NON-VIOLENCE Our Only Hope

violence, while all good things are associated with non-violence. Violent activities breed hatred in society, while non-violent activities elicit love. Violence is the way of destruction while non-violence is the way of construction. In an atmosphere of violence, enmity flourishes, while in an atmosphere of non-violence, friendship flourishes. The method of violence gives way to negative values, while the method of non-violence is marked by positive values. The method of violence embroils people in problems, while the method of non-violence leads people to the availing of opportunities. In short, violence is death, nonviolence is life. The Prophet Muhammad followed the principle of peaceful activism throughout his life. He always adopted non-violent methods in preference to violent methods. It is this policy which was referred to by Aishah, the Prophet’s wife, in these words: “Whenever the Prophet had to opt for one of two ways, he almost always opted for the easier one.” (Fath ul-Bari, 6/654) By the very law of Nature, all bad things are associated with violence, while all good things are associated with non-violence. According to the Quran there are two faculties in every human being which are mutually antipathetic. One is the ego, and the other is the conscience, called respectively nafs ammara (THE QURAN 12: 53) and nafs lawwama (THE QURAN 75: 2). What the violent method invariably does is to awaken the ego, which necessarily results in a breakdown of social equilibrium. On the other hand, non-violent activism awakens the conscience. From this results an awakening in people of introspection and self-appraisal. And according to the Quran, the miraculous outcome of this is that “he who is your enemy will become your dearest friend.” (THE QURAN 41: 34) A great advantage of the non-violent method is that, by following it, no part of one’s time is wasted. The opportunities available in any given situation may then be availed of to the fullest extent—as happened after the no-war pact of Hudaibiya. This peace treaty enabled the energies of the believers to be utilised in peaceful constructive activities instead of being dissipated in a futile armed encounter. A great harm done by violent activism is the breaking of social traditions