Managing Differences of Opinion in Nursi's Thought: A New Framework for Community Leadership in Malaysia's Plural Society

The need to form a nation-state and the existence of a high level of ethnic and religious diversity in Malaysia is a constant source of tension. The differences are frequently perceived as a danger and are dealt with in ways that favour "tolerance" or "homogenisation" of the leadership. But there is another narrative to the way Bediuzzaman Said Nursi thinks about it, in the idea of ‘Managing Differences of Opinion' which has been neglected in the local community context of leadership. The purpose of this study is to examine a model of thought that is unlike the common civilizational discourse, considering the differences that Nursi's thinking contributes to the management and use of diversity for a pro-active leadership. It explores the possible translation of these principles into practical strategies for community leaders in Malaysia to build active and sustainable harmony rather than simply an absence of conflict, based on the principles of tawhid, rahmah and ‘adl in the Risale-i Nur. The lack of understanding of this approach can be fatal to the potential of diversity, and can actually help foster the seeds of division under the surface.

Said Nursi, Community Leadership, Plural Society, Managing Differences of Opinion

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