Page 164 - Age of Peace Goodword.indd

Interdependence—

A Law of Nature



ccording to the law of nature, human life is based on the
Aprinciple of interdependence. Disparities are inherent in
our social structure, and society can only be cohesive and
peaceful if each member accepts these disparities along with
the obvious necessity for interdependence. This law of nature
is referred to in the Quran in these words:

‘Is it they who apportion the blessing of your Lord? It is
We who distribute among them their livelihood in the
life of this world, and raise some of them above others
in rank, so that they may take one another into service;
and the blessing of your Lord is better than [the wealth]
which they amass.’ (43:32)
This Quranic verse makes it clear that it has been divinely
ordained that there shall be no uniformity among people, but
rather disparity. This disparity is based on great wisdom, which
is that people should know that, according to the Creator’s
scheme of things, no individual is self-sufficient in this world;
an individual completes himself only by associating with
others. In other words, each member of society must accept
that interdependence is an ineluctable state of viable societal
existence.
It is essential that people should accept disparities as
matters of fact. Acknowledgment of this reality will go
a long way towards putting an end to social unrest. By

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