La Convivencia: The Spirit of Co-existence in Islam

Abstract

The tremendous inter-dependence of our era underlines the importance of successfully removing racial, cultural and religious barriers in a manner that nurtures understanding, togetherness, and acceptance. To do so, would be to embrace the ideals of 'peaceful co-existence', 'unity through diversity' and 'inclusion.' Islam, as a religious system, offers such a normative framework for inclusion, within specific parameters. However, notwithstanding its striking history of embracing difference, it has often been unfairly targeted as a source of global dissonance. This article, then, responds to that allegation and substantiates an Islamic ethical alternative for plurality based on the Qur'an and the Prophetic Sayings.