THE WORD OF GOD

What, then, are we to do? You need to learn to adjust so as to avoid conflict, to avoid problems. My formula is ‘Avoid conflicts, and avail existing opportunities.’ We need to remember that problems are a part of life. People generally take problems as a bad thing. I, however, don’t. This is because problems and conflicts create challenges for us, and without challenges there is no growth. So, what you call ‘conflicts’ are actually challenges, without which there is no development. So, are you saying that conflicts can be good as they lead to development? I am saying that conflict is part of nature, not good or bad. The fact is that you cannot eliminate conflict, because it is part of nature. So, you need to adjust to conflict. If you consider conflict is bad, you will try to eliminate it. Eliminating conflict is against the law of nature. Conflict is part of creation, and no one has the power to change the law of nature. Ending conflict means trying to change the law of nature, which is not possible. But if you develop the understanding that conflicts are natural and view them as challenges that can help you grow, you will soon realise that they are actually opportunities. So, are you saying that the problem is not conflict as such, but rather, the method that one adopts in handling or relating to conflicts? Yes. According to my experience, conflict becomes evil when you react. Your reaction makes it an evil thing. If you don’t react, then there is no problem. So, conflict itself is not a problem. It is the reaction to it that is the problem. If you tolerate or adjust to the challenge posed by conflict, there is no problem. How did you come to realise that non-violence is intimately related to Islam? Islam claims to be a religion of nature, that it is based on nature. According to my study, peace is an important part of nature. For instance, take the vast number of heavenly bodies. There’s no clash between the numerous planets and stars. Nature is at peace. There’s