By: Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak (Ph.D.)
Department of Fundamental & Inter-Disciplinary Studies International Islamic University Malaysia
In a world so torn apart by wars, racism, Islamophobia, prejudice, and all other forms of discrimination, we need a broader philosophy that views humanity as a single family. Thank God, as Muslims who follow the footsteps of the Prophet (SAW), we are taught to live in peace and harmony, coexisting with fellow human beings (both Muslims and non-Muslims) and with nature. Islam, as both a religion and a philosophy for life, advocates fairness, justice, equality, and equity. It teaches us to respect one another and avoid confrontation by all means.
Since the Almighty Creator has allocated sufficient provision for all life forms on this planet, we should not hate, discriminate, sabotage, or belittle one another in an attempt to dominate. We did not choose the parents or ethnicity we were born into, so we should not look down on others based on their skin colour, language, or background. As mentioned in Surah Al-Hujuraat (13), only those who are God-conscious are most honoured in the sight of the Creator. Allah is fair and just; He has granted greatness to every race and nation. It is for us to recognize and appreciate the beauty and greatness of other nations, and to share the goodness God has given us with others.
In our effort to create a better world, humanity must adopt the attitude of loving, caring, and sharing. The Creator has endowed us with empathy and compassion in our hearts, and we should learn to be kind and forgiving towards one another. There is an old saying: “If you don’t train your eyes to see beauty, you are not going to see beauty in the world.” As much as the Qur’an preaches the philosophy of coexistence, it also calls upon those in power to be just in their dealings with minorities within the Muslim state. The rights of minorities should be respected, allowing them the freedom to practice their religion, and culture, and to celebrate their religious festivals. As long as minorities live as peace-loving citizens, no injustice should be done to them. The state must guarantee the safety and security of their lives and property, and their gods should never be mocked or ridiculed.
Regarding the objects and ways of worship of those who do not share our faith, the Qur’an instructs us:
“O believers! Do not insult what they invoke besides Allah, or they will insult Allah spitefully out of ignorance” (Surah Al-An’am, 6:108).
“Let there be no compulsion in religion, for the truth stands out clearly from falsehood” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:256).
“For you is your religion; for me is my religion” (Surah Al-Kafirun, 109:6).
Just as I urge non-Muslims to be given their due rights in Muslim countries, I also call for Western countries to treat their Muslim citizens and asylum seekers fairly and justly. The media and those in authority should not demonize Muslims by labelling them with terms such as terrorists, fundamentalists,extremists, uncivilized, or fanatics. Muslims should not be deprived of their right to practice their religion or wear Islamic attire. It should be clear to those in power in Western countries that many Muslim refugees and asylum seekers are there in theircountries due to the presence of the West in the Middle East, occupying land and usurping the riches that belong to Muslims.Karma works like this: when you harm others, the negative consequences eventually come back to you. If you don’t want problems from others, avoid creating chaos and political instability in other regions of the world. For example, the West should stop interfering in the Middle East.
In advocating for fairness, justice, equality, freedom, and respect for one another, and drawing from my experiences growing up in a multiracial, multilingual, multicultural, and multireligious region of the world, I would humbly like to share two of my favourite quotes with the readers.
We are like the colours of the rainbow:
“What makes the rainbow beautiful and interesting are the different shades of colours. What makes humanity interesting is the variation of our race, colour, language, culture, etc. So, why fight and kill one another?”
Coexistence of Civilizations:
“The clash of civilizations brings disharmony. The coexistence of civilizations inspires us to see the beauty in and acceptance of one another.”
Finally, though politicians and political ideologies divide us into separate camps, as good citizens of the world, let us unite with a common understanding to bring much-needed peace and harmony into the world. Though the path to peace and a better world is difficult and treacherous, with patience, perseverance, persistence, and prayers, we can do it.
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