The concept of unity of mankind

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Islam is a political, cultural and religious system. Religion, as based primarily on the Qur’an, is a part of the system, which informs all the other aspects of the Islamic system. Religious doctrine, however, is viewed in Islam as a preamble to Islamic law, the Shariah (divine law),[3] which is a comprehensive code governing every aspect of life, because Islam is a religion primarily oriented toward law rather than theology [4]
The Qur’an establishes clear principles for mankind (to live by). It declares unequivocally that all human beings were created from one being and are united by common origin. Islam has invited attention to another important point, "The concept of unity of mankind"
Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (Exalted and All-Mighty) says:

“O mankind, be mindful of your Lord, Who created you from a single soul, and from it created its mate, and from the pair of them spread countless men and women far and wide; be mindful of God, in whose name you make requests of one another; and beware of severing the ties of kinship: God is always watching over you.” [Qur’an, 4:1]
Allah (swt) says:

“And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them by land and sea; and We provided good sustenance for them, and favored them specially over many of those We created.” [Qur’an, 17:70]
It is not right for people to initiate discord and enmity over race, color, language, or religion. On the contrary, this [diversity] should be an opportunity to get to know one another, and to collaborate over mutual interests. As Allah says:

“O mankind, indeed We created you from a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes for you to get to know one another. Indeed, the most honorable of you in the sight of Allah are the most righteous.” [Qur’an, 49:13]
The only qualification for distinction put forth by the Qur’an is one’s contribution to the well-being of all mankind: “Indeed, the most honorable of you in the sight of Allah are the most righteous.”
As such, Islam’s approach to non-Muslims, especially People of the Book (Jews and Christians), is one of coexistence and cooperation—particularly over mutual interest based on values and ethics that are encouraged not only by all religions, but accepted by all of humanity. Islam’s injunction in dealing with non-Muslims is summed up in the following ayah:

“Allah does not forbid you from dealing kindly and justly with those who have not fought you in your religion or driven you out of your homes. Indeed, Allah loves those who are just.” [Qur’an,60:8]
Islam has prohibited partiality in the matter of justice, even if it concerns your blood relation.
“O ye who Believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah. even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: For Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do. " (Surah Al Nisaa, verse 135)
"O ye who Believe! Stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to Piety: and fiar Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do. " (Surah Al Maidah, Verse 8)
According to Islamic ideology all human beings stand equal for respect and kind consideration. "We have honored the sons of Adam. " (Surah Bani israel, verse 70)
Here are three important western view point I like to our surfer to analize. (As we know "The hypocrite looks for faults, the believer looks for excuses")
They are:
1. As Jacques Ellul says: “It is impossible to judge the Islamic world in a general way: a hundred different cultures have been absorbed by Islam. It is impossible to study all the doctrines, all the traditions, and all their applications together. Such a study can only be undertaken if one limits oneself to the study of specific questions, disentangling what is true from what is false.” [1]
2. The importance of understanding the unavoidable Islam involves exposing the lies of some presentations of Islam and raising awareness about the challenge presented by a faithful expression of Qur’anic Islam.
3. The professor and author Edward W. Said, “ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union there has been an active, explicit search in the United States for new official enemies, a search that has now come to settle on ‘Islam’ as a manufactured opponent.”[2] Seeking to avoid projecting a “manufactured Islam,” one of the goals of this paper is to combat prejudice – that is, a posture which is not based on relevant information and experience, either favorable or unfavorable, about Islam.
None present here will disagree when we claim that no faith on earth promotes or supports terrorism. Every faith discourages hatred and hostility and aggression. Every faith denounces adultery and lechery and moral degradation. Every faith loves peace and tranquility. Every faith loves the children and the women. But although there are so many issues in common, it is a cruel irony of fate that the followers of different faiths keep themselves confined to the walls of their own religions. Shrouded by the ignorance or misconception about other faiths, they prefer to nourish hatred and malice and hostility towards one another. Now that the vicious terrorism has spread its hood menacingly against humanity and co-existence, we must make concerted efforts at this crucial hour to silence the hissing of the devil-incarnates and the howls of the werewolves in human shape. The need of the day indeed in pluralism imbued with the serene and sublime hue of tolerance and harmony as is very effectively practised in Islam.
Let all of us reject and forget the so-called inevitability of the Clash of Civilizations. Let the representatives from different faiths sit together with a view to weeding out the man-made differences and antagonism that have unfortunately cropped up among various religions due to sheer ignorance, misconception and distortion of the sublime ideals conveyed by the Messages emanating form the Great Unknown. The task is challenging and arduous. We have miles to go before we sleep. Let us rise to the occasion and accept the challenge in right earnest and turn the small step taken today into a great leap for mankind.
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Notes:
1 Bat Ye’or, The Dhimmi: Jews and Christians under Islam, Revised and enlarged English edition (Cranbury, N.J.: Associated University Presses, 1985), p. 28.
2 Edward W. Said, "Declaring War on Islam," The Progressive, May 1996, as reprinted in Jennifer A. Hurley, ed. Islam: Opposing Viewpoints (San Diego, CA.: Greenhaven Press, 2001), p. 111.
3 Fazlur Rahman defines the shari’a as including: "all behaviour – spiritual, mental and physical. Thus it comprehends both faith and practice: assent to or belief in one God is part of the Sari’a just as are the religious duties of prayer and fasting, etc. Further all legal and social transactions as well as all personal behaviour is subsumed under the Sari’a as the comprehensive principle of the total way of life" [Fazlur Rahman, Islam and Modernity (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1982), p. 101].
4 Saal, Reaching, p. 42.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 22 March 2011 15:48

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