Word of the day-U-N-I-T-Y-

It’s all started with a BIG HUGE delay by the organizer which I definitely dislike it, yet I don’t think I want to miss this great opportunity to meet this young multi talented Australian Muslim which I knew from the magazine and internet a long time ago. Alhamdulillah, I managed to stay despite a tormenting waiting. The person that I’m referring to is Dr. Waleed Aly,the Board member of the Islamic Council of Victoria and also a lecturer at the Global Terrorism Research Centre at Monash University Australia. An Australian citizen yet traces his origin back to Egypt. The topic that was given to him was “Bridging the Gap: Managing Cross Cultural Diversity”. A topic which I think extremely relevant in today’s world. Without any delay, he started his speech by pointing out that diversity is indeed an inevitable fact. Something that I couldn’t help myself, but to agree most. He then stressed that, though cliché, it is vividly true that our world has turned into a global village. It is basically a shrinking world. You like it or not, we are living in this world in a much diversified culture. You need not to go far but just look at the early Islamic history. For instance, the Umayyad Caliphate which has been ruling such a heterogeneous and multicultural regions yet they did not neglect or sideline the minorities. This is actually what the modern should have. Yes, PEACEFUL COEXISTENT!!.
He added, it basically exemplifies the idea of multiculturalism in which it says that the way a diverse country should be governed is to allow people to retain their cultural background and not to discriminate them. This basically gives them the opportunity to retain how they are. In fact, the early Muslims never tried to wipe out their identities. Meaning that, they never put aside their affiliation with their places of origin despite having embracing Islam. Just look at Al Qurtubhi, and Salman al Farisy which epitomized such idea. Even among the Muslim themselves, diversities are also being eliminated. He gave an example: a girl with a name of Rachel embraces Islam. Not so long after this, the people around her keep insisting that she had to use Ruqayyah as her name now. When the girl told her mum that I am Ruqayyah now. Her mum responded “What the heck is that thing??? I had given you such a beautiful name my dear!.Then question arises, is it really right to do that? Ask ourselves… Finally, I did say something during the Q&A session. It was sort of complimenting and expressing my disappointment I guess!(I think it was quite obvious then).I congratulated him and also the SALAM CAFÉ crew for having done such a great job in trying to reach out their fellow Aussies( Google the web if you want to know more). I even stated in front of all audience that I feel extremely sad that though we are living in a majority Muslims country, we never try to reach out our non Muslim fellows. We do have the means (the media esp.), but we never try to do something. What more to clear the misconceptions that fogging their heads. I guess all of you agree with me. right?. It’s hard to say, but it is the truth. Yes, we can achieve unity through diversity, but the question is, what have we done so far to achieve this target?. Only we ourselves know what we have done so far to create a better world to live .So, what are you waiting for my dear brothers &sisters?


Note: Salam Café is basically a talk show broadcasted on the national television in Australia. I don’t know their current position though. One thing that mesmerized me a lot is, their effort to bridge the gap between the Muslim and non Muslims of Australia. In fact, They have done such a great and tremendous job. You may try to watch one of the episodes here
What about Malaysia? Freaky Ghost Story??