THE CULTURE OF PEACE — Part III Teachings of Islam

To engage in violence in the name of the Truth is itself a negation of the Truth. Those who engage in violence in the name of the Truth clearly indicate that they are not on the path of the Truth. A lover of the Truth can never be a lover of violence. Contrarily, a lover of violence most certainly is not a lover of Truth, even if he believes himself to be its champion. The Price of Peace Everything has a price. You can acquire a particular thing only when you are ready to pay for it. In this world, you simply cannot get what you want without paying its appropriate price. This is true of peace as well. Peace, too, has its price. An individual or group can obtain peace only when the price has been paid. In this world, you simply cannot get what you want without paying its appropriate price. What is the price of peace? It is to tolerate loss. This fundamental truth is narrated in the Quran in the following words: We shall certainly test you with fear and hunger, and loss of property, lives and crops. Give good news to those who endure with fortitude. Those who say, when afflicted with a calamity, ‘We belong to God and to Him we shall return,’ are the ones who will have blessings and mercy from their Lord: it is they who are on the right path! THE QURAN 2: 155-57 This Quranic verse tells us about a basic fact of life. And that is that according to the law on the basis of which this world has been created, it is necessary for people to face different kinds of loss. Sometimes, they will face challenges from others. At other times, they may face economic problems or loss of power. Sometimes, they may become victims of some accident or the other. At other times, they may be denied certain benefits that they consider to be their right. And so on. Every person undergoes such unpleasant experiences at some time or the other in her or his life. This is entirely in accordance with the Law of Nature. In such a situation, if people do not tolerate their losses, it will easily result in violence. But if they accept and tolerate their losses, it will enable them to live in peace.