EXPERIENCING THE PRESENCE OF GOD

For instance, the Prophet is reported to have said: "By God, he is not a believer, by God, he is not a believer, by God, he is not a believer." When asked by the companions, "Who is he?", the Prophet replied, “He whose neighbour is not safe from his mischievous deeds.” Hadith-Abu Dawud The differences between human beings seen as justification for discrimination resulting in the violation of basic human rights are considered in the Quran as signs of God: And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your tongues and colours. In that surely are signs for those who possess knowledge. THE QURAN, 30: 22 All the differences of race, community or tribe (THE QURAN 49: 13) are just for mutual introduction (Ta’aruf) and not for discrimination. The differences of race, community or tribe are not meant for discrimination against one another. They exist rather, for the purpose of knowing and appreciating one another. Differences lead to intellectual exchange and intellectual development. It is astonishing to note that the Quran had declared fifteen hundred years ago the biological unity of human beings, a fact which was scientifically established only during the 20th century. The fourth chapter of the Quran begins with this proclamation: O mankind, be conscious of your Sustainer, who has created you out of a single living soul and out of it created its mate. And out of the two spread on the earth a multitude of men and women. THE QURAN, 4: 1 Human life in Islam is held in such high esteem that the killing of a single human being is considered equivalent to the assassination of the whole of mankind. And the protection of a single human life is equivalent to protection of the whole of mankind. It is so stated in