The Holy Quran and the books of Hadith profess harmony and mutual coexistence. During the period of prophet PBUH, Muslims and non-muslims coexisted peacefully, without hatred and animosity. Our beloved Prophet practiced inclusiveness. He never stopped anyone from praying in the mosque.
As a nature lover and an erstwhile zoology student, I studied mutualism and symbiosis in the animal kingdom, and also witnessed this phenomenon at the beach, during my shell collection sprees to the coastal belts. I saw life inside shells, not of the owners of the shells, but other creatures that appeared to be using the shells as their shelter. Subhan Allah! What an amazing experience it is to watch one creature sheltered inside another, for mutual benefit!
Allah SWT has filled nature with innumerable examples through His creations. The best example of mutualism is the symbiotic relationship between Hermit Crabs and Sea Anemones that exist in the sea. Hermit crabs carry Sea Anemones on the back of their shells. The nematocysts of the Sea Anemones protect their hosts, the Hermit Crabs, from fish that feed on the Hermit Crabs, and in return, the Hermit Crabs provide food to the Sea Anemones. Some Hermit Crabs even shift the symbiotic anemones onto their new shells, when they change shells. Subhan Allah!!
In the same manner, the Sea Anemone and clownfish share a symbiotic relationship. The Sea Anemone protects and shelters the clownfish, and in return, it feeds and derives its nutrition from the waste that the clownfish releases.
While these are examples of external symbiosis, in some creatures the symbiosis is external, where the host shelters the other creature inside its body. The host allows the creature to live and grow inside, while also benefiting mutually from the host.
Haven’t we heard stories of wild animals nursing the off-springs of domestic animals, which are otherwise their prey? A jungle has many animals big and small, violent and non-violent, carnivorous or herbivorous. One animal is prey to another. Yet we see all of them living in one place. They fight and kill only for two reasons, for food and for a mate. A lion doesn’t kill a deer unless it’s hungry. Otherwise, the lion and the deer live in the same environment, allowing each other to survive in its space without interfering.
Mutualism is evident in the plant kingdom as well. I am intrigued when I see a tall palm tree growing from the center of a Banyan tree (Ficus Bengalensis), or a Neem (Azadirachta Indica) growing from a Peepal tree (Ficus Religiosa). The Vanda species of orchids are epiphytes that grow on big trees. They have epiphytic roots that absorb nutrients from the host trees. The host trees support the growth of the orchid.
Honey bees and butterflies extract nectar from flowers, and in turn, help the flowers in pollination. Some beneficial insects living in plants help the plants by eating pests that are dangerous to the plants while the plant shelters them.
Subhan Allah!! Allah is Al Khaliq, The Creator, and Al Jamiu, The Uniter. He not only created all animals and plants, but also enabled all His creations, of contrasting habits, behaviors, and physical characteristics, to live in harmony, and benefit mutually, be it on land or underwater. Yet we humans who are Allah’s best creation, to who even the angels prostrated, have failed to recognize, understand or accept this truth. We see these examples all around us every day, yet we remain ignorant and blind to recognize these examples of mutual co-existence that Allah SWT has surrounded us with.
وَإِن جَنَحُوا۟ لِلسَّلْمِ فَٱجْنَحْ لَهَا وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ
“… If they incline to peace, incline you as well to it, and trust in Allah…”
In Surah Al Anfal, verse 61 (8:61), Allah SWT instructs us to peacefully co-exist with the non-muslims.
وَلَوْ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ لَجَعَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ أُمَّةًۭ
“And if your Lord had willed, surely He could have made mankind one community”.
This ayat from Surah Al Hud (11:118) proves the essence of diversity. The word mankind encompasses everyone – people from all genders, religions, and regions…
Quran encourages diversity in society. Islam is a religion of inclusivity towards human beings, and peaceful co-existence is one of its key values. We Muslims must not only live in harmony amongst ourselves but also with the non-muslims
