PEACE IN ISLAM

was a peace-lover. His mind was free of hatred and violence. All he had was the desire for peace to be established in the world with the help of God. God grants to gentleness what He does not grant to harshness. This is one of the highest examples of positive thinking. War is the most negative of all events. To the Prophet, standing on the battlefield, the words that came to his lips were those of peace and security, rather than of war and violence. This is indicative of the highest human virtue. The noblest human character is one who thinks of peace amidst violence and who can plan for reconciliation even during war. Peaceful Citizens According to a hadith, the Prophet of Islam defined a believer as a person from whom people are safe as regards their lives and property. (At-Tirmizi, An-Nasai, Ibn Majah, Musnad Ahmad) According to this hadith, the way of the faithful is to live as peaceful citizens in society. No one should pose any danger to others’ lives, property or honour. Under no circumstances, should one take to the way of violence. How should we lead our lives so that every member of the society we live in remains safe and secure from injustice? It is by maintaining the way of moderation. All members of society should be able to bury their complaints in their own hearts instead of pouring them out on others. A society in which such self-control is exercised is one in which its members can enjoy a feeling of security. A peaceful society is the ideal framework for positive human development. A society fraught with violence offers little hope for the realization of individual human potential. The love of peace is a noble human virtue, whereas the love of violence brings the human being down from a higher ethical plane to the level of brutishness. Unconditional Peace Peace is rightly defined as 'the absence of war'. However, there are some who hold that peace should necessarily be accompanied by justice. But