A Lesson From History

2. The Call to God and Unity ~ 53 ~ various sects on juristic issues, which are peripheral to religion. Therefore, whenever Islam draws the public attention, the basic aspects, which are unanimously agreed upon, are given due prominence, while the controversial aspects are kept in the background. It is a natural principle that whenever a community devotes itself to the cause of calling people to God, it is blessed with unity and solidarity. People’s attention, in such circumstances, is centred upon the basic and widely accepted precepts. To raise peripheral issues would mean creating differences among them. Whenever people devote their energies to promoting the basic teachings of Islam, there is inevitably a closer understanding among them. This approach eliminates conflict and paves the way for unity. To sum up, the introduction of peripheral and lesser issues leads to confrontation, whereas adherence to basic issues creates an environment favourable to integration. UNITY DESPITE DIVERSITY To call people to God in today’s world is to represent God. Those who perform this service are