No Religion Differs on Religious Essence of Other Religions – Human Beings Do

We are Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Sikhs, Jains and Baha’is etc. only by our social admission. From Judaism, first of all, the Abrahamic religions to Islam the last, Allah the Most Gracious talks of inclusivity and pluralistic ethos when He says ‘the worlds’ in various verses of the Holy Quran. Allah says in the Holy Quran about the Seal of All the Prophets, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) that he has been sent as a messenger of peace for the entire universe, not for any particular community. Consider this verse:

“And we have sent thee not but as a blessing (mercy) for the entire universe (for all peoples)” (21:108)

 In one of the verses of the Holy Quran Allah says, ‘All praise is due to God alone, the Sustainer of all the worlds, – (Al-Fateha – 2)’. The expression, ‘All the worlds’ is an expression describing the pluralistic and inclusivist essence of Islam. It shows Allah, the Most Gracious is not for the followers of Islam only but the entire universe. The whole of humanity is His Creation, hence, He is God of the universe.

Other religions also do not discriminate among people, consider the following verse and Shloka from the Holy Bible and Git:

…through whom he also created the worlds. (Heb. 1:2)

I (Krishna) am the same to all beings; to Me there is none hateful or dear, but those who worship Me with devotion abide in Me and I in them. – Gita 9:29.

There is no religious discrimination among the people as far as the world religions are concerned. From the oldest of all the religions, Judaism to the newest Islam, all the scriptures value human beings as one. None of these has ever talked of Jews, Christians, Hindus and Muslims. It is we the humankind that have created our identity with the name of religion and the nations, we belong to. No problems if the human being is divided into nations and communities as the Holy Quran says, ‘ “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another  – (Al-Hujurat – 13).

There are different religions and religious beliefs but humane ethics remain the same. Traits of peace love, compassion, brotherhood, and divine inclusiveness do not differ. Divinity and its divine attributes of humankind, no matter which nation or community they belong to are the same. No one among us, humankind, differs on the virtues of spiritual enlightenment of peace and inclusiveness we all have.

Our religiosity has changed our way of worship, our cultural and religious teachings but it has not affected our inner inclusive sense of belonging. We differ in religious appearance and religious norms but we do not differ in our social responsibilities. We accept and follow the norms of social life. We have formed various social organisations that have formulated human rights for all humanity not for political-religious faith or ideology or the nation.

At heart, the world acknowledges human differences but does not discriminate against human beings is one. We acknowledge our social needs are the same as we all are born through the same process of birth. It is not that the Muslims, the Christians, the Jews and all other are born through different processes. We acknowledge that our physical needs are the same as our physical build is the same. We all have the same nervous system consisting of the same system, be it our hearts, our kidneys or any of our other physical attributes.

We have the same hearts and minds, it’s built wise but we all always think differently and feel differently from each other. The reason is clear. Allah has blessed us all with wisdom, intellect and logic and has blessed us with the power of thinking and feeling differently on every matter, religion, religious teachings and social norms.

Allah says in the Holy Quran:

 ‘Those who listen to the Word, and follow the best (meaning) in it:  (Az-Zumar – 18)’

That was a nation that has passed on. It will have [the consequence of] what it earned, and you will have what you have earned. And you will not be asked about what they used to do. – (Al Baqarah: 134)

The above-mentioned verses say, those people who listen to the world means intelligent people, and make their own decisions and the blessed ones. The second verse says that no one of us the humankind will be answerable to what other’s do. We all have been blessed with our intellect to use it by selecting the righteous path. We will stand answerable to our deeds, good or bad. Allah the Most Gracious has created the world and created human beings as His vicegerent and distributed them in nations and communities to test them for their beliefs and use of intellect in making the world an abode of peace and inclusiveness, like these, are the traits Allah loves the most. Following Quranic and Biblical verses, as well as Shlokas from the Hindu religious epics, demonstrate human beings uniformity in everything except the religious beliefs.

Quranic Verses on Humane Virtues of all Humankind

And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you … – (Al-Baqarah – 4)

But it is not except a reminder to the worlds. – (Al-Qalam – 52)

O people of Islam, “You are the best people ever raised for the good of mankind because you have been raised to serve others; you enjoin what is good and forbid evil and believe in Allah.” (3:111)

“And do not forget to do good to one another.” (2:238)

And will aid you with worldly goods and children, and will bestow upon you gardens, and bestow upon you running waters – (Nuh (Noah):12)

“O ye People of the Book! Believe in what We have (now) revealed, confirming what was (already) with you, “ (An-Nisa’:47)

“The same religion He has established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah – the which We have sent by inspiration to thee – and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that you should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein: – (sh-Shuraa – 13)

…. To each among you, we have prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He has given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. … – (Al-Ma’idah – 48)

Hindu Epics Depicting the Essence of Inclusiveness of Human Beings

This Being (neuter) entered all beings, he became the overlord of all beings. That is the Atman (Soul, Self) within and without – yea, within and without! — Maitri Upanishad 5.2,

Even those who, endowed with faith are devoted to other gods, they worship Me alone, O Kaunteya, in an indirect manner. – Gita 9:23.

Whichever manifestation (of the Divine) any devotee desires to worship with faith – that faith I make unshakeable and firm. – Gita 7:21.

Neither here [in this world] nor there [in the next], O Arjuna, is there destruction for the one [who meditates on the inconceivable Absolute]. For verily, no one who does good, my son, ever comes to grief. – Gita 6:40

Biblical Verses Advocating Inclusiveness of Humanity

He upholds all things by the word of his power. (Hebrews 1:3)

For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free–and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. – 1 Corinthians 12

“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image. – Genesis 9:6

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  1 Timothy 6:7-8

I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host. – Isaiah 45:12

Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Judaism with all other faiths and religions stand on the same pedestal as far as human beings having the same spiritual and social essence that teaches exclusivism in every human being is concerned. The lessons, therefore, taught by the world religions is not that of discrimination based on religion or communities. It is we that have created a huge religious, social and spiritual gulf among ourselves. It is all against the teachings of the religions we follow and boast of it being the best.

Following are the Quotes of the Scholars Depicting Oneness of Human Beings

“All differences in this world are of degree, and not of a kind because oneness is the secret of everything.” ― Swami Vivekananda

“We all are so deeply interconnected; we have no option but to love all.” ― Amit Ray, Yoga and Vipassana: An Integrated Life Style

“Technology is destructive only in the hands of people who do not realize that they are the same process as the universe. ” ― Alan Watts

“We never stopped being each other.” ― Alicen Grey

“I’m Different, I Don’t See Any Difference-in-Differences.” ― Syed Sharukh

Unless the discriminatory policies of world politics are taken care of, there will be social and political chaos. The powers that be must take cognizance of the pain and grief spread all over the world and come forward with the teachings of inclusiveness and pluralism that Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Hinduism have taught.

Reference URL: Interfaith Dialogue