Speech At Goethe-Institut Auditorium, Dhaka, 03 April 2007
The Common Patrimony of Mankind:
The Beauty of Unity in Diversity
- Kazi Azizul Huq, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon
Special Guests, Discussants, Audience and the Organizers of the Event at the German Cultural Center,
Ladies & Gentlemen,
Today is the Second Day of the current four day event on Architecture & Religion at the German Cultural Center. I specially thank Mr. Torsten Oertel, Director of German Cultural Center, for inviting me to the discussion titled "The Patrimony of Mankind : Beauty of Unity in Diversity" .
I am an activist of Political Islam and of Quaumi Madrasa System. In the Post Nine Eleven era when Political Islam and Quaumi Madrasa are issues of controversy, I am specifically grateful to the Goethe-Institut for inviting me to speak in this event. I think, Goethe-Institute by inviting me, knowing my difference of opinion, has demonstrated their sincere commitment to the Beauty of Unity in Diversity.
I am an activist of Khelafat Andolon. Our late leader Hazrat Maulana Mohammadullah Hafezzi Huzur (Peace be upon him) used to say :"Muslims are my brethren in Faith, and non-Muslims are my kin, because all human being are children of Adam and Eve (Peace and Blessings of God be upon them)."
God says: "O you men! surely I have created you of a male (i.e. Adam, Peace & Blessings of God be upon him) and a female ( i.e. Eve, Peace & Blessings of God be upon her), and made you tribes and families that you may know each other; surely to Allah the most honorable of you is the one among you who is most careful (about Divine Will); surely Allah is Knowing, Aware ." (Quran 49:13).
Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace & Blessings of God be upon him) said in the Sermon of his Last Hajj: "All mankind is from Adam and Eve (Peace & Blessings of God be upon them), an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action."
All sides need to rationally study the true causes of today's conflict with Islam & Muslims – how much for religion-culture-ethnicity, how much for greed of others' wealth , how much for greed of expansion of domination on others, how much for ego and arrogance, how much for misinterpretation and disinformation, how much for ignorance, how much for blindness, how much for misunderstanding each other. Sometime unfair step of one party may provoke the other to pursue unfair way.
Those who are more powerful and privileged are to act more responsibly than those who are weaker and under-privileged. If the powerful and privileged ones misuse their power and privileges, shall be deprived of their power and privileges today or tomorrow.
Human being is blessed with the acumen to minutely measure and analyze the subjects and objects within human range. Such as the goldsmith's scale can weigh small pieces of gold and silver. But if one wants to weigh the Himalayan Mountain by a goldsmith's scale, it would be impossible. It does not mean that the goldsmith's scale is imperfect. Similarly even though a human mind is perfect and measures without error yet can not know the origin of God, such as a goldsmith's scale can not weigh the Himalayan Mountain. I believe in God; I spend time in the company of the beloved ones of God; I try to walk in compliance with the Will of God.
We have been trying to promote intercommunity relationship among Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Jews and Christians – so that mutual trust and compassion increases. Sri Sanjeeb Chowdhury, the founder Vice President of the Bangladesh Inter-Religious Council for Peace and Justice (BICPAJ), has been included in the Central Executive Committee of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon as an Advisor; Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon is in Dialogue with the Interfaith Strength of American Jewish Committee (AJC). In identifying good and bad, sin and virtues - we all communities have great similarities. Most of our religions are based on theism. But in our today's world most of the ruling elite of all communities and nations are under heavy influence of atheism & materialism of European civilization. Consequently the basis of Unity of the Mankind has been weakened. We have taken an initiative so that all beloved ones of God of all communities having Faith in and dependence on Almighty God can move forward to lead the mankind through evaluation of good deeds and implementation of justice.
When there was nothing, Great God was present. Great God is the source of everything in the creation. Unity, disunity, contradiction, difference, conflict, fight, truce – whatever there are in the creation, visible or invisible – everything is controlled by Great God. We understand or not, we like or dislike – Unity centering Great God exist. Therefore, we see a wonderful Unity in Diversity in the nature and creation. Great God has Blessed humankind with will power, intelligence and more efficient physical body. I believe, if the Mankind uses its freedom and higher qualities not to rebel against Great God but to fulfill His expectations then our diversity and differences will turn into success, beauty and bliss.
May Great God forgive us and make us well-wisher of each other despite our diversity and differences. Amin. Wassalam.
-Kazi Azizul Huq, International Affairs Secretary, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon
E-mail: kahuq.bka@gmail.com, khelafat@dhaka.net, Cell: 01819-407963
Khelafat Andolon
