The Puzzle of Diversity: Piecing Together a Vibrant Community

“And amongst His signs is the creation of the heavens and earth, and the diversity of your languages and colors. There truly are signs in this for those who know.” (Qur’an 30:22).

“People, We created you all from a single man and a single woman, and made you into races and tribes so that you should recognize one another…” (Qur’an 49:13).

God created us with variations and differences in our looks, cultures, languages, and colors. We live in what was once called a melting pot of different cultures and languages. Former US President Jimmy Carter described us as “a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, and different dreams.” If we were to look at the North American Muslim community, we would also find it vastly diverse, comprised of various individuals hailing from all corners of the earth and every ideological background under the sun. Allah (swt) created humanity and allowed separate nations and tribes to develop, not to establish barriers, social inequity, or cultural division, but rather, so that we may flourish in our diversity by getting to know one another. This year’s theme asks you to reflect on the diversity of your community and ask yourself: If God created us all differently so that we may know each other, then why are our communities disbanded and divided? How can we successfully bring together an entire community whose population is extraordinary? Yes, managing diversity is indeed a very puzzling challenge.

As you begin to explore the theme, reflect on the task of piecing together a puzzle and the necessary skills involved. Perhaps patience and perseverance come to mind. Think about the characteristics of puzzle pieces where each one of us is a different piece of the puzzle. Just like us, the pieces are also comprised of different sizes, shapes, and colors. When you take those varying pieces from the same box, you know that they will eventually come together to form a cohesive picture. What happens when certain pieces do not fit together properly? Do you apply force and smash them together, or is there a more gentle approach to finding a place for each of the pieces to fit in the bigger picture? Consider what it takes to interact with diverse individuals and groups in order to unite the local and global Muslim community. Are conformity, tolerance, respect, or understanding involved? How and to what extent? What are some of the challenges that are faced when striving toward unity? What issues need to be resolved before our diverse communities are able to unite prosperously?

We challenge you to take a deeper look into the North American Muslim community and analyze the various concepts surrounding this theme. Be creative! Projects and submissions with the most creativity and insight will receive the highest points. Remember, this theme will encompass all of the MIST competitions and workshops at both the regional and national levels. If you have any questions regarding this theme or anything else MIST-related, please do not hesitate to contact us!