THE CULTURE OF PEACE — Teachings of Islam

The word ghulu means extremism. Ghulu or extremism in every matter is wrong. It is the very antithesis of the essential spirit of religion. Ghulu can easily escalate into violence and confrontation. Those who have fallen prey to the psychological malady of ghulu refuse to accept moderation. They scorn peace and moderation, thinking them to be inferior, and that is why they are very easily attracted to violence. In the name of attaining some lofty objective, they unleash deadly violence. The opposite of ghulu or extremism is moderation. If you are moderate in your thinking, you will think in terms of peace. All your efforts will be through peaceful means. Moderation and peace are very closely interlinked. Where there is moderation, there will be peace. Likewise, where there is peace, there will be moderation. In contrast, the ghulu-psyche always drags one towards extremism. And extremism very easily turns into violence and confrontation. Ghulu and violence are thus very closely linked. This is why ghulu in religion is looked at with great disfavour in Islam. Inclination towards ghulu is another name for addiction to violence. And abstaining from ghulu is another name for cherishing moderation. o .....to be continued. Keep your mind alive forever It is a fact that intellectual discovery is the most thrilling experience. A discovery made by Archimedes while he was bathing gave him such a thrill that he leapt out of his bath, shouting: Eureka! Eureka! And such a thrill is great food for the intellect. This process staves off intellectual starvation, thus making the discoverer permanently alive and young.