A Sufi Proposal For A Sufi Proposal For The Unity of The Unity of

Inclusion: “Hullet”Inclusion: “Hullet”

Some “Hullet” Some “Hullet” Principles For An Principles For An Inclusive SocietyInclusive Society

The Creator has created the The Creator has created the beings of the universe in beings of the universe in

harmony, so harmony should harmony, so harmony should be the main attitude on the be the main attitude on the

level of human interaction as level of human interaction as well.well. Universal harmony is the Universal harmony is the mode of our creation, as well mode of our creation, as well as the divine purpose behind as the divine purpose behind

our creation.our creation.

Our actions should always Our actions should always be based on positive be based on positive

motives. That is to say, what motives. That is to say, what motivates our actions should motivates our actions should

be the love of our own be the love of our own outlook, not the enmity of outlook, not the enmity of

the others’ outlook.the others’ outlook.

By focusing on commonalities By focusing on commonalities such as a shared land, a such as a shared land, a

shared language, our common shared language, our common humanity, universal needs and humanity, universal needs and

fears, etc., we will convince fears, etc., we will convince ourselves that what we have in ourselves that what we have in common far exceeds what sets common far exceeds what sets

us apart from each other.us apart from each other.

Every one of us has the right Every one of us has the right to claim and to believe that to claim and to believe that

our way of living and thinking our way of living and thinking is right, or even preferable to is right, or even preferable to that of others. Yet none of us that of others. Yet none of us have the right to say that our have the right to say that our

way of thinking is the only way of thinking is the only right one.right one.

Because we need unity and Because we need unity and inclusion within and among inclusion within and among communities far more than communities far more than division and exclusion, let division and exclusion, let

us for now leave aside us for now leave aside discussion of the issues that discussion of the issues that

divide us!divide us!

In times when evil actions In times when evil actions prevail, what could we need prevail, what could we need more than unity, friendship, more than unity, friendship,

and inclusion?and inclusion?

Unity among us attracts for Unity among us attracts for us the help of our Creator.us the help of our Creator.

Why do we allow our Why do we allow our arrogance and love of power arrogance and love of power to defeat us and drive us to to defeat us and drive us to

disengage from others? How disengage from others? How powerless and foolish is the powerless and foolish is the one who looses the forceful one who looses the forceful power of unity by depending power of unity by depending

on his own weak power!on his own weak power!

One who prevails in an argument One who prevails in an argument finds himself in a dangerous finds himself in a dangerous

position in comparison with his position in comparison with his partner, first because he might partner, first because he might fall into arrogance in his heart, fall into arrogance in his heart,

and second because he may learn and second because he may learn nothing new from the discussion. nothing new from the discussion.

On the other hand, his partner On the other hand, his partner learns new knowledge and his learns new knowledge and his heart is safe from arrogance.heart is safe from arrogance.

Those who tend to disagree Those who tend to disagree and struggle with their and struggle with their

friends have few friends. friends have few friends. One who desires to have One who desires to have faithful and numerous faithful and numerous

friends should not disagree friends should not disagree with them on trivial with them on trivial

matters.matters.

Those who wait for an Those who wait for an unmistaken friend will unmistaken friend will

never find him.never find him.

The Qur’an says “O mankind! We The Qur’an says “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of created you from a single (pair) of

a male and a female, and made a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you into nations and tribes, that

you may know each other (not that you may know each other (not that you may despise each other). Truly you may despise each other). Truly

the most honored of you in the the most honored of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the sight of God is (he who is) the

most God-conscious of you. And most God-conscious of you. And God has full knowledge and is well God has full knowledge and is well

acquainted (with all things).” acquainted (with all things).” 49/1349/13

Differences among nations, Differences among nations, tribes, and religions have been a tribes, and religions have been a basic reality of our world from basic reality of our world from

the beginning, and will continue the beginning, and will continue in the same way forever. in the same way forever.

Consider that the Qur’an says “If Consider that the Qur’an says “If your Lord so willed, He could your Lord so willed, He could

have made mankind one People. have made mankind one People. But they will not stop to But they will not stop to

dispute.” 11/118.dispute.” 11/118.

Insisting upon a consensus Insisting upon a consensus in our methods and in our methods and

approaches after finding approaches after finding agreement upon our aims agreement upon our aims

and goals is usually a and goals is usually a fruitless wish!fruitless wish!

Similarly, because having Similarly, because having agreement on ‘GOOD’ agreement on ‘GOOD’

usually indicates usually indicates disagreement on ‘BETTER’, disagreement on ‘BETTER’,

sometimes ‘GOOD’ may sometimes ‘GOOD’ may become better than become better than

‘BETTER’.‘BETTER’.

Accepting the sincere hand of Accepting the sincere hand of help regardless of the color, help regardless of the color, nation, or religion that offers nation, or religion that offers it to us means to serve for the it to us means to serve for the sake of goodness. Therefore, sake of goodness. Therefore,

the Qur’an says “Help one the Qur’an says “Help one another in righteousness and another in righteousness and piety…” 5/2 without specifying piety…” 5/2 without specifying

whom we are to help on the whom we are to help on the basis of communal identity.basis of communal identity.

Unity cannot be achieved Unity cannot be achieved through ignorance. Unity is through ignorance. Unity is joining together different joining together different

thoughts and lifestyles like thoughts and lifestyles like the parts of a puzzle, and the parts of a puzzle, and this harmony cannot be this harmony cannot be

achieved without knowing achieved without knowing one another.one another.

Those who seek a friend Those who seek a friend exactly like themselves exactly like themselves

should know that God has should know that God has never repeated Himself.never repeated Himself.

Disharmony usually emanates Disharmony usually emanates from our attempt to be superior from our attempt to be superior to others. But as the Prophet to others. But as the Prophet Muhammad says, “The most Muhammad says, “The most

esteemed member and leader of esteemed member and leader of a group is the one who serves a group is the one who serves

it.” The one who both leads and it.” The one who both leads and serves is accepted and loved by serves is accepted and loved by

everyone.everyone.

Having faithful friends is just Having faithful friends is just as important as satisfying the as important as satisfying the vital necessities of life. Being vital necessities of life. Being among a secure and peaceful among a secure and peaceful

circle of friends means circle of friends means finding safety against many finding safety against many

hazards and dangers.hazards and dangers.