Racial and Sectarian Diversity in Yemeni Society and Its Civilizational Contributions in the Islamic Era

Abstract

#The inclusive nature of Islamic Sharia law contributed to absolute justice in its approach towards its followers, embracing their diverse races, ethnicities, colors, languages, and sectarian and geographic backgrounds. This led to their integration and formation of a united society with shared values, similar inclinations, and convictions. They engaged in serving this society by creating a flourishing and bright life for individuals, striving to achieve their individual and collective aspirations, utilizing their skills, crafts, and knowledge.

Due to the vast expanse of the Islamic world, both geographically and temporally, it is challenging to fully encompass the civilizational contributions of racial and sectarian diversity within the Muslim society. Therefore, a serious researcher finds themselves compelled to narrow the scope and focus on a specific subset of the Muslim society, such as the Yemeni community, as a representative sample of the larger society. What applies to the Yemeni society can largely be applied to other constituent parts of the broader Islamic society.

The components of Yemeni society indirectly competed to prove their presence, asserting their distinctiveness, and demanding respect in an atmosphere permeated with a sense of common origin, shared sources, and a common destiny. Islamic Sharia law served as the foundation, while Islamic creed played the role of shepherding their continuous cohesion.