Plenary,

Meeting date: Wednesday, May 5, 2004

Official Report 412KB pdf

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Time for Reflection

Good afternoon. Our first item of business, as every Wednesday, is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader today is Dr Salah Beltagui, of the Muslim Association of Britain.

Thank you for inviting me here. I am involved in community work relating to race relations and interfaith relations. That is why I take as my topic, knowing each other.

It is sometimes easy for people to think of the differences between people in language, in race, in colour and in culture as barriers to understanding, which can lead only to disputes and troubles. That is not really the case, though, especially for me. As a Muslim, equality comes as part of my faith. After all, we are all members of the family of humanity, all created by the same creator, and descended from the same parents. We are united by our common humanity, despite, or perhaps because of, our differences.

In fact, it is part of God's wisdom and the beauty of his creation that he has made us different. In the Qur'an, God says:

"O mankind! We have created you from one male and one female and have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know each other. The most honourable among you in the sight of God is the best in conduct."

God created us all different; he could have made us all the same, sharing the same language, the same traditions, and the same beliefs and so on, which would become very boring.

We read also in the Qur'an:

"And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the differences of your languages and colours. In that indeed are portents for people of knowledge."

The variation in heaven and earth, and in us as human beings, is part of the beauty of creation. With that comes the other rule, which the prophet said in his last sermon:

"There is no preference of an Arab over a non-Arab, or a white over a black, but in piety",

and piety is conduct.

Respecting racial, cultural and religious differences is to celebrate the differences of our creation and to believe in God's great creation. It is also an appreciation of the freedom of choice that God has given each of us when he says, "No compulsion in religion."

Rather than regard our differences as obstacles to understanding each other, we should accept and respect our differences. Indeed, we should celebrate the diversity of races, cultures and ideas that we are exposed to when we interact with each other and come to know each other. The way to know each other is through open and enlightened dialogue, both as individuals and collectively as groups and communities. We should be talking with sincerity, with the aim of creating bonds of agreement, understanding and unity. Such dialogue, based on mutual respect and co-operation, is highly regarded in Islam. I believe that universal stability, peace and progress in this world can be achieved through knowing each other.