Mahatma Gandhi gave the guiding principle for nation-building in these words: “Duty before Right.” It is not merely a Gandhian formula. Instead, it is a historically tested formula applicable to every country. The best society is a duty-conscious society. The duty of one person is the right of another. If each of us took care of our duties, all rights would be taken care of. Taking life with a positive mindset, we can find guidance in Islam for nation-building. According to the Quran, every prophet of God addressed the entire nation’s people, not only members of his community. The Quran mentions several prophets who addressed their respective nations as, ‘O my people’, not specifically, ‘O my community’. The religion of these prophets was based on monotheism, while the religious beliefs of the people they addressed were different. Their religion did not determine the prophet’s vision of their addressees despite this fact. It was based on their shared homeland. All prophets addressed them as, ‘My people’. The Quran says, ‘Lakum deenukum waliyadeen’, which means, ‘to each, his religion’. It is the fundamental principle of secularism in our nation.
Is Education the Right Starting Point for Nation?