THE CULTURE OF PEACE — Part III Teachings of Islam

If a person does not get angry, he can manage every situation. He can turn every matter in his favour. Anger destroys one’s intelligence. An angry person can neither properly understand the situation he is confronted with, nor respond to it in an appropriate manner. He is immediately drawn to violence, though violence is not the solution to any problem at all. In contrast, a person who can keep his anger under control will search for a peaceful solution—and a peaceful solution is the only certain solution of every problem. Anger is a weakness, while not getting angry is a power in its own right. A treasure trove of enormous capacities is hidden inside the human mind. If a person does not get angry, he is able to use these treasures that are contained in his mind in his own favour. But when a person gets angry, his mental balance is disturbed. In this way, he is unable to use this treasure trove of mental capacities. To not get angry is a great victory, while getting angry is a great defeat. Remaining Patiently Steadfast to the Truth The Quran (103: 3) tells us about people who save themselves from loss. Such people, it relates, ‘exhort one another to hold fast to the Truth’ and ‘exhort one another to steadfastness’. Whenever someone is firmly established on the path of truth or invites others to the Truth, it always happens that many people become his opponents. He has to face considerable opposition. At this juncture, what he has to do is to adopt the method of patience. He must withstand the difficulties he is faced with, and not try to blame others for them. Patience is another word for a non-aggressive method. This means that a person who is on the path of Truth must not respond to violence with counter-violence. He must unilaterally abide by peaceful means. Truth and violence cannot go together. If you want to be faithful to the Truth, you have to leave violence aside. No matter on what pretext it is used for, violence is abhorrent, and all forms of violence are equally destructive. No seemingly wonderful or alluring excuse or pretext can save violence from its destructive consequences.