THE CULTURE OF PEACE — Teachings of Islam

THE CULTURE OF PEACE Teachings of Islam W HAT is Peace? Some scholars define peace as the absence of war. This definition is, from the dictionary or literal point of view, correct. If a society is free from violence and war, the situation that prevails may be termed as ‘peace’. Whenever there is no war or violence between individuals or groups, a state of peace begins to emerge on its own. However, for peace to be established in any society, it is not enough that it has succeeded in ending violence or war. To define peace as the absence of violence or war is a limited definition of peace. A better way of defining peace is on the basis of the positive attributes that characterise peace. Accordingly, a society can be said to enjoy peace if positive and constructive thought and activity flourish among its members. The establishment of peace in a society can be likened to the lifting of the gates of a dam, leading to a river being filled with plenty of water. Life is like a flowing river that seeks to surge ahead, driven by its own inner force. It stops its journey only when some artificial barrier is placed in its path. In the absence of such a barrier, life flourishes in all its dimensions, impelled by Nature. A society can be said to enjoy peace if positive and constructive thought and activity flourish among its members. Violence and war are barriers that seek to block the natural flow of life. In contrast, peace opens up all the barriers that seek to impede life’s onward journey. We often talk of peace in the context of war. But this is a very narrow and restricted notion of peace. The fact is that peace is deeply linked with the whole of human life. Peace is a complete ideology in itself. It is the master-key that opens the doors to every sort of success. Peace creates a favourable atmosphere for success in every sort of endeavour. Without peace, no positive action — small or big — is at all possible.