TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE

TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE We often talk of peace in the context of war. But this is a very narrow and restricted notion of peace. Peace is deeply linked with the entirety of human life. Peace is a complete ideology in itself. Peace is the only religion for both-man and the universe. It is the master-key that opens the doors to every success. Peace creates a favourable atmosphere for success in every endeavour. Without peace, no positive action—small or big—is possible. THE AGE OF PEACE A Hadith, which appears in several traditions, is cited in the Sahih al-Bukhari as follows: Khabbab, a Companion, complained to the Prophet about the oppression and persecution by the unbelievers of Makkah. The Prophet said, that the believers of earlier times faced much greater persecution and oppression. But these difficulties did not prevent them from following the religion of God, By God! there will come a time which will be in favour of the religion of God. During this time a traveller will make a journey from Sana’a to Hadramaut (a distance of about 1000 miles) alone without any fear except the fear of God. This time is sure to come by the will of God but you are hastening for this period. T HIS Hadith highlights the mission of the Prophet of Islam to usher in a revolution resulting in establishing religious peace in the world. Religious intolerance and persecution of earlier times were to end. The results of his mission were to appear in stages, and not fully during the Prophet’s time. The process began during the time of the Prophet. Religious persecution was sorted out first at the tribal level. It was gradually abolished de facto at the government level, through several stages. In the mid-20th century, the United Nations Organisation (UNO) was established. Under its aegis, representatives of every country pledged religious tolerance at the international level and ensured that no one would be made a victim of religious persecution.