THE CULTURE OF PEACE — Teachings of Islam

THE CULTURE OF PEACE — Part IV Teachings of Islam 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. 1. Greater Provision The Quran explains a fact of life in the following words: Do not regard with envy the worldly benefits We have given some of them, for with these We seek only to test them. The provision of your Lord is better and more lasting. THE QURAN 20: 131 T HERE are two ways you can lead your life. One way is to make the material world your target or objective, and seek your success in worldly acquisitions and power. There are always differences between people as far as these things are concerned. People constantly fight with each other over these material things. And that is why materialistically-minded people always feel that their rights have been trampled upon by others and that they have been deprived. These emotions are repeatedly expressed in the form of endemic jealousy, revenge and violence. The modern secular state provides all its citizens the guarantee that they can follow, preach and propagate the religion of their choice. Another way of leading your life is to focus on your achievements. A person who lives in this way is content with himself. He seeks whatever he wants within himself, and this saves him from resenting or hating others and inflicting violence on them. He obtains the sustenance of the Lord—which means that he has acquired firm faith that he has found the Truth, and he has discovered that the existence that God has bestowed on him is far more valuable than all the treasures of gold and silver. He lives with such an awakened mind that the entire cosmos becomes for him an intellectual and spiritual feast. Such a person who