God Didn’t Divide Us — We Did

God Didn’t Divide Us — We Did

The Religion We Follow and the Humanity We Forget

We live in a time where people loudly claim their religious identity, yet quietly forget their religious responsibility. Across the world, people are becoming more vocal about being Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh—but far fewer are actually following the messages these religions were meant to teach.

The tragedy is this: we’ve reduced religion to a label, a name, a festival, a ritual. But we have forgotten its essence—humanity.

Religion was never meant to be a sword. It was meant to be a mirror reflecting our inner selves, cleansing our intentions, and connecting us to one another through compassion and understanding.

But instead of being united under God, we’ve divided ourselves using His name.

*What All Religions Actually Teach: Humanity First*

If you strip away the differences in rituals, dress, language, and names, you’ll find that all major religions carry the same message at their core: be good to one another.

Let’s begin with Islam, the religion I follow.

The Quran, in Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:32), says:

“If anyone kills a person—unless in punishment for murder or spreading corruption in the land—it is as if he had killed all mankind. And if anyone saves a life, it is as if he had saved all mankind.”

This one verse alone places the value of one human life equal to that of all of humanity.

In Surah Al-Hujurat (49:13), Allah says:

“O mankind! We created you from a single pair of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another—not that you may despise one another. The most honored in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you.”

That verse destroys the very idea of religious, racial, or national superiority.

Now let’s look at Hinduism,
In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says (6:29):

“The yogi sees every being as equal and sees the Divine in all. Such a person sees truly.”

This isn’t just poetry. It’s a spiritual truth. It teaches that every soul is sacred, and that we all carry the Divine within us. If we hurt another, we are hurting that divine presence.

The Bible, in Matthew 7:12, says:

“Do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

The Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism, reads:

“Recognize all of humanity as one.”

From Buddhism to Judaism, Jainism to Christianity—every holy book, every prophet, every enlightened teacher—has called for kindness, humility, compassion, and peace.

So why is it that today, people are doing the opposite in the name of religion?

*Why Is Religious Hate Rising?*

The growing hate and violence in the name of religion doesn’t reflect religion at all—it reflects a failure to understand it. And this failure is spreading fast.

Let’s explore the real reasons behind it:

1. Lack of Knowledge

Most people today inherit religion by birth, not by understanding. They perform rituals, recite verses, and attend religious events—but without learning what those actions actually mean. When someone hasn’t truly read their own scripture, how can they respect someone else’s?

2. Political Exploitation

Religion is one of the most powerful emotional tools, and unfortunately, it is often used by politicians to divide people and gain votes. When fear and hate are planted in the name of religion, people stop thinking and start fighting.

3. Social Media Misinformation

In the age of algorithms, people are trapped in echo chambers. One viral clip, one fake post, and a flame of hate spreads across communities—without anyone fact-checking, discussing, or even trying to understand the truth.

4. Fear of “The Other”

We tend to fear what we do not understand. Many people have never stepped inside a mosque, temple, or church other than their own. This leads to suspicion, and suspicion leads to hate.

5. Cultural Superiority Complex

Some believe their religion, their tradition, their path is the only “right” one. They forget that truth can wear different clothes and still be the truth.

*How Can We Restore Humanity?*

It’s not too late. The answer lies in returning not just to religion, but to the true values religion teaches.

Here are real, practical steps we can take:

* Learn Before You Judge

Before forming opinions about another religion, read its scriptures. Listen to its followers. Learn what it truly stands for.

* Teach Children Respect Early

If we raise children to believe only their religion is correct, they will grow up blind to others. Teach them to celebrate Eid and Diwali, to respect churches and gurdwaras, to love all people equally.

*  Celebrate Diversity

Invite your neighbors during Ramadan. Attend their festivals. Share meals, stories, and values. The simplest gestures create lifelong bonds.

*  Call Out Hate Loudly

Whether it’s a hate speech in a mosque or a violent slogan at a rally—speak up. Silence allows hate to grow. Stand for justice, even if it’s uncomfortable.

* Value Character Over Identity

Judge people by their kindness, honesty, and truth—not by the religion on their ID card.

* Focus on What Unites Us

All religions teach prayer, honesty, charity, family values, and love for creation. Let’s build conversations around shared values—not differences.

*The Bigger Picture: We Are Not Enemies*

At the end of the day, we all cry the same way. We all celebrate birth. We all mourn death. We all want peace, health, and happiness.

The problem isn’t that we follow different religions.
The problem is that we have forgotten the purpose of religion.

When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stood up for a Jewish funeral, his companions were surprised. They said, “But he was a Jew.” The Prophet replied, “Was he not a human soul?”

That’s Islam.

When Lord Ram embraced the boatman and sat with forest dwellers, he broke all societal norms. He showed that compassion comes before caste or status.

That’s Hinduism.

When Jesus forgave those who crucified him, saying “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” he showed the power of unconditional love.

That’s Christianity.

These were not acts of division.
These were acts of divine humanity.

If your religion makes you arrogant, angry, and hateful—then you are not following it correctly.
Because no real religion preaches hatred. No real God wants His name used for violence.

We must stop seeing each other through the lens of fear.
We must stop asking, “What religion are you?” and start asking, “How can I help you?”

The world doesn’t need louder prayers. It needs softer hearts.
It doesn’t need more followers of religion. It needs more followers of love.

Let us remind ourselves:

God didn’t divide us. We did.
Now it’s our duty to fix what we broke.

By Farhan Tak
Muslim by faith. Human by heart.
[email protected]
+91 9906155101