SPIRIT OF ISLAM JULY 2O18

39 Spirit of Islam Issue 67 July 2018 others; the veil of prejudice causes him to discriminate between human beings. These veils, in fact, tend to block man’s natural urge towards spiritual unity. What is required is to remove these artificial veils in order that the true, inner reality be brought into focus. The aim of all religions, basically, is to encourage this spiritual unity within man and between man and man. No religion is at variance with another so far as this goal is concerned. The language in which this is set forth may vary from one religion to another, but, without doubt, the main concern of all religions is to produce spiritual unity within and between all human beings. Without spiritual unity, there is little hope of creating peace and harmony throughout the world. And where there is no peace and harmony, the dream of human progress will forever remain elusive. Now, what is Islam’s contribution to spiritual unity? The subject is too vast for more than just a few basic points to be briefly touched on. The Unity of God The most important factor in Islam’s contribution is its concept of monotheism— of there being only one God (2: 163) . According to Islam, God, or the Ultimate Reality of this universe is only one, called God in Islam. It is implicit in the concept of the oneness of Godhead that differences and multiplicity would appear to exist in reality, yet there is an underlying unity. In this way the concept of divine unity engenders spiritual unity. All human beings are one, because they are the creation of one God. All human beings are God’s family. God is indeed the greatest reality of the universe. And when it is acknowledged that there is only one greatest reality, it is but natural that all other creation should acquire the character of unity. The Unity of Nature The Quran states that “There is no altering the creation of God.” (30: 30) According to the Prophet of Islam “Every child is born with an upright nature” ( Sahih aI-Bukhari ). We learn from this that unity is found among God, or the Ultimate Reality of this universe is only one, called God in Islam. It is implicit in the concept of the oneness of Godhead that differences and multiplicity would appear to exist in reality, yet there is an underlying unity.