FROM MAULANA’S DESK

and adjustment. Aggressive war, undeclared war, guerrilla war, proxy war or any other war is prohibited in Islam. Only defensive war is permitted. Moreover, only a state may go to war. No other organization is permitted to do so. If Muslims were unable to elicit good conduct from others, they had nevertheless to refrain from acting against wrongdoers. The Prophet thought it essential to differentiate between an aggressor and an enemy. A defensive war might be waged against those who attack them. His followers were not allowed to fight against passive enemies. The problem of enmity had to be solved through love and tolerance. In other words, he wanted Muslims to learn the art of peaceful enmity management. According to a Hadith, “God grants to gentleness what He does not grant to harshness.” That is to say, peaceful activism is distinctly superior to violent activism. There is nothing mysterious about the point made in this Hadith. This is a simple and a well-known fact of life. In a situation of war and violence, feelings of hatred and enmity flare up between the two sides and, in the process the existing resources are destroyed. People from both sides get killed and the entire society is pervaded with a jungle of negative feelings. It is quite obvious that in such an atmosphere, no constructive and consolidated work can be done. There is nothing to be achieved in war and violence apart from death and destruction. On the contrary, an atmosphere of peace enables normal relations to be established between people. Feelings of love and friendship prevail. In a favourable atmosphere constructive activities flourish and the existing resources can be used for development and progress. A positive bent of mind will prevail which will help developmental activities. The greater ill-effect of war is that it limits opportunities whereas the greatest benefit of peace is that it opens up opportunities to the ultimate extent. War invariably results in further loss, while peace invariably results in further gain. That is why Islam teaches us to avoid war and confrontation at all costs and commands us to establish peace to the greatest possible degree. An atmosphere of peace enables normal relations to be established between people. Feelings of love and friendship prevail. In a favourable atmosphere constructive activities flourish and the existing resources can be used for development and progress.