Unity in Diversity
Promoting Enduring Respect and Universal Fraternal Bond
by Shaukat A. Ali
Chapter 11: Conclusion
11.1. As Muslims accept all the previous prophets, it is only fair to expect others to accept Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also as a prophet and messenger of Allah (God) and respect him as such.
11.2. In light of the broadness of Islamic teachings, Muslims should take the lead in encouraging members of all the other faiths such as Zoroastrians, Buddhists, Hindus, Judaism, Christianity, to join hands with them in promoting peace, tolerance, goodwill, mutual respect for each other and greater understanding among the nations.
11.3. The Holy Quran states that there is no compulsion in religion. Consequently, Muslims should not coerce or persuade others to accept Islam, but only encourage them to study and decide for themselves if Islam has anything spiritually beneficial for them based on the Holy Quran and their respect for all the previous prophets.
تِلۡکَ اٰيٰتُ الۡکِتٰبِ الۡحَکِيۡمِ ۙ﴿۲﴾ ہُدًي وَّ رَحۡمَةً لِّلۡمُحۡسِنِيۡنَ ۙ﴿۳﴾ الَّذِيۡنَ يُقِيۡمُوۡنَ الصَّلٰوةَ وَ يُؤۡتُوۡنَ الزَّکٰوةَ وَ ہُمۡ بِالۡاٰخِرَةِ ہُمۡ يُوۡقِنُوۡنَ ؕ﴿۴﴾ اُولٰٓئِکَ عَلٰي ہُدًي مِّنۡ رَّبِّہِمۡ وَ اُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡمُفۡلِحُوۡنَ ﴿۵﴾
These are the verses of the Book of Wisdom — a guidance and a mercy for the doers of good, who keep up prayer and give the due charity and who are certain of the Hereafter. These are on a guidance from their Lord, and these are they who are successful (31:2–5).
11.4. Finally, Almighty Allah reassures us that the Quran is a Reminder of what was revealed to previous prophets and that He will Guard it as the final revelation to humanity as per following examples:
اِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَزَّلۡنَا الذِّکۡرَ وَ اِنَّا لَہٗ لَحٰفِظُوۡنَ ﴿۹﴾
Surely, We have revealed the Reminder, and surely We are its Guardian (15:9).
وَ مَا عَلَّمۡنٰہُ الشِّعۡرَ وَ مَا يَنۡۢبَغِيۡ لَہٗ ؕ اِنۡ ہُوَ اِلَّا ذِکۡرٌ وَّ قُرۡاٰنٌ مُّبِيۡنٌ ﴿ۙ۶۹﴾ لِّيُنۡذِرَ مَنۡ کَانَ حَيًّا وَّ يَحِقَّ الۡقَوۡلُ عَلَي الۡکٰفِرِيۡنَ ﴿۷۰﴾
This is nothing but a Reminder and a plain Quran, to warn him who would have life, and (that) the word may prove true against the disbelievers (36:69–70).
11.5 We pray that this humble attempt may be of assistance to readers in promoting unity among humanity.