NON-VIOLENCE Our Only Hope

Medina he did not start waging war in order to force people to surrender to him. Instead, he negotiated with tribes all over Arabia and ultimately brought about unity among them with a series of peace treaties. If we make an in-depth study of the teachings of Islam we find that Islam wants to root out all those factors which lead to war. Why is war waged? There are two main causes. One, an attempt to annihilate the enemy. Second, to attain political power. There is no justification for war in Islam, to achieve either of these goals. With regard to the enemy, Islam teaches us to try to eliminate enmity — not the enemy. The importance of peace in Islam is so great that we are commanded to ensure peace by bearing with all kinds of unpleasant situations. According to the Quran, no enemy is everlastingly hostile. For in every enemy there lies a potential friend. Therefore, what the believer ought to do is to reach out through unilateral good behaviour to the man hidden within. By requiting good for evil, he should convert this enemy into a friend. The Prophet of Islam was born in Makkah in 570 A.D and he attained prophethood in 610 A.D. During his 23-year period as a Prophet of God, he spent the first 13 years in Makkah and the last 10 years in Medina. Some verses of the Quran were revealed in Makkah and some verses were revealed in Medina. Now, what were his activities during this prophetic period? He taught people by reciting verses of the Quran which said: ‘Read in the name of your Lord…’ and other such verses which were peaceful teachings, being non-militant in nature and ethical in value. He taught people how to pray, and to practice patience and tolerance even in the face of oppression and thus avoid conflict. He was a role model in that he showed that it was possible for a human being to work for the wellbeing of others without any ill-feeling, in spite of highly provocative circumstances. All the tasks performed by the Prophet throughout his life were marked by the greatness which comes from always choosing a non-violent course of action. Setting this kind of example formed the greater part of the Prophet’s actual mission. o