The Culture of Peace

The Culture of Peace that people and groups repeatedly come into confrontation and conflict with each other. There are two ways to respond to this situation: avoidance of conflict, on the one hand, and confrontation, on the other. There is simply no third option. If one chooses the path of confrontation, it will only result in fighting. The whole of human history testifies to the fact that fighting only enables one to give vent to one’s pent-up emotions and that it brings no real benefit at all. Hence, one must abstain from, and consciously avoid, confrontation. This sort of avoidance not only saves one from further harm but also gives one the opportunity to carry on in the journey of progress without being stopped by any hurdles that may come one’s way. Such avoidance may seem like timidity in the face of an opposing party, but its purpose is actually to save oneself from useless confrontation and to carry on with one’s journey free from obstruction. Patience, the Secret of Success The Quran instructs us: Have patience: God is with those who are patient. (8:46) According to a hadith contained in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad, the Prophet is said to have declared that it is greatly beneficial to exercise patience in the face of things we do not like. Success goes along with patience. Along with difficulty, the Prophet added, there is ease. It often happens that when people are faced with a difficult situation or when they undergo a bitter experience, they get worked up. In some cases, they may even take to violence. But this sort of reaction is a result of being unaware of the laws of nature. The fact is that the laws of nature always support those who are firmly established in truth and justice. Such individuals