PEACE IN ISLAM

setting such a condition for the attainment of peace is impractical. For the role of peace is purely to set the stage for us to strive for justice and to work towards other constructive ends. The Prophet Muhammad provided a clear example in his method of negotiating the Hudaybiya peace treaty. By accepting all the conditions of his opponents, he began a ten-year long period of peace, without apparently receiving justice or his rights. But by means of this peace treaty the Prophet and his companions were enabled to consolidate themselves so thoroughly that they had no need to wage war to attain justice. The role of peace is purely to set the stage for us to strive for justice and to work towards other constructive ends. Jesus Christ once said, “Love your enemy.” This means to be on peaceful terms with one’s enemy, i.e. winning over your enemy by using the power of peace. This is the divine formula to attain peace. The Quran says: God calls to the Home of Peace. THE QURAN 10: 25 This means that according to the creation plan, peace and harmony should prevail in human society. God Himself is Peace (Peace being an attribute of God). He intended this world to be peaceful, and only a peaceful world will be able to receive His blessings. Such a world is like paradise on earth. It is only in such a world that we can meet and establish contact with God, the Creator of Man and the Universe. Both peace and violence result from human thinking, and if we consider the final result we would never employ violence. Peaceful minds make for a peaceful world. Peace—Positive Behaviour Peace is a product of a positive mental attitude, while violence is the result of a negative one. Peace is the natural state of society, while violence is not. Peace is as much in accordance with nature’s plan as violence is against it. When peace prevails in a society, all activities take