Self-Development and Tolerance: Thriving in the Global Village

 We live in a different world from our ancestors. The planet is more populated and interconnected than ever before. Never has mankind been so close together in interdependence and cooperation as it is now, and it will continue to become more interconnected, in sha Allah. This world is often described as a "Global Village," a phrase popularized by the media theorist Marshall McLuhan, where everyone shares their unique culture and background and lives side by side in synergy.

If we are all neighbors in one village, how do we grow together instead of pulling each other apart?

A Village Called Global Village

The term "Global Village" reminds me of a place of the same name in Dubai, UAE, which was established in the late 1990s and continues to this day. I believe it is a celebration of different cultures and national identities, with the songs, food, dance, theatre, handicrafts, dress, and more of countries from around the world, all sharing the same space, with a different pavilion for each nation. Indeed, the UAE celebrates "tolerance" as one of its core values as a nation. Allah tells us that He made us into peoples and tribes so that we may know one another (Qur'an 49:13), and that the diversity of our languages and colors is one of His signs (Qur'an 30:22).

Tolerance Grows with Practice

Tolerance takes time to practice. But a child growing up in a multicultural environment, in a multicultural school, a multicultural neighborhood, and so on, will naturally develop tolerance. As the world becomes more and more tight-knit, in the future this will be the norm rather than the exception, in sha Allah. The Prophet (SAW) said that Allah is gentle and loves gentleness in all matters (Sahih al-Bukhari 6024; Sahih Muslim 2165). He also said that whoever does not show mercy to people, Allah will not show mercy to him (Sahih al-Bukhari 7376; Sahih Muslim 2319).

Valuing Others as We Develop

As we develop ourselves, we need to value others of different backgrounds and learn from them as they learn from us, and use this synergy to thrive together in our self-development. A person might have a different belief or cultural background from ours, but we are all human beings sharing the same challenges of living together in this world. Allah does not forbid us from being kind and just toward those who do not fight us over our faith (Qur'an 60:8), and He tells us to cooperate in goodness and righteousness (Qur'an 5:2).

Rejecting Bad Characteristics, Not People

We do not hate. We are not intolerant of others. But we detest bad characteristics in ourselves and others. That does not mean we hate ourselves or others. It means we work wisely to get rid of bad characteristics wherever they may be. The Prophet Lut (AS) gave the model when he said to his people, "I am, of your deed, among those who detest it" (Qur'an 26:168): the deed was disliked, not the person. The Prophet (SAW) taught us to follow a bad deed with a good deed to wipe it out, and to treat people with good character (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1987). Allah also tells us to call to His way with wisdom and good instruction (Qur'an 16:125).