Centre in 1961, during her first year of study. She subsequently helped to found the Islamic Society at SOAS, becoming its first secretary, and also assisted in the formation of the Federation of Student Islamic Societies.
This book examines the various Islamic textual provisions on various aspects of interfaith relations. It also responds to faith-based arguments used by some Muslims to justify hostility and aggression towards peace-loving non-Muslims. Some of these arguments are used by various extremist groups for "bridge-burning" to undermine interfaith peace-building efforts between Muslims and other religious communities. It thus provides a reference point for Muslim individuals and community leaders, Imams, da'wah activists, students and researchers, mosque committees and Islamic organizations involved or interested in interfaith dialogue and peace-building with people of other faiths.
