Statistics indicate that three-quarters of the conflicts that have erupted among people are of intellectual and cultural origins, which arose due to linguistic, religious, cultural or ethnic differences among human groups. These conflicts also erupted due to sensitivities and fanaticism that led to frequent clashes that characterized the history of man on the planet, prompting some pessimistic historians to describe the history of man as merely a history of wars. Lawrence H. Keeley, mentions in his book “War Before Civilization”, that nearly 90-95% of societies known throughout history have participated at least in one war, and that most people have not accepted the idea of a different ideological, economic or ethnic co-existence, trying to eradicate and eliminate the other group because it is different and distinguished from them. In Western Europe alone, since the late 18th century, there have been more than 150 conflicts and battles in nearly 600 places in a very small geographical part of Europe.

This amount of blood and staged conflict reject difference and try to eradicate the other, whether politically or economically, ethnically, linguistically or religiously, taking out of consideration the fact that diversity and difference, as an authentic and a central pillar of human existence. This approach excludes difference as a human nature, without which humans would not exist as they do now, due to the nature of the human expansion that characterized the presence of human beings based on the principle that people differ in language, color and religion. In the 180 countries that share the geography of this world, there are 6,000 linguistic or ethnic groups, and it is impossible to find a country that enjoy a full harmony in language, ethnicity or sect. This is what leads us to the fact that difference between human beings is a purpose in itself, which is clearly expressed by the Holy Quran in the verse that reads, “And if your Lord had willed, He could have made mankind one community; but they will not cease to differ. Except whom your Lord has given mercy, and for that He created them. (Hood:118- 119)

Diversity and multiplicity, according to the Quranic logic, are the teachings of God Himself. Therefore, Quran has mentioned many verses that indicate the existence of difference. These verses serve two aims: The first is demonstrating the existence and oneness of the truth, and the other is the demonstration of the characteristics of the truth. The Almighty said: “And of His signs is that He created you from dust; then, suddenly you were human beings dispersing [throughout the earth].” (Rum: 20) and He said: “And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and your colors. Indeed, in that are signs for those of knowledge.” (Rum: 22) These verses and dozens of similar verses indicate His transcendental qualities in exchange for the lack and need of his many creatures for Him. It is through this repeated Quranic description of human difference that God will manifest Himself in this world through His oneness through the multiplicity of His creatures. His oneness not only in divinity, but also in all walks of life, so there is no one prophet only, but hundreds of prophets, not one language, but thousands of languages, and not a homeland, but homelands, and not one religion, but many religions. Yet, with this great diversity, there is only one God. The oneness is for Him alone, and multiplicity and difference are attributed to His creatures, which man is the most superior to. Man, sometimes, denies his Creator to worship others, and sometimes he denies His oneness by trying to standardize the world according to his beliefs. So, when rejecting difference; it means adopting paganism in its true sense, because doing so is competing with the oneness of God, who He wanted to have it for Himself only.

As the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet (PBUH) observed difference and recognized it, in order to bridge the gap that leads to conflicts and clash in many verses that states that imposing opinion or belief on any dissent is not of the spirit of religion. “Not upon the Messenger is [responsibility] except [for] notification. And Allah knows whatever you reveal and whatever you conceal.” (Al-Maa’idah: 99) And Allaah says: “And We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. So, judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so, race to [all that is] good. To Allah is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.” (Al-Maida: 48)

The plan to mold people according to one understanding and pattern and to include them in one ideology has not succeeded historically. No attempt has been successful throughout the human history, and what seemed to be successful plans were done using one method: Slaughtering human beings and shedding the blood of thousands and millions of people. Those who adopted this approach and massacred millions of innocent people, such as Stalin and Mao Zedong, who wanted to see their own people act and believe like they do, didn’t accept differences and diversity. The Quranic logic challenges this unifying monotheistic approach to human difference in different verses. The Almighty says: “And they will still be different.” That is to say, difference will remain between people despite the will of profiling and stereotyping run by groups, sects and ideologies.

Hence, we stand against the claims of extremist groups which reject any form of disagreement with them. Do not they fight Allah when they declare a war on their fellow humans who differ with them over politics and religion? Don’t they become pagan when they try to eradicate difference between people by uniting and stereotyping people according to their templates and false slogans?! Don’t they ignore and turn deaf-blind to his Almighty saying: “and for that He created them”.  

*Dr.Tarik Ladjal is Professor of History at Effat University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia