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Global Unity Forum

Muslim Unity - what does it really mean ?

The principle of Tawheed, Islam’s essential doctrine of Unity, underpins the great diversity of all created things. Within every species, there is tremendous variety. In nature, differences are not a sign of weakness, but a celebration of Allah's creativity, something for us to admire and enjoy, with a sense of wonder and excitement. The variety and diversity we find in the ocean, on land and in the air, are also apparent in our human behaviour. We must not see our human differences as a curse. Rather, it is a blessing. Each and every one of us has gathered a wealth of experience from different geographical, social and cultural influences. When we all share our experience freely, there is a collective enrichment
for everyone.

In Sura Al-Imran, verse 103 we read:

• "And hold fast all together by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you) and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favour on you; for you were enemies and He joined
  your hearts in love so that by His grace you became brethren; and you were on the brink of the pit of fire and He saved you from it. This is how Allah makes his signs clear to you: that you may be guided."
  

In Sura Al-Hujurat, verse 13, Allah (SWT) reminds us:

• “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that you may know each other (not that you may despise each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)".
  

No disputes should find place among Muslims. Allah (SWT) says:

• “They ask you (O Muhammad SAW) about the spoils of war. Say: "The spoils are for Allah and the Messenger." So fear Allah and adjust all matters of difference among you, and obey Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad SAW), if you are believers”. (8:1).

We must therefore not be impatient with one another. We often hear the complaint that Muslims are not united. But what do we mean by unity?

Do we mean that there should be no differences of opinion? Of course not.

Unity does not mean uniformity. We do not have to look the same, speak the same, dress the same, and share each and every opinion unanimously. This is not only unnatural, it’s humanly impossible.

There are two kinds of unity, which we must try to understand and distinguish clearly:

There is a unity of purpose, and unity of opinion.

As Muslims we should always be united in our purpose, that is, seeking to please Allah, and serving the advancement of Islam. But we must not be distressed by minor differences of opinion. It is humanly impossible to always have unity of opinion. As long as we keep our purpose clearly in view, there can be many opinions as to the best ways of achieving our goal.

By mutual consultation, sharing our knowledge and experience, we can move forward. If we must disagree on some matter, let us remember the right way to disagree. In a debate, a Muslim’s attitude should always be like this: I think I'm right, but I might be wrong; and I think you're wrong but you may be right! If we kept this attitude in all our dealings with one another, no one risks humiliation or hurt feelings in any disagreement. We can debate and disagree in a most agreeable manner, where we always maintain mutual respect and dignity. These are the building blocks of real, lasting Unity.

Allah (swt) says:

• “And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength depart, and be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are As-Sâbirin, the patient ones” (8:46).

There is a saying, that the longest journey is from the head to the heart. We know, of course that physically, only a few inches separate the head from the heart, but emotionally and psychologically, it could be many miles, or measured in time, trying to connect head and heart could take months, years, or even forever. The journey from the head to the heart is a long and difficult journey. It’s a journey from what we think and say, to what we really believe and do; from the world of thought and speech, to the world of action and commitment. We must shorten that journey, if we want to develop the healthy, well-rounded personality of the ideal Muslim. There is a clear and unmistakable link between our inner world and the world outside. Look at any family or community, and you can read the contents of the head, heart and soul of its members.

Muslim Unity is not some miracle that, one-day will suddenly fall from the sky. Muslim Unity, the unity of the whole Ummah, will be the reward for much effort, and the culmination of a long process that begins with individual Muslims, and I mean you, and me. We must start that process. We must seek to unite our own mind, body and spirit. We must not say one thing, and do the opposite. Our goal must be, a Unity of thought and feeling, word and action.

Allah (swt) reminds us in Sura Ar-Ra'd [13]: verse 11:

• "Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves."

Our illustrious Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the most perfect of examples. Even his enemies acknowledged that he was always honest, truthful and sincere. There was no contradiction between his head and his heart. His thoughts, feelings, words and actions were of the same substance. There was never even the slightest trace of arrogance, hypocrisy, vanity or conceit in his personality. This was the role model of personal character, on which the Unity of the first Muslim Ummah was based. We need it today as well.

Sura Al-Anbiyyaa` [21]:verse 92 says:

• “Verily this Brotherhood of yours is a single Brotherhood and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore serve Me (and no other)”.

This brotherhood of Muslims will only be as strong as we individual Muslims are strong. We are taught that the best Jihad is the Jihad against one’s ego, Jihad al Nafs. We need to tame this beast within our
breast, our pride. We must learn to submit our will, our ego, our vanity, to the will of our creator, just like our prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught us. When, and only when, we have made a start on this greatest of journeys, will we earn Allah’s pleasure. And when we achieve this, we find that we can easily tolerate differences of opinion without getting angry or abusive.

We will then, begin to see the unity of purpose that underpins the wide diversity of all creatures. We will see the good things that bind us together, without being distracted by the petty things that divide us. By
keeping our ego under control, by cleansing our hearts of all vanity and false pride, we actually make room for Allah’s divine wisdom, which must follow if we are sincere in our quest for knowledge and understanding.

In a Hadith Qudsi, Allah tells us directly:

• "When a slave of Mine draws near to Me a span, I draw near to him a cubit, and if he draws near to Me a cubit, I draw near to him a fathom, and if he comes to me walking, I go to him running". (Muslim).

What a beautiful and graphic description of Allah`s love and affection towards us! And all He wants, is for us to take that crucial first step! I’m sure that each and every one of us, would like to be amongst those, towards whom Allah comes running at speed!

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