Why we need to embrace all: A lesson in Islam

Imam is a religious term which means one who leads the five-time daily prayer in the mosque. The concept of imam among Shia Muslims and Sunni Muslims is different. The Shia religious leaders represent the entire community. These leaders are non-political, but are unanimously accepted by the whole community. But this tradition is not followed by Sunni Muslims. This is the reason why there is no leader who is unanimously accepted by the Sunni Muslims.

Some of these leaders organise functions from time to time in the name of Islam or the Muslim ummah. But these functions are in no way representative of the Muslim community, rather they represent a small group that has come to accidentally acquire a religious seat, because of which they claim big titles for themselves. These titles have no sanction, either of Islam or of the Muslim ummah.

Separatism is a new concept that was innovated by some Muslim leaders to serve their interest. The separatist tendency never existed in the Muslim ummah. It first developed during the British rule under their policy of divide and rule. This tendency then became widespread as the two-nation theory gained in popularity. The separatist tendency is totally against the spirit of Islam. It only caters to the communal mind.

Present Muslims have given their concept of separatism the beautiful title of "Islamic identity". But the concept of identity is an innovation, fabricated later on, having no basis in the Quran and Sunnah. "Islamic identity" is only a beautified name of what is actually communal identity.

If you read the Quran, you will find that it defines God as“rabb al-alamin”, or the Lord of Mankind. According to the Quran, Islam is a universal religion. The Quran fosters a universal outlook among its followers. It teaches love and peace, and develops human-friendly behaviour in its followers. The Quran believes in the culture of "we and we", and not in the culture of "we and they".

Experience shows that communal thinking begins from the concept of identity, followed by separatism and ghetto mentality, the final culmination of which is hate and violence. This kind of culture based on separatism has no religious sanction in Islam.

The separatist culture is thus completely against the spirit of Islam. Islam is a mission. The spirit of a mission is to embrace all of mankind. The word “enemy” cannot be found in a mission’s dictionary. The Quran preaches that everyone is a friend, some are actual friends while some are potential friends. One who appears as an enemy, is also potentially a friend. A person must try to turn this potential into actual through good behaviour, and thus he will find that every person can become hisdearest friend. (41:34)

There is a relevant verse in the Quran: “If any one of the idol-worshippers seeks to come to your neighbourhood, let him come so that he may hear the word of God. Then convey him to a place of safety.” (9:6) This Quranic verse encourages its followers to welcome the non-believers, show them full respect, tell them about the divine message and then peacefully bid them farewell.

The history of Islam is a testimony to this principle. The books on Seerah tell us that during the Prophet’s time a trilogue took place at the Prophet’s mosque in Madinah. In this trilogue, representatives from three religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam participated in discussion. During this meet, the Christians and Jews were allowed to put up their tents in the Prophet’s mosque.

The phenomenon of separatism was absent throughout Muslim history.For example, in the Abbasid period in Baghdad the Bayt al-Hikmah, or House of Wisdom, was founded in the eighth century. In this institute both Jewish and Christian experts worked alongside Muslims scholars. This trend was spread all over the Muslim world including India. For example, in the Muslim state of Hyderabad, Maharaja Sir Kishen Pershad Bahadur (1864 – 1940) was twice made Yamin us-Sultanat (Prime Minister).

Islam cannot afford to adopt the "we and they" culture. No excuse whatsoever is permissible in this regard. There is no room for the culture of hate in Islam. In every mosque, Muslims say "Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah" in their prayers. It means "O people of the world, may peace be upon you!" How can they, then, afford to adopt a policy which is against this spirit of universal peace?