Abstract:

It is known that religious approaches to diversities are closely connected to the doctrine of truth and salvation which plays a central role in religious discourses. It is also known that the exclusivist attitudes consisting of violence and oppression are due to the opinions that do not recognize the diversities to exist. Islam takes the concepts of “humanity” and “freedom” as a basis of its approach to varieties. At the very heart of Islamic understanding of humanity there is a description of human being as a "caliph who was created in the earth". As a unique being, man has the basic characteristics of freedom of will and of responsibility. Therefore, Islam explains the diversities in the context of the use of free will of humanity. It also notes that the relationship between diversities should be based on the concept of "know each other" not on struggle and oppression. Islam also explains the varieties in accordance with such divine attributes as divine power, will and knowledge. Moreover, the basic concept of Islam, Tawhid, emphasizes the unity and harmony not only in theological but also in cosmological and anthropological context, and therefore points to the main characteristic of unity and harmony between humanity.

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