The concept of harmony and human rights
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In Muslim culture, also the two concepts were dealt with. The concept of duality: day and night, light and darkness, warm and coolness, life and death, heaven and hellfire …etc are often repeated in the Holy Qur'an as a great sign of Almighty. While many Muslim philosophers and thinkers including the most famous sociologist Ibn Khaldoun (1332-1406) explain the history of humanity including the rise and decline of Muslim dynasties on the concept of force which is a manifestation of the concept of conflict. Other Muslim philosophers called for harmony prominently among them Al Farabi (870-950) in his famous Book "Al Madina Al Fadala" or "The Virtuous City". In fact, the cardinal concept advocated by Islam is the concept of harmony and solidarity among people in society and humanity at large. Some important Qur'anic verses could be quoted in this connection.
The first is the verse in Holy Quran that states, "O' Human being, we created you from male and female and spread you over as tribes and people to get to know each other".
Another verse of the Holy Quran advises Muslim to make peace as their main priority in their relations with others even during wars and conflicts "If they – the enemy – showed inclination towards peace, you, Muslims, must do the same".
A third verse advises Muslim to do even double effort to achieve peace and harmony as they stipulate clearly the purpose for creating human being is to develop the earth and build better life and not to go into quarries, conflicts, or wars against each other. I quote "God says, I will create a human beings to be viceroy on earth i.e. to live on earth and develop it, the angles answered back that these human being will do bad deeds, corruption and bloodshed. God answered that I know what you, angels, don't. God taught Adam all names i.e. professions to work and develop earth and advised human-being to enter into peaceful relationship through knowledge and being acquainted and cooperate with each other for noble cause not for evil deeds or aggression.
Since the beginning of the 20th century onward, humanity suffered from scourge of wars and devastation. Thus, the thinkers and philosophers called for establishing international organization to control, organize and monitor the relations among nations. Consequently, wars could be avoided, harmony could be established and peace could prevail.
Pondering upon the march of history, one could come to four main conclusions as following:
First: The selfishness, greed and bigotry are the core reasons for all conflicts among people and nations.
Second: Due to the huge devastation and destruction of many lives of people, their properties and all the achievement of humanity through ages, many philosophers and thinkers and even wise individuals called over the years for peace, harmony and cooperation. In the modern political terminology to peaceful co-existence. The Afro-Asian Movement, which begot the Non-Aligned Movement, is one of the recent political manifestations world-wide in this endeavour for peace, harmony and cooperation among nations. Towering political leaders in this connection could be remembered for their dedication and their vision to promote such concepts and to advocate the Afro Asian and Non-Alignment Movements. Nehru of India, Zhou-en lai of China, Nasser of Egypt, Sukarno of Indonesia, Nekruma of Ghana, Tito of Yugoslavia are but few of such galaxy of leaders who championed this endeavour. One Swedish scientist managed to leave his imprint in this noble concept of promoting peace and harmony in the world i.e. Alfred Nobel (1833-1896).
Today in China since the opening and reform policy initiated by Deng Xiaoping (1904-1997) in 1978 to reorient Chinese policy to be focused on development, peace, cooperation, mutual benefits and common interest, great achievements took place. This is proof certain that harmony if prevailed, individuals, societies and nations could be prosperous as well as safe and secure. The call of President Hu Jintao to build a harmonious society and harmonious world relationship is very pertinent in this connection.
Third: All religions and creeds called for peace and harmony. Nevertheless, some politicians, businessmen or even fanatic clergy in all religions and cultures envisage conflicts and wars as a way to develop their nations through military industry and invasion of other nations. The economic concept of "cut-throat competition", or military concept of brinkmanship, or political concept of invasion / conquest or religious concept of missionary and converting others to one's own religion are but few of the nefarious concepts that are promoted by short-sighted politicians, clergy or military people.
