Uploaded on September 20, 2024
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UNITY IS REQUIRED MORE TODAY THAN EVER BEFORE
Dr. Mohammad Manzoor Alam
Islam is a comprehensive religion which comprehends every aspect of humanity. This not only guides an individual’s personal life, but also designs rules and regulations for the collective life and makes rules for the welfare and progress of humanity in all walks of life. Unity is an essential requirement to achieve progress, success and eminence. Unity and amity are enshrined in the basic teachings of Islam which constitute an important source to achieve success and get into eminence.
In the Holy Qur’an, Allah commands Muslims to stay united among themselves: “Hold fast to Allah’s cord and let nothing divide you.” (Al-i-‘Imran: verse 103) In this verse, Muslims are instructed to avoid differences and to live together in unity. The merciful Prophet (PBUH) also emphasized the significance of unity and amity among Muslims. When Muslims are united, their collective strength increases furthermore; they are then able to encounter difficulties and their words carry weight across the world. Consequent upon achieving peace and amity, society experiences peace and stability; also the detrimental impact of sectarianism and confusion can be kept at bay. Muslims are under the obligation to take the message of Islam to every nook and cranny of the earth. When Muslims are united, they can execute their responsibility in a better way. Unity and amity can also make Muslims financially strong. They can improve their economic position through mutual cooperation and joint projects.
State of uncertainty and confusion among Muslims added with sectarianism not only weakens their collective strength, it also helps their enemies gain an upper hand. Due to sectarianism, quarrels, hatred, malice and jealousy which ruins the Muslim ummah, while both Islam and Muslims are confronted with various challenges, their unity is required most than it was ever before. The time demands that we forget all our differences and work together in a united manner to achieve our common goals.
The lucid teachings of Islam and sunnah lay emphasis that Muslims should get united among themselves, so they can achieve eminence in this world and triumph in the Hereafter. We should keep off sectarianism and differences and follow meticulously the teachings of Islam, so we become triumphant in both this world and the Hereafter.
An-Nu‘man bin Bashir RA narrated that Allah’s Apostle (PBUH) said, “You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it.” (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith no. 6011)
Another Companion Abu Musa narrated, the Prophet (PBUH) said, “A believer to another believer is like a building whose different parts enforce each other.” Then, Abu Musa adds that “the Prophet (PBUH) then clasped his hands with the fingers interlaced (while saying that).” (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith no.481)
In building mutual cooperation with each other, Muslims liken to the foundation of a building, so Muslims should stick with their fellow brothers in faith like the brick walls standing on the support provided by a solid foundation. A Muslim becomes fully united with a fellow Muslim and then stands erect like a leaden wall that can’t collapse. Mutual unity and mutual cooperation together constitute the cornerstone of goodness and welfare work which are considered to be human obligation, but if he abandons them, it would mean making room for his own weakness.
Importance and utility of parts of human body are evident. If any part becomes dysfunctional due to some ailment, it would have adverse effects on human body. The same principle applies to social life which gets disturbed in case any part of it falls sick. Though all parts of human body have distinct function to perform, still they act in harmony and unity with each other. In simple words, if human existence was devoid of mutual unity, it would have been impossible to conceive human life. For example, if one suffers from toothache, one visits the dentist by walking on his feet; when eyes shed water, tongue expresses the pain; both heart and mind feel the body’s pain meanwhile hands help in consuming medicine. If the various parts of human body start competing among themselves as to which of them is more important, superior, or supreme, and that one part should not bother about what has gone wrong to some other part of the body, it would ultimately cause harm and discomfort to the whole body.
Iman (Faith) is the name of the strength of a heart-felt love. If a human possesses Iman in his heart, he would necessarily have a spiritual attachment towards his brother in faith. The Noble Prophet (PBUH) once said, “A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should neither oppress him, nor hand him over to another oppressor. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection.” (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith no. 622)
Further, Abu Huraira, RA, narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “Do not be envious of one another; do not artificially inflate prices against one another; do not hate one another; do not shun one another; and do not undercut one another in business transactions; and be as fellow-brothers and servants of Allah. A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He neither oppresses him nor looks down upon him. Piety is here – and he pointed to his chest three times. All things of a Muslim are inviolable for another Muslim: his blood, his property and his honour.” (Muslim)
To promote unity and amity and to end hatred, differences and tumult, it is necessary to adopt and implement four main points: first, if we hold a grudge against one another, or have an issue with others, we should not react immediately, rather we should ponder over the whole matter from the right perspective to arrive at a reasonable resolution of the problems we are confronted with. Second, we should not stretch an issue with someone, we should instead follow the path of pardoning and over-looking. The Noble Prophet (PBUH) always pardoned and over-looked to overcome his adversaries, irrespective of which creed they followed. Third, focus on future by bringing to an end the present disputes and by adopting a forward-looking attitude, leaving aside all kinds of discord in order to build a better future. The last point is planning a proper strategy. We should think about the ways which lead to the prosperity and well-being of the community and the nation. All the above discussed four main points will go a long way to promote unity and amity and will play a major role in eradicating dissensions misunderstandings and confusion in the society.
(The writer is General Secretary, All India Milli Council)