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The Quranic
Perception of Difference
By Bashar Bakkour
MA in Islamic Studies
Lecturer at Al-Fatih
Islamic Institute
First:
Difference is
a universal phenomenon
The Quran
says: [If your
Lord had willed, He would have made all mankind one single
nation, but He willed it otherwise, and so they continue to
differ.] [11:118] Elsewhere [And among His signs is the
creations of the heavens and the earth, and the difference
in your languages and colours] [30:22] Allah could have
created us in the same form, with the same beliefs, ideas,
customs, interests, etc…. However, this is not the nature of
life.
Second: Freedom
of belief in Islam
[ There shall be no compulsion
in religion] [2: 256]
Islam sees faith as a matter of conviction. It never seeks
converts by means of compulsion. Instead, it addresses the
human mind, intellect and human commonsense. On the top of
that, freedom of belief indicates freedom of expression and
thought, without fear of potential threat and suppression.
Otherwise, that freedom turns to be meaningless.
Third:
Difference should lead to
harmonious and amicable relationships, as well as
constructive exchange.
[O people, We created you from
male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so
that you may come to know each other.] [49:13]
Fourth: Targeting
religious symbols is strictly prohibited
[And do not insult those whom
they worship besides God, lest they insult God wrongfully
without knowledge.] [ 6:108]
The dignity of difference as illustrated by the Prophet
(PBUH)
1-The document which defines
the status of the Jews and their relations with the Muslim
State in Madīnah. It regards them as citizens within this
state, they enjoy their religious freedom and state
protection. On the other hand, they were requested to back
Muslims against any potential enemy and never plot against
them or threaten the security of the Muslim state.
2-
In one of his sayings: "On the day of Resurrection I shall
dispute with any one who oppresses a person from among the
people of the Book, or violate his right, or puts a
responsibility on him which is beyond his strength, or takes
something from him against his will"
3-Once a funeral of Jewish
person was passing the Prophet. As a sign of respect, he
rose. When was asked about the reason, he replied: Is not he
a human being?! (Authentic, recorded by Bukhari).
4-When the Prophet died, his armor was mortgaged to a Jew
for little barely (Authentic, recorded by Bukhari).
"The Dignity of Difference" by Jonathon Sacks
Jonathon Sacks(a Chief Rabbi):" The word '
holy' in the Hebrew Bible Kadosh, actually means
"different, distinctive, set apart"… As the great Rabbis
observed some 1800 years ago, when a human being makes many
coins in the same mint, they all come out the same. God
makes every human being in the same mint, in the same image,
His own, and yet we all come out differently. The religious
challenge is to find God's image in someone who is not in
our image, in someone whose colour is different, whose
culture is different, who speaks a different language, tells
a different story, and worships God in a different way "
The Myth of
Clash of Civilizations
The above
four Quranic principles, in particular the third one, are
quite sufficient to prove the fallacy of this clash.
Samuel
Huntington claims that civilizational differences will be
primary source of regional and global conflicts.
In opposed
to him, many have argued that 'clash of interests' rather
than 'clash of civilizations' will continue to be real cause
of conflict. |
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