The Unity of Man

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is adapted from a swuhbah of Shaykh Nazhim Adil al-Haqqani (q.s.) from the 06^th December 2009. 

The more respect we show to Rasulullah (s.a.w.), the more Allah (s.w.t.) will Grant us His Blessings.  We must be thankful and proud to be part of the ummah of Muhammad (s.a.w.), the ummah of the Most Beloved by Allah (s.w.t.).  As Muslims, we must spread the greeting “as-Salaamu’Alaykum” and use it as much as possible.  This heavenly greeting contains the Blessed Name of Allah (s.w.t.), as-Salam.  “as-Salam” means safety and protection.  Each time we give or receive this salam, we are Raised Closer to Allah (s.w.t.), and we are Surrounded by felicity and safety, in this world and the hereafter.  We are so blessed to be given this Gift by Allah (s.w.t.), so use it often on those we meet.  In the Qur’an, Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ الحُجرَات

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ۬ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰكُمۡ شُعُوبً۬ا وَقَبَآٮِٕلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓاْ‌ۚ إِنَّ أَڪۡرَمَكُمۡ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتۡقَٮٰكُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ۬ (١٣) 

O Mankind!  We Created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and Made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (not that you may despise each other).  Verily the most Honoured of you in the Sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you.  And Allah has Full Knowledge and is Well Acquainted (with all things). (Surah al-Hujraat:13) 

When Shaykh Nazhim (q.s.) took a trip to a mountain in Lebanon, the tour guide told him that there were a thousand species of plants on that mountain.  Each plant brings a different benefit to us - some are sources of food, others are sources of fruit, some are medicines, some produce fragrance and some others provide beauty and tranquility.  So each plant has a unique benefit that no other plant possessed. 

We are not lower than a plant.  Man, the khalifah of Allah (s.w.t.), is Created from different races and nationalities, just like the different species of plants, and each race and nationality has its own special and unique characteristics, that are not found in another other races or nationalities.  We must embrace this fact: we are all different since Allah (s.w.t.) Created us with different strengths and weaknesses, and by studying this and accepting all humans as our brothers and sisters without hatred and discrimination, we will be showing reverence to Allah (s.w.t.) and accepting His Divine Wisdom. 

A beautiful example is a king’s crown, covered with jewels; diamonds, rubies, sapphires, pearls, each precious stone adding to the beauty of the crown, yet these stones do not envy or compete, they complement each other and accept each other’s uniqueness.  The ummah of Muhammad (s.a.w.), are all precious stones on the Crown of Rasulullah (s.a.w.), so we should not hate each other, or seek to harm or kill one another.  On the contrary, we are to unite, accept that we are all unique, and to respect that uniqueness, as wisdom from Allah (s.w.t.).  There is much we can learn and benefit from one another, instead of hating and hurting one another. 

When we think of our race or nationality as being better than others, we say and do things to degrade, insult and humiliate others.  This is hurtful to others.  Just as some animals such as snakes, scorpions or dogs bite us, one who deliberately hurts his fellow human being with deeds or words, is lower than such an animal.  Many highly educated people, are racists, and speak of other races or nationalities in derogatory terms.  Such people are the lowest amongst humans, falling from the highest level of the khalifah, to the level of an animal, whose poison filled words bring pain and suffering to others.  We must leave hurting others through weapons and words.  Allah (s.w.t.) did not Create us for that lowly purpose.