“A central element in a truly religious outlook, it seems to me, is the quality of personal humility – a recognition that strive as we might, we will still fall short of our ideals, that climb as we might, there will still be unexplored and mysterious peaks above us. It means recognizing our own creaturehood – and thus our human limitations. In that recognition, it seems to me, lies our best protection against false prophecies and divisive dogmatism.”
Mawlana Hazar Imam, Evora University Symposium, February 12, 2006
Previous articles explored the concepts of pluralism and the cosmopolitan ethic. This article will look at how we can demonstrate humility in the face of difference.
How Do We Approach Diversity?
It is often tempting to define ourselves by what – or who – we are against instead of by what we are for. This can lead to an exclusionary process, rooted in insecurity, by which cultural pride turns into an endeavour to normalize one’s culture. At the heart of such attitudes is arrogance – a belief that one’s own beliefs and culture are right and superior to others. Mawlana Hazar Imam has warned against this tendency, such as at the graduation ceremony of Sciences Po in 2007:
“One of the great stumbling blocks to the advance of pluralism, in my view, is simple human arrogance. All of the world’s great religions warn against self-righteousness – yet too many are still tempted to play God themselves – rather than recognising their humility before the Divine. A central element in a truly religious outlook, it seems to me, is a recognition that we all have a great deal to learn from one another.”
On the other hand, as we see all that the human race has in common, it can also be tempting to ignore the differences between us. Mawlana Hazar Imam shared in the Jodidi Lecture at Harvard University in 2016, “We sometimes talk so much about how we are all alike that we neglect the wonderful ways in which we can be different.”
How Do We as Shia Ismaili Muslims Demonstrate Diversity and Multiple Identities?
It is possible to hold multiple identities at the same time. Over time, our Imams have advised that the identity as Shia Ismaili Muslims is rooted in our value system, including the recognition of the Imam of the Time and living by the ethics of our faith. The ethics of our faith, while universal, are manifested in our particular cultural religious and historical context as we apply them in our lives. We may hold multiple, overlapping religious identities – religious believer, monotheist, Muslim, Shia, Ismaili – as well as many other identities rooted in our particular nationalities, ethnicities, cultures, professions, hobbies, and many other facets of our lives. These identities also connect us to many others.
Mawlana Hazar Imam explained this at the LaFontaine-Baldwin Lecture in Toronto, Ontario in 2010: “Identity itself can be pluralistic. Honouring one’s own identity need not mean rejecting others. One can embrace an ethnic or religious heritage, while also sharing a sense of national or regional pride. To cite a timely example, I believe one can live creatively and purposefully as both a devoted Muslim and a committed European.”
How Does Learning About Others Help Us Learn About Ourselves?
Approaching the world with a cosmopolitan ethic requires respect. To approach the world recognizing God-given diversity requires respect for all human beings despite how others might differ from oneself. Respect in some situations might require patience; in others it can require active engagement to learn about the other. At the root of the principle of respect is an attitude of openness and valuation of and for God’s creation.
By constantly keeping our mind open to a variety of viewpoints and life experiences, we might better understand the scope of God’s creation. Furthermore, if we are to increase our awareness of ourselves as limited, we might better be able to open ourselves to the creative potential of diverse encounters.
How Does Mawlana Hazar Imam Believe We Can Embrace Differences?
Mawlana Hazar Imam has said, “As we think about pluralism, we should be open to the fact that there may be a variety of ‘best practices,’ a ‘diversity of diversities,’ and a ‘pluralism of pluralisms.’” This helps us to recognize that there is strength in the diversity of interpretations of Islam and in the communities amongst whom we live. Learning about why others do and say what they do helps us to understand the core principles of the faith that are shared while also encouraging us to think about and articulate with confidence the ways in which we have come to differ.
While we all share our deep love and devotion to our Imam, our experiences of living as Shia Ismaili Muslims differ from place to place. While the diversity of cultures, languages and expressions of faith within the community may force us to question our own perspectives, acknowledging a shared humanity with others implies that we have a responsibility toward them as well. Our duty to aid the general welfare of society is the social conscience of Islam, which is rooted both in the notion of social justice and the interconnectedness of humanity. The social conscience of Islam will be further explored in Theme 4.
To learn more about humility in the face of difference:
- Speech by Mawlana Hazar Imam, Evora University Symposium, 2006
- Speech by Mawlana Hazar Imam, Graduation Ceremony at the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, 2006
- Speech by Mawlana Hazar Imam, Graduation ceremony at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po), 2007
