At the Time of Differences

AT THE TIME OF DIFFERENCES What is evil is man not dealing with differences in an appropriate way. Differences are not evil. Going in fear of God despite there being differences is a great Islamic act. D ifferences are part of life. Differences continually arise among people, be they religiously inclined or not. Their inevitability has to be accepted. They can seldom be glossed over or summarily eradicated. Nevertheless, right-minded individuals are capable of adopting the correct attitude to them, however intractable they may seem. A true believer is one who does not make an issue of differences. He does not take them as necessarily illintentioned. Moreover, differences should be limited to the sphere in which they have arisen. And treating others as being wrong on every count or as having double standards, or being ill intentioned, or insincere is a totally un-Islamic course to take. Breaking off a relationship because of differences is not right. In such cases, serious discussion should take place and mutual relationships should be kept up.