The importance of integrating with and contributing to society

Integration is defined as the free association of people of different ethnicities, religions, and beliefs.

Hadhrat Moulana Husayn Ahmad Madani, one of the leading pioneers of Deoband, campaigned with Mahatma Ghandi for the independence of India. He once forcefully stated:

“If Muslims cannot form a nation with non-Muslims, if Islam does not permit it…then how was it that the Prophet formed a composite umma (nation) with the Jews?…

…The view that Islam is an inflexible religion is beyond my comprehension. To the extent that I can understand its laws, [Islam] can live together with non-Muslims in the same country; it can be at peace with them; it can enter into treaties with them; as well as into commercial transactions, partnerships, tenancy, the exchange of gifts, loans, trusts, etc. Muslims can interact with them, participate in matters of joy and grief, and dine with them…”

(Madani, Muttahida Qawmiyyat, p.51).

Hadhrat Allama Anwar Shah Kashmiri (rahmatullahi alayhi) another pioneer and beacon of the school of Deoband stated:

“In India and in every non-Muslim majority country every Muslim is responsible as much as he can to maintain the rights of peace and freedom which Islam has allotted for common people. Obviously, to fulfill this target every Muslim has to take part in the political, economical and civil activities of his country so that with his political and economical power he can discharge the responsibility of safeguarding the rights pertaining to life, wealth and belongings of common citizens. If a Muslim is only a spectator and keeps aloof from the political and economical activities of his country then how he can discharge the duty of serving the people.”

(Hindustan mein Musalmaanon ke Mulki Faraiz)

Teaching students to preserve their Islamic identity, values, and appearance, and to avoid aspects of society which are harmful or contrary to Islamic teachings, does not in any way equate to teaching of hate, intolerance, and separation from wider society. On the contrary, the preservation of one’s Islamic identity and values enhances one’s ability to interact with and contribute beneficially to the wider society. The two aspects are not mutually exclusive.

This is not some abstract theory, but proven concretely by the fact that our former students have managed to preserve fully their Islamic identity and values, yet are fully integrated into society, contributing to the social, economic, and intellectual development of British society.

The preservation of the Islamic identity and values enhances one’s capacity to treat all human beings with extra compassion and kindness, as exemplified by the luminaries whom we encourange the students to emulate.

Hadhrat Maulana Syed Hussain Ahmad Madani said regarding integration between different communities in India:

“We as Indians are integrated and have an alliance which perpetuates in all conditions along with the differences in religions and cultures. In the same way, being different in complexions, castes, colours and heights has no impact in our mutual humanity, we all are Indians as per holding same nationality. Hence, Muslims are equally dutiful like other communities to avail the national interests and make attempts to remove any kind of harm and damage. If the inhabitants of a village do not extinguish the fire together in case it catches, then the whole village will be engulfed by the fire and all people will be badly affected. Likewise, the inhabitants of a country, whether Muslims or Hindus, Sikhs or Parsis, all are equally obligated to strain every nerve jointly to guard their country in case of national calamity.

This responsibility implies all and being different in religions causes no hindrance. Everyone can discharge this duty having full allegiance to their respective religions. The same collaboration is prevailing in municipal boards, councils and assemblies. Member of different religions perform their duties related to a city, a district, a state or a country. This is what called ‘composite nationalism’.

(Extracted from ‘Khutbaat Fidaa-e-Millat: 205,216).