By Imam Jamal Rahman
“Make room for one another in your collective life, do make room; and in return God will make room for you in His Grace.” (Qur’an 58:11)
“Come out of the Circle of Time and enter the Circle of Love.” ~Rumi
Qur’anic commentators explain that this revelation counsels the human being to be inclusive, and to be gracious and generous in our co-existence with others. The human ego is reluctant to share power, advantage and convenience with others, especially those outside our tribe. But, know that God will compensate us in manifold ways when we move beyond our ego biases and open our hearts to others who are different.
In contemporary times, sages challenge us to live and co-operate with those who are dissimilar to us in race, color, nationality, religion and sexual orientation. Out of a cosmic design, they explain, God has deliberately created diversity so that we might “come to know one another.” (Qur’an 49:13)
This critical work of personal interaction was not meant to be easy. In a tongue and cheek revelation, God says: “We have created some of you to be a trial for others.” (Qur’an 25:20)
However, it is through this collective co-existence that the conditioned biases of our time and culture begin to dissolve and dismantle. With heightened consciousness, we enter the Circle of Love. The divine attribute of love is universal. Rumi utters that love exists in every religion but love has no religion.