30. NON-VIOLENCE

30. Non-Violence ~ 88 ~ importance to patience. In fact, patience is set above all other Islamic virtues with the exceptional promise of reward beyond measure. (39:10) Patience implies a peaceful response or reaction, whereas impatience implies a violent response. The word sabr exactly expresses the notion of nonviolence, as it is understood in modern times. That patient action is non-violent action has been clearly expressed in the Qur’an. According to one tradition, the Prophet of Islam observed: God grants to rifq (gentleness) what he does not grant to unf (violence). (Sunan, Abu Dawood, 4/255) The word rifq has been used in this hadith as an antithesis to unf these terms convey exactly what is meant by violence and non-violence in present times. This hadith clearly indicates the superiority of the non-violent method. God grants on non-violence what He does not grant to violence is no simple matter. It has very wide and deep implications. It embodies an eternal law of nature. By the very law of nature all bad things are associated with violence, while all good things are associated with non-violence.