Diversity and Coexistence

Book excerpt: Modern states and societies promote a culture of coexistence, tolerance, and pluralism, and are striving to advance the thought, theory, and culture of a pluralistic society. However, actual changes in human thought and culture—in values, customs, and traditions—remain limited. Such change is a complex process; it cannot be achieved simply by preaching or promoting change. Racist crimes continue to occur and are often even more brutal than in the past. Many societies and countries still suffer from hatred of the “other”—particularly those who are different in terms of race or faith. The resulting instability, in turn, hinders economic development and prosperity. In this book, the author presents a new vision for how to achieve coexistence in a diverse society. He explores why coexistence is so important in Islam and introduces a realistic model as to how it can be achieved among peoples of all types and backgrounds. The model has already been achieved in the United Arab Emirates, which has made it possible for people of all nationalities, faiths, races, and languages—without exception—to coexist in peace and harmony.