Non-Violence and Peace-Building in Islam

Such people do not know that “not to fight” is not simply that if no one fights you, you do not fight with anyone. Rather, “not to fight” means that if someone comes to fight you, still you should not fight with him. Non-violence does not mean remaining peaceful so long as no one is acting violently towards you. Rather, it means to refrain from violence even in face of violence. If someone seeks to provoke you, you should not allow yourself to get provoked. If someone conspires against you, you should render the conspiracy ineffective through wisdom and silent, positive action. To fight one’s enemies is no way to succeed in life. Only by avoiding conflict can one consolidate one’s strength. Then alone will one be able to overcome one’s foes. To fight at the slightest provocation and ignore the need to quietly build up one’s own strength is to condemn oneself to destruction. Such conduct can never lead to success in this world of God. The Prophet achieved success by pursuing a policy of non-confrontation; how, then, can his followers succeed by pursuing a policy of confrontation? How can they be called his followers when they are blind to his example? 3 Unilateral Action for Peace Irrespective of what people might think are the causes of communal riots in India, the fact is that this violence can be ended only when Muslims end their role in it. If they do so, they can make others amenable to ending their role in such violence, too. It is only through such unilateral action that