Friday, September 2, 2016

Diversity & Pluralism

Commenting on the post on Diversity, IH wrote: 
PLURALISM TOO AS IT EXIST RIGHT NOW IN THE WORLD.  MANY PATHS LEADING TO THE SAME GOAL... (... )

QURAN RECOGNISES DIVERSITY & PLURALISM

To you WE have given the scriptures, just as WE have given the scriptures to people before you (Jews, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, etc).  We have protected your scriptures (Quran) in its entirety.  So judge among people from what knowledge has come to you (from Quran) and follow not their vain desires (that Muslims are the only righteous and chosen people to lead) diverging far away from the TRUTH .
To each among you (referring to diverse groups – not excluding anybody) We have prescribed the Law (teachings of the indigenous, native people and Buddhist scholars, Gitas, Vedas, Torah, Gospels and The Quran) and an Open Way (given a conscience with reference to the spiritualists people).
If God had willed, all humanity would have been of one single community (this means diversity is part of God’s creation).  God’s plan is to test you in what each one has received (in form of Holy Scriptures or Conscience).  So strive, as in a race in all virtues. 
The goal of all the people is to God.  God (alone) will tell you the truth in matters of which you dispute.” 5:48
Every People have received Apostle/Prophets
 The following verse in the Quran is repeated 3 times.  These are very important verses that further the teachings of Diversity and Pluralism in the Quran.
The Quran says, “To every people was sent an Apostle to teach them in their own language in their own country – making things clear” 10:47, 14:4 & 16:36.  This means that numerous Prophets have been coming from the beginning of times to guide people for living a righteous life.  Our Prophet has said there are 124,000 Prophets (numerous) that have been send from time to time to different people all over the world.  Each Prophet preached the same message of believing in God and doing righteous acts.  This would mean that Confucius, Buddha, Ram, Krishna could also be Prophets for Buddhists and Hindus too.  Their Holy Scriptures is also just as important as the Abrahamic Scriptures, namely, The Torah, The Gospels and The Quran. 

My Answer: 
مُنِيبِينَ إِلَيْهِ وَاتَّقُوهُ وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَلَا تَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
مِنَ الَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا كُلُّ حِزْبٍ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ
Turning to Him, and fear Him and establish the prayer and (do) not be of the polytheists. Of those who divide their religion and become sects, each party in what they have rejoicing. 

I should have probably quoted the Q30:31-32 as well in the last email, instead of stopping at Q30:30. Indeed God has sent, as promised when sending Adam to Earth, several prophets and messengers for the guidance of the progeny of Adam. Each nation may have received different scriptures, but all preached the same religion: monotheism and submission to The One and Only True Deity, whom in Arabic we address as Allah. The primary scriptures (Vedas, Torah/Old Testament, al-Quran) of these major religions (Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam) all preach monotheism and submission to God.   

In Surah al-Anbiya, after mentioning in brief some of the prophets and messengers, 21:92 goes on to state: 

إِنَّ هَٰذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُونِ
Indeed, this (is) your religion - religion one, and I Am your Lord, so worship Me. 

In Surah Hud, Prophet-Messenger Hud is quoted as informing his people: 

إِنِّي تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ رَبِّي وَرَبِّكُم مَّا مِن دَابَّةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهَا إِنَّ رَبِّي عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
Indeed, I [I] put my trust upon Allah my Lord, and your Lord. (There is) not of a moving creature but He has grasp of its forelock. Indeed, my Lord (is) on a path straight. 

In Surah Maryam, Messiah Jesus is quoted as informing his people: 

وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ هَٰذَا صِرَاطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ
"And indeed, Allah (is) my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. This (is) a path straight." 

In Surah an-Nur, we are informed: 
لَّقَدْ أَنزَلْنَا آيَاتٍ مُّبَيِّنَاتٍ وَاللَّهُ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
وَيَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالرَّسُولِ وَأَطَعْنَا ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّىٰ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُم مِّن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ وَمَا أُولَٰئِكَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Verily, We have sent down Verses clear. And Allah guides whom He wills to a path straight. And they say, "We believe in Allah and in the Messenger and we obey." Then turns away a party of them after that. And not those (are) believers.  

In Surah at-Takwir, we are informed: 
إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
لِمَن شَاءَ مِنكُمْ أَن يَسْتَقِيمَ
وَمَا تَشَاءُونَ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Not it (is) except a reminder to the worlds, For whoever wills among you to take a straight way. And not you will except that wills Allah, Lord (of) the worlds. 

Thus, in Surah al-Fatihah 1:6, we daily, repeatedly pray: 

اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
Guide us (to) the path, the straight. 


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