Unity is Strength

Unity is Strength

1989 4 April 20 Unity is Strength (303) There is no greater source of strength in the world than unity and no great source of weakness than disunity. That is why Islam teaches us to maintain unity at all costs, no matter how much one has to sacrifice in the process.

When Moses was rescued from the Pharaoh, he went away for forty days to Mount Sinai. In his absence, the Israelites were lured by Samiri into worshipping a golden calf. Moses’ brother Aaron, who had been left in charge of the people during his absence, did his utmost to discourage them from worshipping the calf, but his efforts were of no avail. When Moses returned to find his people worshipping an idol, he admonished Aaron severely, demanding to know why he could not have set the people right when he saw them go astray. When Moses wanted to know why Aaron had disobeyed him, the latter said, by way of excuse, “Son of my mother. Do not seize my beared or the hair of my head. I was afraid that you might say: “You have sown discord among the Children of Israel and did not wait for my orders.” (Quran, 20: 92:93)

The fact that Aaron acted in the way he did, and Moses accepted his reasoning, shows the great importance attached to unity by both of these great prophets. Solidarity in a community is so precious that it must be maintained at all costs. It must be given top priority. There is no point in bringing in other reforms if unity is sacrificed in the process. There is no greater source of strength in the world than unity and no great source of weakness than disunity. That is why Islam teaches us to maintain unity at all costs, no matter how much one has to sacrifice in the process.