‘The concept of diversity is explicitly inclusive in Islam,” renowned international speaker, Humaira Masihuddin, on Tuesday.
She is a renowned social activist, lawyer and anthropologist.
In the Noble Quran, humans are addressed to treat one another without any discrimination; respect other’s beliefs and never use abusive language or show disrespect towards others, she added.
The social activist was speaking to the youth of Pakistan and Afghanistan at the 12th Youth Training Workshop for Afghan and Pakistani youth, organised by Afghan Studies Center (ASC) in Islamabad.
“If we look at the character of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), it is evident how he always respected the non-Muslims in Makkah and Madina. Even on the day when Makkah was conquered by Muslims, Prophet (PBUH) forgave all his enemies for the harms that they had inflicted on him,” she maintained.
Moreover, the last sermon of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was said to have clearly mentioned “[A]ll mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab, has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black, nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety (Taqwa) and good action.”
Maseehuddin stated that in short, Islam was the religion of tolerance and coexistence, love and peace for others regardless of their religion or ethnicity.
Holy Prophet (PBUH) always respected non-Muslims in Makkah and Medina
The anthropologist further appraised the participants that the concept of multiculturalism revolved round society with heterogeneous beliefs and ideas.
Multiculturalism was noted to make a society diverse.
Respect for diversity shaped coexistence, peace, and harmony under a political and institutional framework, she asserted.
She called on the youth to not treat differences as challenges for they do not limit the growth of any individual or society.
Every individual had a right to be different and be respected by all, Maseehuddin said.
Every society or social structure had some core values, she continued, the concept of a valueless society was unreal. Values were said to guide society and organise life.
She claimed that conflicts between two groups arise due to differences between their value systems.
Absence of respect for core values was said to lead to a number of responses referring to the majority-minority divide, which may include extermination; genocide; forced assimilation; ethnocide; forced migration and silencing.
Hence, to avoid conflict, it is imperative to understand the core values of different societies and to appreciate and respect them, for it is intolerance, and not religion, that breeds hatred, she said.
This was the 12th Youth Training Workshop held under ASC – a sister organisation of the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). The centre now has over 500 Pakistani and Afghan youth alumni.
ASC aims to encourage peace narratives and critical thinking through its monthly Pak-Afghan youth dialogue series and quarterly training workshops. The seminars focus on skill development and capacity-building of emerging future leaders from both countries.