veiled4allah: let us come to know one another

Familiarity apparently does not breed contempt. In interfaith relations at least, it leads to greater understanding and a decrease in hostility. The Quran, Islam's revealed text, states: "O mankind! We created you from a single pair of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you might come to know one another. Surely the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is the most righteous." (49:13)

Muslims appreciate the fact that God did not make us all into cookie-cutter automatons who look the same or believe the same things. Our differences create a God-given opportunity to "come to know one another" in a spirit of mutual respect.

It is this mutual respect that is a prerequisite for true understanding and acceptance. We cannot really accept someone as long as we maintain attitudes of religious, ethnic or cultural triumphalism.

A person once asked the Prophet Muhammad whether love of one's own people is an indication of unhealthy partisanship. The Prophet replied: "No, but when a man helps his people in an unjust cause, it indicates partisanship."

In other words, you can love those who share your ethnicity or beliefs, but that love should not be used as an excuse for wrongdoing or intolerance of others.

There are some practical steps we all can take to help decrease interfaith hostility.

Reach out to people of other faiths. Your Muslim co-worker will not be insulted if you ask him or her about Islam. Muslims enjoy a good religious discussion and would rather have you ask difficult questions in a respectful manner than to have you harbor myths and stereotypes. Muslims should also be open to learning more about other faiths.

Speak out against religious or racial bigotry. Muslims are obviously sensitive to Islamophobic bigotry and discrimination, but we also need to be just as sensitive to discrimination against others.

Teach your children to be open and tolerant. It is our children who will inherit a world that is either increasingly divided or one that is moving toward peace and reconciliation.

Despite the depression and powerlessness that can be caused by watching the violence and hatred on the nightly news, we all have a role to play in making this world a better place to live.

The future is in our hands.