NO EXTREMISM

PEACE IN ISLAM ~ 134 ~ The truth is that there are two very different ways of living one’s life. The first is entirely directed towards the material world. One who seeks success in terms of worldly wealth and honour will find that there is no end to his ambition. For if he sets purely worldly goals before him, he will always find that there are people around him who have more than he has. There is no escaping these disparities. Therefore, one who lives for material things suffers a perpetual sense of deprivation. This produces feelings of discontent and jealousy, which surface again and again in the form of rivalry, revenge and the accompanying violence. The second way for the individual is to lead his life with a sense of achievement. Such a person will be content with himself. This feeling of achievement will prevent him from nurturing hatred against others or engaging in violence. Who are those who are blessed with this feeling? In the words of the Quran, they are those who are the recipients of God’s provision. God’s provision means the conviction of having discovered the truth: that the existence they have been blessed with by their Creator is more precious than all the world’s