The Importance of Unity

The Importance of Unity

1985 11 November 20 The Importance of Unity (377) Islam attaches great importance to unity. This is evident in congregational and social matters. But above all it is obligatory in public worship of God. Although prayer in essence is a purely individual affair – the bowing before God of the true worshipper – we are commanded by God to perform this individual and spiritual act in a congregation under the leadership of one man. From this a sense of unity develops, and then, having become manifest, is consolidated according to the will of God.

Zakat (alms-giving) is likewise an individual commandment to set aside a part of one’s earnings for the good works of God. What is left to one is deemed sanctified. But one is not meant to disburse this amount at will. From the times of the Caliphate to the present day, these sums have been collected by the government and put into the Public Treasury (Baitul Mal) to provide a common fund not only for the poor, but for a variety of good causes. The sharing of one’s legitimately earned wealth with the community is not equivalent to charity:

Zakat is levied under penalty of law, has a definite ratio to wealth and is, in Islam, institutionalized. It is meant for the general welfare of the community and state.

Similarly, fasting is purely an individual and spiritual act. But we have not been asked to fast for one month at just any time of the year. Rather a particular point in the year has been fixed. Muslims are expected to observe and break their fasts in the same month.

Haj is another case in point. Haj means the hastening of God’s servants to answer His call. In this respect, Haj also is an individual affair. But this individual act having been made congregational, Muslims from all over the world have to gather at one point at a certain time to perform the rites of Haj together. The pilgrimage then takes place on a vast scale. This collective aspect is predominant in Haj worship. The Encyclopedia Britannica has this to say on this subject:

“About 2,000,000 persons perform the Haj each year, and the rite serves as a unifying force in Islam by bringing followers of diverse background together in religious celebration.”

(V.IV P. 844, 1984)