The terms ‘diversity’ and ‘pluralism’ are concepts directly derived from the modern Western intellectual tradition. Concepts such as these, having their roots elsewhere, are divorced from the richness of similar concepts found within the indigenous culture and civilization of the people of Pakistan. Consequently, the chances of failure in achieving these goals under the banner of development become maximised. Since it is Pakistan’s seventieth independence anniversary, and the country being a predominantly Muslim nation, this paper would like to explore these concepts from the perspective of the Islamic intellectual tradition. The aim is to provide information regarding how similar concepts and practices were found within this tradition. 

A historical overview of how the first Muslim Federation was formed and how the concept of Ummah (nationhood) included non-Muslims as long as they were peaceful, law-abiding citizens who were not hostile to the nation, will be provided. The point worth noting is that it was not just the people of the book (ahl-e-kitab) that were considered part of the Federation, but also Zoroastrians who made pacts to join this new emerging Ummah. Examples will be provided regarding how the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his early companions made political alliances with the Jewish, Christian and pagan tribes of Arabia as well as surrounding nations. They allowed them freedom to practice their religions, within the protection of the Muslim Federation as long as they remained true to the mutually agreed treatise. Islam’s ideal of peace does not make it pacifist nor does it make it a warlike religion.  It avoids both extremist positions where the people of other faiths are accepted as long as they do not display hostility and animosity to the Islamic nation, its people, its property and its religion. This acceptance of the ‘other’ is not without an expectation of reciprocity because they are expected to take up some responsibility for maintenance of peace and harmony based on justice.

This paper will present the concept of ‘oneness through multiplicity’, of the Islamic Ummah, which, in its earliest manifestation, included people of different religious backgrounds.  Looking at the current situation in Pakistan, where there is intolerance being exhibited towards people of different religious beliefs and even against people of different sects within Islam, or even different ethnicities, it is important to understand that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) set up a Federation that gave full rights to non-Muslims to practice their religion if they joined the Federation through various treatises.