PEACE OF MIND IS MOST IMPORTANT

for people to think and work undisturbed. That is the only way in which they can convert the potential of the world into actuality. When a terrorist kills a person, he in actual fact kills a mind. Killing a number of people is the destruction of a large number of minds. People engaged in militancy in the name of a self-styled goal, are undoubtedly indulging in entirely undesirable acts, and thus jeopardizing the Creator’s scheme of things. The tremendous potential of the human mind can be availed only in a peaceful atmosphere. In the absence of a peaceful environment for work, the process that unfolds the potential of the mind will be left uninitiated and the mind's capabilities will remain unutilized. Those who perpetrate violence are indulging in an act that goes against nature. Since the time Muslims have taken to violence in the present age, no scientific development has come forth from this community. They have been reduced to a ‘taker’ community—unlike in the past. A principle of nature set forth in the Quran says, that only those who are ‘givers’ prove to be successful in this world. (13: 17) Muslims engaged in violence have become a permanent obstacle to the progress of Muslims. They should forthwith cease all their violent activities and bury their weapons, so that an atmosphere of peace may prevail and they can emerge once again as a creative community. Where terrorism exists, the work of education and scientific development comes to a halt. On the contrary, in countries where there is no terrorism, progress goes unabated in every field. This bears out the old adage that peace promotes all kinds of progress, while violence endangers all kinds of constructive activities. No constructive target can be achieved by fighting. You cannot grow a tree by fighting. You cannot build a planned city by fighting. You cannot bring a developed civilization into existence by fighting. An educated society cannot be produced by fighting. Those engaged in fighting clearly demonstrate that they are totally unaware of the realities of life. Trying to achieve a positive target by fighting is a grave misjudgement of both man and the Creator. The mind is the greatest faculty of man and peace is the most favourable environment in which the mind can function to its full capacity.