DESPITE DIFFERENCES

Harmony in Society

Where differences of opinion are respected, there will be no intellectual stagnation.

IF you read the lives of Islamic scholars of the early Muslim period, you will find that they had considerable differences among themselves on religious issues. Yet, despite this, they respected each other. Consider in this regard two incidents.

Ibn Abdul Barr relates that Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Ali ibn alMadini once had a discussion with each other on a particular issue, so much so that they began to raise their voices. Ibn Abdul Barr says that he feared that this would create bitterness between the two. But when Ali ibn al-Madini was about to leave, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, in a gesture of great respect, stepped forward and took hold of his stirrup.

Yunus Siddqi was among the illustrious disciples of Imam Shafi. One day, he had a long debate with his teacher on a particular issue. When they met next, Imam Shafi took hold of his hand and said: “Would it not be better if we lived as brothers even if we cannot agree on any issue?”

These examples illustrate mutual respect but also something greater—and that is, respect for differences of opinion: in other words, viewing differences of opinion from the intellectual point of view, not from the personal point of view.

Respect for differences of opinion is no simple matter. It is directly related to our intellectual development. In a society where differences of opinion are acknowledged and positively accepted, there will definitely be an environment of discussion. People will articulate their respective points of view, offering rational and academic arguments with evidence for the same. Where differences of opinion are respected, there will be no intellectual stagnation. The process of intellectual development will continue. It is intellectual development, one must remember, that is man’s greatest need.