By Paul Salahuddin Armstrong

I hate the attitude of hate… Why hate? I love God, love His prophets, love His saints, love creation, and love all people! On this, virtually all religions would agree, yet then they pick at straws: their concept of God (or gods) -only, their prophets/avatars/saints/gurus -only, people of their sect -only. Why? Many scriptures, especially of course the Holy Torah, Holy Bible and Holy Qur’an, but even some Hindu scriptures, testify to the Oneness of God!

“Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad” (Holy Torah, Deuteronomy 6:4), “Allahu Ahad” (Holy Qur’an 112:1), God is One and only! If God is One and only, as the scriptures testify, our concepts of God are purely human constructs, God is way above such false limitations being placed upon His Divine Majesty! God inspired all prophets, avatars, saints and gurus who spoke Truth, irrespective of which artificial religious institutions later placed claims upon them. The creation is the reflection of God’s divine attributes, in the material world, which transcends any particular religious claims to it. Humanity is part of God’s creation, each person a manifestation of one of God’s divine names in the flesh. How can we then hate anyone, when all people were created by the same God of all creation, all religions and all humanity?

According to the scriptures of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, we are all descended from Adam and Hawwa (Eve), the first man and the first woman. Adam in Hebrew means “Earth”, as well as man. The Arabic letters that make up the name Adam; Alif, Dal, Mim; indicate the positions of our Salaah (daily worship), standing, bowing and prostrating, which is similar to a traditional form of worship found in Judaism as well. Thus indicating our utter dependence upon God.

Through Adam, humanity’s connection to the Earth, which our bodies are formed from and one day return back to, is made abundantly clear. Surely, this should inspire within us a certain degree of reverence and respect for nature. God willing, we may return to our role of stewardship, “God’s viceregents” (khalifa) of the Earth, taking good care of the creation God has entrusted to us.

Through Adam, we may see our common heritage. Modern science too, now acknowledges our mitochondrial DNA, demonstrates we were all descended from a woman, even they’ve called “Eve”. Whether we are Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Druze, Samaritan, Zoroastrian, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Confucian, Shintoist, Animist, Agnostic or Atheist; we are all one very extended family, each branch blessed with their own unique characteristics, qualities, tastes, culture, crafts and skills. Oh how God has blessed humanity! How can we then be ungrateful?