TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE

TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE We often talk of peace in the context of war. But this is a very narrow and restricted notion of peace. Peace is deeply linked with the entirety of human life. Peace is a complete ideology in itself. Peace is the only religion for both—man and the universe. It is the master-key that opens the doors to every success. Peace creates a favourable atmosphere for success in every endeavour. Without peace, no positive action—small or big—is possible. ISLAM AND PEACE I SLAM aims to build a peaceful society at all costs. It is because higher human objectives cannot be achieved in the absence of peaceful circumstances. The spiritual as well as moral progress of the individual is possible only in a peaceful atmosphere. Hence the atmosphere of peace is essential for the building of good society. Academic research too is possible only in peaceful circumstances. And, the task of the propagation of truth too can be performed only in peaceful atmosphere. That is why one of the teachings of Islam is ‘reconciliation is the best’ (4: 128). In this regard, Islam enjoins us to establish peace even at the cost of unilateral sacrifice and patience. An event of the first phase of Islamic history provides us with an example of this unilateralism. This is known as Sulh Hudaybiya (Hudaybiya Peace Treaty). This was in fact a no-war pact which was secured by accepting all the demands of the rival group. To bring about an atmosphere of peace within society, Islam has given a number of commandments. For instance, the Prophet of Islam observed: ‘A believer is one from whom people feel secure as regards their lives and property’. (Tirmidhi). Another Hadith has this to say: ‘By God, he is not a believer from whose nuisance his neighbour is not safe.’ (AI-Bukhari) Islam aims at making all individuals peace-loving to the ultimate extent. That is why we are enjoined to greet one another by saying