MODULE 6:

WORLD RELIGIONS IN BOTSWANA: ISLAM AND HINDUISM

FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
ISLAM AND HINDUISM
ISLAM
- Came in Botswana in search of business opportunities/expand their
trade. Muslims accompanied colonial rulers to South Africa, and
by then there were unrests in Southern part of Africa (Mfecane
wars).
- Muslims sought for a political stable country, Mr Bhana settled in
Molepolole in 1882,he established some shops in Moshupa,
brought some shops in Molepolole.
- Some other Muslims followed him, some settled in Ramotswa.
They were welcomed by Chief Ikageng, they were welcome
because of charitable works, others even got interested to settle in
Botswana and they spread around the country.
Benefit
- Batswana were able to secure employment from shops established
by Muslims. They interacted with Muslims and Muslims had an
influence in their lives.
- Also acts of Charity (Zakart/almsgiving) benefited Batswana.
However
- Lack of infrastructures: poor roads, no communication
- Christianity and ATR posed a very big challenge because people
were not receptive or very welcoming because of the foreign
religion. They were very comfortable with ATR and Christianity
but with the foreign religions they became suspicious.
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HINDUISM
- Came in search of business opportunities/expand their trade or
business. Hindus migrated from Zambia and Zimbabwe in 1960.
They came to Botswana because of political stability
- They settled in major villages where trading centres had already
been established.
- They opened some businesses in such villages.

Benefit
- Batswana secured employment opportunities from shops
established by Hindus. They interacted with Hindus and Hindus
had influence in their lives.
- Acts of Charity (seva) played a pivotal role to the lives of
Batswana.
However
- Lack of infrastructure
- Christianity and ATR posed a very big challenge.
- Some Batswana were suspicious/skeptical about the authenticity of
the Hindu tradition.
- Erosion of culture
- Exploitation as some Hindus and Muslims married some Batswana
to gain opportunities.

RELIGIOU RELIGIOUS PLURALISM

Religious pluralism: Peaceful co-existence of adherents from different
religions in the society.
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IMPORTANCE OF RELIGIOUS PLURALISM

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 1. Wide choice: Gives members a wide range of religions to choose
from and that choice will be dependent from their choice.
Benefit
- Leads to freedom of worship and association
- Spiritual satisfaction according to one’s needs and deepens one’s
faith.

However
- Moral dilemma(confusion)
- Competition for adherents which may even result in prejudice or
even hatred amongst community members.
2. Social responsibility: All religions will have a level of cooperation
in reaching out for those who are in need, for example: during
natural disasters, global epidemics (HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Cholera).
Different religions will put aside their doctrinal differences and
come to the rescue of all members in the society.

Benefit
- Closes the gap between the rich and poor
- Reduction of social ills(abuse, drugs and alcohol abuse)

However
-Can lead to laziness

RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND THEIR PRACTICES

1. Islam: Belief in oneness of Allah derived from the Monotheistic
view.
Benefit
- There is uniformity and conformity
- Minimizes confusion
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- Loyalty will be given to one entity

 However
- There is likelihood of prejudice leading to religious intolerance
resulting in conflicts, misunderstanding eventually leading to
religious wars.

Belief in heaven and hell

Benefit
- Enhances moral uprightness
- Promotes peace and harmony

However
- It is not a guarantee that all Muslims will abide by this teaching
since it has not been proven that indeed there is heaven and hell,
therefore people will make their personal choice in terms of how to
live their lives.
- It instills the sense of fear among people as they will be living their
lives focusing in going to heaven.
-
2. HINDUISM: Believe in Brahman

Benefit
- There is uniformity/conformity as followers will be worshipping
Brahmans as the absolute Supreme spirit.

However
- Can lead to confusion since Hinduism is a polytheistic religion and
followers would not know who to reverend since there are other
gods and goddesses.
-
3. Belief in Ahimsa(respect for all forms of life)
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 Benefit
- Gives other forms of life the chance to live and flourish and in the
case of animals that will enhance tourism in the Hindu society.
However
- Can lead to animals increasing at an alarming rate (overstocking)
hence leading to over grazing and soil erosion (desertification).
- Can become a threat to human life as these animals some of them
are dangerous.

HOW RELIGIOUS PRACTICES OF ISLAM AND HINDUISM

CONTRIBUTE TO THE ALLEVIATION OF SOCIAL ILLS IN
BOTSWANA
1. Islam: Zakart(almsgiving) curbs poverty

Benefit
- Closes/reduces the gap between the poor and the rich

However
- Can lead to dependency syndrome(laziness)

2. Sharia laws reduces criminal activities such as stealing and

adultery

Benefit
- Instill discipline as there is punishment behind committing crime,
for example: cutting off of the culprits’ hands.
- Promotes good relations among married couples and societal
members

However
- Can lead to discrimination and stigmatization in the society
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 - Can lead to conflicts and poverty in the family if one was a
breadwinner
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3. Hinduism: Meditation (Yoga) helps to curb the problem of
indiscipline and immoral acts such as sexual abuse and teenage
pregnancy.

Benefit
- Instills/helps one to exercise the mind positively hence having self
control which would help one to avoid sexual abuse of engaging in
sex which may lead to teenage pregnancy.

However
- It is not always a guarantee that people who meditate will always
practice moral ways of living as some may decide otherwise.
- Can take people’s time of doing their productive things in their
lives as some may focus too much on this practice.

VALUES IN RELATIONSHIP
Forms of human relationships
- Husband and wife
- Siblings
- Leader and follower
- School mates
- Colleagues
- Extended family
-
IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS

1. Love: A strong feeling of deep affection for someone.

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Benefit
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- Helps people to care for one another and refrain from hurting them
- It is a basis for every human relationships, hence promotes peace
and harmony

However
- Can make someone to become too obsessed in loving another
person which could lead to insecurities in a relationship

2. Trust: The belief that something/someone is good and honest that

will not try to harm/deceive.
Benefit
- Enhances transparency in a relationship as partners are able to
share secrets(confidence in each other)

However
- Some people in relationships are good pretenders and cannot be
trusted to keep secrets/ can be compromised as someone cannot be
able to keep his or her families secrets which could lead to
conflicts and separation

3. Compassion: A strong feeling of sympathy for people who are

suffering and a desire to help them.
Benefit
- Leads to good relations among people, for example: family
members
- Enhances the spirit of sharing and caring

However
- Can lead to exploitation of the people who are showing
compassion
- Promotes dependency syndrome
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HOW RELIGIONS RESPOND TO ISSUES OF SEXUAL ABUSE
AND TEENAGE PREGNANCY.
1. Hinduism: Abstinence;
- Hindus teach their followers to abstain from pre marital sex which
could lead to teenage pregnancy
- Encourages moral uprightness in terms of alleviating the problems
of sexual abuse and teenage pregnancy

However
- Denies these teenagers the rights to explore themselves and have
sexual experiences before marriage since it is not always a
guarantee that all people want to be married.
2. Arranged marriages: Parents choose suitable marriage partners for
their children at an age appropriate for marriage.
Benefit
- This is done to curb instances of teenage pregnancy and sexual
abuse as Hindus are taught that there is no sex before marriage.

However
- Can lead to incompatibility hence promoting sexual abuse among
the couple.
Islam
1. The Sharia law: Forbids sex before marriage thereby preventing
teenage pregnancy, having children outside wedlock is punishable
by death.
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Benefit
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- Gives opportunity to children to advance academically

 - This makes children mature and gives them responsibility hence
prevents teenage pregnancy
- Promotes moral uprightness behaviors within societal members.

However
- The punishment given as a result of having sex before marriage
denies people the right to live therefore making people to live in
fear.
- The Sharia law also imposes on people’s choice since some may
not get married but have children only.
2. Modest dressing: Muslims boys and girls are taught to be
modestly dressed so that they can avoid instances of rape or
molested
Benefit
- Acts as a deterrent to pre marital sex
- Leads to reduction in cases of sexual abuse
- Encourages young girls with the wise behaviors who are groomed
to be married.

However
- Denies people exploration and experimentation
- It is not always a guarantee that dressing modestly will reduce the
cases of sexual abuse as people can even be raped when dressed
like that as men still see them interesting.

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE

Marriage is a legal bond/union between a man and a woman to become
husband and wife.
IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY IN ISLAM
- Socialization: Muslims regard family as the basis of the social
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system, where children are taught the culture, norms and values of
 the Islamic society hence they believe that when the family is weak
then the society is weak
- In the family children are trained in the Muslim way of worship
- The family provides a secure atmosphere for the growth and
progress of all its members
- Marriage enables procreation

HINDUISM
- Family gives stability to Hindus society and provide security for
their members
- Family provides supports for the elderly, sick, disabled and less
well off members
- Offers moral guidance and religious instruction to the children
- In the Hindus societies, the family provides a stable workforce
held together by family ties.
COURTSHIP AS PRACTICED IN ISLAM
Courtship is the time when two people get to know each other in
preparation for getting married.

COURTSHIP IN ISLAM
- Marriages are arranged by parents even though the child has liberty
to refuse the partner chosen.
- After the parents find the suitable partner for their children, the
boy’s parents take the girl to stay with them for guidance until they
are married.s
- Though children stay together, there are limitations for example:
they are not supposed to engage in sexual relationships before
marriage.
COURTSHIP IN HINDUISM
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 - Hindus emphasizes on arranged marriage. Though some choose
their own partner, they usually want their parents’ consent.
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RELIGIOUS PRACTICES FOLLOWED TO PREPARE YOUNG
PEOPLE FOR MARRIAGE
1. Islam
- Parents and other elders take responsibility for finding suitable
partners for their children
- Both marrying partners are consulted before a final decision is
reached
- There are strict rules on how young people should dress and
behave
- Boys and girls do not mix freely at puberty
-
2. Hinduism
- Men guide boys throughout their life about the responsibilities of
adulthood.
- They are encouraged to work hard at school so that they can get
good jobs to be able to earn a living.
- They have the Sacred Thread Ceremony when young boys become
adults and this is held in homes.
EFFECTS OF RELIGION ON MARRIAGE
1. Religion prepares the couple for marriage; for example: In
Hinduism, they do this through the Sacred Thread Ceremony
and in Islam; the young girls are taught to dress modestly.
Benefit
- These religious teachings/practices promote stability/stable
relations as couples are taught the expectations and responsibility
within marriage institution.
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However
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 - Some teachings in religions can lead to abuse of power in
marriage, for example: in Hinduism and Islam men are said to be
heads of families, they make decisions in the family and they may
abuse their powers and ill-treat their wives.
2. Religion counsels and guides couples who are about to get
married
Benefit
- The pre and post marriage counseling done help the couple to cope
with the institution of marriage (challenges); for example: in both
Islam and Hinduism parents and grandparents are involved in
marriage therefore as people with experience, they help in
guidance and counseling.

However
- Though religion counsels and guide couples, it may deny people an
opportunity to make own decisions as people are expected to marry
and may be discriminated upon if they choose to remain
unmarried, for example: all Hindus are expected to marry and in
Islam all Muslims should marry according to the Quran.
EFFECTS OF RELIGION ON FAMILY LIFE
Family is as a result of marriage, in Hinduism and Islam the extended
family is ideal.
1. Religion helps to deter some negative behaviors and therefore give
strength and comfort through ethical dimension which promote
well being in a family. Involvement of family members in religious
activities; for example; In Hinduism the Sacred Thread Ceremony
deters undesirable behaviors by providing families especially
children with belief systems and values to guide their decisions.

However
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- Time required for religious activities can cause conflicts in a

family; for example: In Hinduism men are expected to be always at
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 the temple while women are to remain home to take care of
children and do household chores.

2. Religion encourages good relations between parents and children;

for example: In Islam parents should be affectionate to their
children and show interest in them and children should be patient,
respectful, kind and compassionate to their parents. They are to
take care of their parents when they are old. In Hinduism parents
are to provide necessities for their family and children are expected
to show respect to all older people in the family. They are expected
to take orders obediently and without question.

However
- There can be religious intolerance when one member of the family
wants to defects to another religion
- Religion can cause problems, conflicts and fights as well as clash
in values especially if families belong to different religions.
RIGHTS, STATUS, AND ROLES OF MEN AND WOMEN IN
ISLAM AND HINDUISM
1. HINDUISM: Rights of women in marriage
- It is a woman’s right to be taken care of by her husband
- A woman has the right to own jewellery

Status of women in marriage

- A Hindu has no right to divorce her husband even if he is a bad
husband
- If the husband dies the wife should commit sati(being cremated
with her dead husband)
- A woman has no property or inheritance rights as a wife is
dependent on her husband and if he dies the son takes over the
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headship of the family.

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 Roles of women in marriage
- Bear and raise children
- Guide and give advice to girl children
- Assisting the husband in finding a suitable marriage partner for
their children
Rights of men in marriage
- It is the husband’s right to be respected by his wife
Status of men in marriage
- The man is the head of the family
- Only men can be sannyasin, he has no responsibilities or family
ties so he is able to concentrate entirely on his religion
Roles of men in marriage
- A husband must work hard so as to be able to feed his wife,
children and parents
- He arranges the marriages of his children
- A father must support his daughters until they are married.
2. ISLAM: Rights of women in marriage
- A Muslim woman has the right to divorce her husband
- A woman has the right to keep her property after divorce; her
property is not divided during divorce.
- Women have the right for security (financial and emotional) from
their husbands.
- They have the rights to be treated equally by their husbands.

Status of women in marriage

- A woman can marry any Muslim man of her choice, if her parents
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choose a partner for her, her consent must be taken

- A Muslim widow is encouraged to remarry
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- The Muslim women have the same rights as men in all matters
including divorce.

Roles of women in marriage

- The mother has the duty to bear children and nurse them to
maturity
- A woman must guide and direct female children in the values of
the religion
Rights of men in marriage
- The husband has a right over his wife that she should not go out of
the house except with his permission.
- A man has the right to divorce his wife.
Status of men in marriage
- Men are heads of families
- Male relatives are the only ones involved in choosing a suitable
marriage partner during arranged marriages.
- Men are allowed to marry up to four wives
Roles of men in marriage
- The father is the head of the family and he makes decisions
- The father protects the family and provides all its basic needs, such
as food, shelter and clothing.
- A father teaches boys the male roles and ensures that they learn the
Islamic religious duties
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 - MODULE 7: RELIGION AND GLOBAL ISSUES
RELIGION AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Epidemic: A large number of cases of a particular disease happening at
the same time in a particular community.
Global epidemics: A large number of cases of particular disease
happening at the time affecting the whole world.
Examples of global epidemics
- Ebola
- HIV/AIDS
- Foot and mouth
- Cholera
- Malaria
- Tuberculosis
- H1N1
- COVID -19

VIEWS ON GLOBAL EPIDEMICS: African Traditional Religion

- Failing moral standards: global epidemics are attributed to
breaking of taboos therefore displeasing the ancestoral spirits and
making them angry with people.
- It is believed that epidemics are a punishment from the ancestors
for breaking taboos (prohibitions) such as taboos affecting sacred
places, objects, totemic animals and plants.
- People are doing bad things/engaged in immoral acts such as
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abuse, passion killing hence failing to please the ancestors (failure

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to abide to the values and set standards).

 However (good)
- The punishment from the ancestors may bring people back to the
observance of morals (it will encourage moral uprightness).
- People may retrace their steps.

Christianity
- Punishment from God for Adam’s disobedience (sin)
- A challenge for individuals to find inner strength and faith in God.
God is deliberately bringing epidemics so that people can develop
faith and struggle to be his children and obey him.
-
EFFECTS OF GLOBAL EPIDEMICS IN SOCIETY

- Diseases such as foot and mouth affects the economy, for example:
selling of livestock to BMC is impossible
- Societies are likely to experience deaths, (loss of breadwinners,
orphans, loss of skilled labour)
- Failure to relate with the environment causing pollution.

However
- Creates employment opportunities
HOW RELIGIONS HELP DURING NATURAL DISASTERS IN
BOTSWANA
KINDS OF DISASTERS
- Floods
- Drought
- Veld fires
- Storms and lightning
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  Religions help by providing clothes, food, building of
shelter/providing shelter, contribute money to help the
victims

RESPONSE TO HUMAN SUFFERING DURING EPIDEMICS

Christianity
- Seek God’s intervention through prayer
- Show compassion by providing food, shelter, clothes and money
(material and financial support)

African Traditional Religion

- Rituals: Health can be restored by performing certain rituals.
Batswana have many rituals directed at ensuring good health,
healing, preventing danger to health, curing barrenness, removing
impurities in people snd in homesteads and protecting people,
animals and crops, for example: go phekola.
- Consult traditional doctors
- Diseases according to Batswana’s interpretation are religious
matter, therefore, to deal with them people resert to religious
practices
RELIGION AND JUSTICE
WAYS IN WHICH VALUES OF JUSTICE ARE EXPRESSED AND
PROMOTED IN ISLAM AND BUDDHISM

ISLAM: - Shariah law: It forbids stealing and adultery/social ills.

Punishments from the Shariah law are intended to eliminate or
denounce injustice. The punishments are intended to punish the
wrong doers and to deter potential wrong doers so that justice for
all can prevail hence peace and harmony are encouraged.
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Benefits
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 - This will encourage stable marriage as cases of adultery will be
reduced
- Minimum conflicts and misunderstandings thereby reducing
divorce cases
- Being deterred from stealing will lead to ownership of properties
- Leads to security in the society
Zakart(Almsgiving):Shows compassion and love, when people
give money to the poor they make their life bearable hence
justice for all is achieved because all people will have enough to survive
on.
Benefit
- Reduction of economic disparity

However
- Can leads to laziness

Buddhism: Upholding the Eightfold, for example: Right speech,

Buddhists are taught to abstain from false speech and not to speak in a
way that causes disharmony or enmity, to abstain from rude, impolite or
abusive language.
However
- It might not be possible all the time to use right speech
Right livelihood: From the Sutra-Pitaka of the Tripitaka the Buddha
said: ‘a lay follower should not engage in five types of businesses: such
as business in weapons (army and police), business in humans
(brothels), business in meat and business in intoxicants.
CHARACTERISTICS WHICH QUALIFY ONE TO BE A
CHAMPION OF JUSTICE IN ISLAM AND BUDDHISM
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- Honesty
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- Love
- Perseverance
- Assertive
- Compassionate
- Selfless
- Confident

CHAMPIONS OF JUSTICE IN ISLAM

1. Prophet Mohammed
- He denounced ill-treatment of the poor and introduced practices
that ensured justice for all, for example: Zakart reduces poverty
- United people in Mecca and Medina as he criticized practices that
brought about divisions, for example: gambling, prostitution,
idolatry amongst others.

However
- Personal preference

CHAMPIONS OF JUSTICE IN BUDDHISM

1. Dalai Lama
- Teaches against social ills such as wars, racism, political
inequality, for example: He is fighting for the independence of
Tibet from China

Benefit
- Freedom of rights

However
- Unwillingness by China to free Tibet from its sphere of influence
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RELIGIOUS PREJUDICE AND FUNDAMENTALISM

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 Religious Prejudice: A pre conceived judgment or opinion about a
religion which is usually negative as religious groups discriminate
against others based on their beliefs
PREJUDICE IN RELATION TO CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM

Islam
- Muslims question divinity, birth, crucifixion, resurrection,
ascension of Jesus Christ
- They advocate for the Quran as the actual words of Allah.
- Muslims are saying that the true messenger Prophet Muhammad as
opposed to Jesus Christ.
Christianity
- Jesus is the true messenger of God other than Muhammad
- Christians view Islam as a religion of fundamentalists who kill in
the name of religion
- Christians have a problem with polygamy that is practiced by
Islam.
EFFECTS OF PREJUDICE

Positive effects
- Deepens one’s faith
- Preservation of one’s religion

Negative effects
- Loss of life
- Religious intolerance
- No dialogue between religions
- Negative attitudes towards other people.

Religious Fundamentalism: Is the practice of strictly following the

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basic rules and teachings of a religion. For example: Christians believe

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that the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit and completely true. In
Islam, they fight Western modernism which is seen as corrupt and
atheist.
CHARACTERISTICS OF RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM
1. Intolerance: religions do not tolerate each other due to differences
in their beliefs and practices.
2. Strong leadership: Fundamentalists always want to dominate in a
pluralistic society.
3. Charismatic (very influential and regard their religions to be the
best to be practiced.
4. Generally inclined with violence, for example: Muslims kill in the
name of religion. To them, if one do not follow their religion, they
are regarded as their enemy and they kill to protect their religion.
WAYS OF RESOLVING RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM
- Dialogue
- Celebrating diversity (inclusivity) which can lead to religious
tolerance.
RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE: means accepting, respecting and
appreciating other religious beliefs which are different from one’s
own religion/ viewing other people’s religion as valid and
authentic (equally true).
CONTRIBUTIONS OF WORLD RELIGIONS TO RELIGIOUS
TOLERANCE
- All religions teach the ethic of reciprocity which is often referred
to as the Golden Rule: for example; in Christianity ‘Do unto others
as you want them to do unto you’
- Equality of human beings: World religions teach that although
human beings may appear different, they should be treated with
equal respect and consideration. For example; In Christianity all
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are made in the image of God, Love your neighbor as you love
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yourself. Bahai Faith teaches the principle of unity and oneness of
religion, oneness of God and oneness of mankind, In Islam, they
acknowledge that all people are equal before the eye of Allah.

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