Agree to Differ

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Image: Forum for promoting Peace in Muslim Societies

We need to incorporate shared values into our understanding of human relations, so that we will embrace the ‘other’ with warmth, love and a true sense of brotherhood

distributed among humanity) and of language. Every rational

mind recognizes justice and every language has a word for it

– a word which is recognized as having a positive and noble

meaning.

The same can be said for ‘truth’, ‘liberty’, ‘tolerance’,

‘integrity’ and many other concepts. These are praised by all

cultures and expressed positively in all languages.

The opposites of these concepts are regarded with derision

and rejected, like ‘tyranny’ and ‘oppression’. If we were to

address the most despotic person as a ‘tyrant’, he would take

offence. He would prefer to be described as just. Likewise,

even a liar dislikes to be named as such.

‘Deception’ and ‘bigotry’ are likewise words that people have

an aversion to, regardless of what cultural background they

have. Is this not evidence for the existence of shared values?

These shared values need to be actively promoted in the world

today, and not just the essential human rights that are indis-

pensable for human beings to be able to live with each other.

Rather, these shared values are much more embracing, like

mercy, kindness and the generosity to help those who are in

need regardless of their race, religion or country of origin.

We need to incorporate these values into our understand-

ing of human relations, so that we will not only uphold the

principle of human equality in a neutral way, but embrace

the ‘other’ with warmth, love and a true sense of brother-

hood. An old Arab saying – which is found in one form or

another in all languages – goes: “Treat others the way that

you wish to be treated.” The Prophet Muhammad once said:

“No one truly believes until he wants for his brother what he

wants for himself.” The value of ‘human brotherhood’ is being

joined with that of ‘love’ in these words of our Prophet. Before

somebody accuses me of reinterpreting this hadith for my own

purposes, they should know that this is the understanding of

the scholars from centuries back. For instance, the leading

Hanbali jurist, Ibn Rajab

said: “The brotherhood referred to

in this hadiths is the brotherhood of humanity.” The same is

asserted by al-Shabrakhiti

and many others.

Love is an essential value, since all people desire to be loved.

It is extremely rare to find a person who desires to be despised

by others. When love is realized by both parties, hostilities

come to an end. Love is an emotional state as well as a mode of

conduct. The Prophet Muhammad encouraged us to proclaim

our love, saying: “If one of you loves his brother, he should

let him know it.” Love is a shared value, since all people are

pleased with it, even those who do not act according to its

dictates. This is the true test of a shared value – that every-

one wishes to be regarded as possessing it. No one wants to

be described as ‘unjust’ or ‘intolerant’. Such values, in spite

of their universality, can wilt and become dormant if they

are not nurtured and encouraged. An Arab poet once wrote:

“These noble values grow like flowering plants / When they

are watered from a noble spring.”

One of the most important values that can solve the world’s

problems is that of respecting diversity, indeed loving it –

regarding it as a source of enrichment and beauty, as an

essential element of the human experience. When we navigate

our differences successfully and aspire to conduct ourselves

in a most noble manner above and beyond the legislation

of human rights, then we establish a basis for applying our

shared values to bring harmony from our differences and to

bring love in place of enmity.

Allah tells us in the Qur’an: “Repel evil with what is best,

and then the one between whom and you had been enmity

gree

iffer