Whether we like or dislike, diversity is the reality of life. Diversity is pervasive in creation. It is manifested in ethnicity, temperament and intellect. It is also reflected in belief, behaviour and practice. The former is expression of the Will of God and the latter is expression of the human will.
Formation of Plural Society
Both types of diversities play a vital role in the formation of different communities on account of commonality in one or multiple diversities of individuals. The concept of plural society signifies the co-existence of different communities within a geopolitical space. It is a challenging task for the leadership to resolve the conflict of interests and internal strife in a plural society.
Prophetic Vision of Unity and Diversity
Prophetic vision may be summarised in three approaches which are prominent in the Prophet’s life. First, people professing diverse beliefs and creeds were persuaded to unite on the basis of Unity of God (Tauheed) and Unity of Religion (Deen). Secondly, people should acknowledge the fact of human brotherhood despite natural diversity of ethnicity, temperament and intellect. Thirdly, people should cooperate with each other for peaceful co-existence on the basis of common good despite diversity in belief and practice.
Revelation and Prophetic Vision
The three-dimensional vision reflects the guidance God revealed to the Prophet ﷺ:
1) God has bestowed free will to humankind with intellect and conscience. Human will falters when he is overwhelmed by his animal desires and vested interest. Therefore, Prophets were sent to warn people of their fault, to call them to God and to convey the Guidance from God. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was ordained to preach the divine message and to persuade to the right path; he was not made warder over them. No compulsion in the matter of faith and religion.
2) It is God’s Will that humankind grew in numbers into different tribes and clans. It is He Who has gifted individuals with different temperament and varying intellect. These natural diversities don’t change the essence of human being. The diversity doesn’t negate the universal brotherhood of mankind.
3) Had God willed it, all people would have been one community having same belief and religion; but He didn’t like it by compulsion. However, God likes peace and justice on earth. As such, humankind should be kind to each other and cooperate in good deeds.
Muhammad ﷺ Before Prophethood
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was grown in a society consisting of competing tribes and clans. Arab society was afflicted with internal strife and internecine bloodshed among different tribes. Tribal war was not an eventuality, it was a normal practice either for revenge or for booty or for grandeur.
Before the divine message was revealed to him, Muhammad ﷺ was acclaimed for his integrity of character, kindness and trustworthiness. He was found actively involved in settling disputes and helping the oppressed. His innate virtue and intellect reflected in his social activism towards peaceful resolution of disputes. One such occasion arose when competing leadership of different tribes discorded on taking credit of fixing the Black Stone on the wall of newly renovated Ka’abah. It was Muhammad ﷺ who resolved the dispute to the satisfaction of all. On another occasion before his Prophethood, he was in the forefront of the historic peace treaty of Half al-Fazul performed among warring tribes.
Muhammad ﷺ After Prophethood
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was so enamoured with the treaty of Half al-Fazul that he longed for the same during his Prophetic mission for whole life. When he migrated to Madinah, he directed to draft the historical constitution of Madinah which provided the written rules of cooperation and principles of co-existence in the plural society of Madinah consisting of migrant Muslims from Makkah (Muhajirs), Muslim supporters of Madinah (Ansars), Jewish tribes and other non-Muslim groups of Madinah. With the consensus, his leadership was accepted as head of the city-State of Madinah. He accorded peace between Aus and Khajrah, the two contending tribes of Madinah. Whenever any dispute arose between any of communities or tribes in Madinah, he resolved the dispute with justice as head of the plural society of Madinah. Once he was informed about a dispute among two different tribes, he rushed to the spot and preferred peaceful settlement of dispute even by delaying the obligatory prayer.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ didn’t ignore any aspect of his prophetic mission. He cautioned people from ethnic superiority, reminding them of their origin from Adam and Eve who were created from earthly materials. There is no difference on account of natural diversity. He exhorted on kindness, justice and cooperation.
As Messenger of God, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ conveyed the message in totality. He challenged ignorance and faced arrogance but remained steadfast in his mission throughout his prophetic life.