Maulana Wahiduddin Khan I Hindustan Times I May 23, 2003

Having studied all the major religions, I can say with conviction that peace and harmony are the greatest concern of all religions. The goal of each is to develop the human personality spiritually. A mission of this kind can only be carried in peaceful atmosphere.

It is true that some Muslims are engaged in violence in the name of Islam, but these violent activities are quite against Islamic teachings. Since the word Islam is derived from 'silm', which means peace, there is no association of a peaceful religion with terrorist movements at all. You have to judge Muslims in the light of Islamic teachings, and not vice versa.

Peace is the base and religion is the edifice of humanity. Without the base, there is no edifice, and without religious edifice, there is no human society.

Jesus Christ has said: 'Love your enemy.' (Matthew, 5:44) It means that love all including your enemy Defuse enmity through love. This is the essence of all religious teachings. The Quran states: "A good deed and a bad deed are not alike. Do a good deed in return for a bad deed. And you will see that your enemy has become your dearest friend." (41:34) It means that human beings are always subject to change. Thus the difference between a friend and an enemy is relative. Your enemy is potentially your friend. You have to turn this potential into actuality to evoke the feelings of universal brotherhood.

Those who do not agree need to understand that our world is a world of differences. But these differences do not pose any obstacle to cultural harmony or religious understanding. Nature has been very generous to human creation by giving man a great capacity to accommodate differences and diversities in his personality.

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Swami Vivekananda has provided a very simple formula. He says: "Follow one, and hate none." Here I would like to add the Quranic solution. In chapter 109, the Quran says: "For you your religion, for me mine." (109:6) I have formulated this Quranic teaching in these words: Follow one and respect all.

History shows that difference of opinion leads to dialogue, and dialogue results in intellectual progress. Differences in opinion lead to high thinking. And high thinking is the only key to human progress. It is hatred which has to be eliminated and not difference of opinion.

Here I would like to quote an event in the life of the Prophet to illustrate the true spirit of religious tolerance. As you know, the Prophet of Islam was born in Mecca, in 570 A.D. He migrated to Madinah in 622 and lived there until his death in 632. At that time there were some Jewish tribes in Madinah. One day, the Prophet of Islam saw a funeral procession passing through a street in Madinah. The Prophet was seated at that time. On seeing the funeral the Prophet stood in respect. On this gesture, one of the companions said, "O, Prophet, it was a funeral of a Jew, not a Muslim." The Prophet replied: "Was he not a human being?"

According to this, everyone is worthy of respect. There may be difference in religion, and culture, but there is absolutely no difference between the people.

(The writer is an Islamic scholar)