In Search of a Formula for Peace

Muslims and non-Muslims. The Prophet secured peace by following the formula of give and take. The Prophet obtained some civic rights for Muslims by acknowledging some civic rights for non-Muslim community. In this way a peaceful society came into existence in Madinah. The Sultanate of Oman gives us a recent example of this kind of peace. Land disputes at the border between Oman and Yemen had continued for a long period of time. It was in early 70’s that the Sultan of Oman established peace on the principle of give and take. Consequently, all the gates of progress which had remained closed for so long were now opened for Oman. The example of the second formula for peace is Sulh al-Hudaybiya (Hudaybiya Peace Treaty) in the early history of Islam. On this occasion the Prophet of Islam accepted the status quo and returned to Madinah. This enabled him to make a 10-year peace treaty with his rival group. And then he engaged himself in the completion of his constructive projects. In present times Japan presents an example of securing peace by following this formula. After the Second World War Japan accepted the status quo as against the United States. As a result, an atmosphere of peace immediately prevailed between the two nations. And Japan found the opportunity to devote itself to its plans for progress and development. These are the only two possible and practicable formulas for securing peace. It will depend upon circumstances which formula has to be adopted. It is essential to learn in the matter of peace that the objective of peace is not present gain, it is always future gain. The goal of peace essentially is to normalize the situation so that the process of progress and development may be set in motion. The criterion of peace is not what has been achieved at the time of peace settlement, but what opportunities are opened up in the wake of the settlement of peace. An Incident Now, I want to narrate an incident very relevant to the subject under discussion here. I visited Jerusalem for the first time in August 1995. As you know, Jerusalem is a well known place of conflict in the world. I was walking around the Arab Sector of the city. At one place I saw that some Palestinian children were singing this Arabic song in chorus: Let’s make war, let’s make war. For war is the way to success.