Pluralism, Unity and Ethics of Disagreement in Islam

This is a topic of monumental scope, encompassing a wide range of sub-topics. The theme of this paper is that unity is an aspiration. However, there is no one way of establishing it. Most importantly, the unity and continuity of the Ummah are always there, and even though unity is not fully recognized by Muslims, it is constantly the point at which all the important achievements are made. Therefore, despite the obvious passion of Muslim critics who always ask the question, "Why we are not united?," throughout the history of Muslims the answer will point to one or two factors. But the simple fact is that the unity of the Ummah, always and foremost, is achieved through the realization of diversity. Since the beginning of the message of Islam, universalism meant the possibility of both diversity and pluralism as existential facts of human-ity. One might go further to say that while diversity reflects the existential aspects of the human predicament, pluralism refers to the way of organizing it within the ethos of Islam. Moreover, the advent of Islam meant among other things that both pluralism and diversity within the Islamic framework are the most important, the most meaningful doctrines through which Islam was communicated to Muslims and others. Perhaps to illustrate this, one must have a deep look into the basic concepts of the Qur'än that define the essence of religious experience, its ritual forms, and its place in the history of religions.