Civilisation at the Cross Roads — Page 7
E'ach of us, not only to exercise tolerance and patience, to cultivate sympathy and. understanding, but also to rcspeC't the personality of every other and thus to promote the dignity and worth of the human person. We must recognise the simple fact that each one of us is related to every other and indeed to the v. •hole universe only through his or her Oll'n personality. The universe has a meaning for each one of us only thro•1gh hie or her own individual personality. Outside of our own personality it has no meaning for us. While we arc conscious of this facL vis-a-vis ourselves, are we equally rothnhood a reality. This can come about. only by the realisation of our common rf'latio11ship lo each other through our common allegiance to Gogiance. "Hold fast, all together, by the rope of God ·and be not divided; and remember the favou1· of God, wl1ich He hestowed upon you when you were enemies and He united your hearts in Jove. so that thereby through His grace you became as brothers. You were on the brink of a pit of fire and He saved you from it. Thus does God explain to ycu Bis Signs that )'OU may be guided". (III : 104) Yet in our relationship with our fellow-beings, as in all other relationships, we must have some standard of wol'th and value. If it is not to be family, rank, wealth, office, race, colour etc. , what then shall it be? Here is the standard. "Oh_ mankind, We have created you from male and female and have made you into tribes and nations, for greater facility of intercourse. Verily, the most honolli'able among you, in the fiight of God, is he who is. the most righteous among yon. Surely God is All-Knowing, AU-Aware". (XLIX: l')