TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE

God wants that in matters of religion, every person should enjoy freedom to choose their own path. Violence involves two (or more) people—one who engages in violence, and one who is victimised. Earlier, religion was considered as a state subject and the only legitimate religion was the official religion, the religion of the state. Practicing any other religion was considered a crime synonymous with rebellion against the state. Such bigoted attitudes perpetrated religious persecution. Monarchs did not allow dissension, with any opposition being perceived as a threat to their rule; and hence did not tolerate it. This state of affairs was against God’s Creation Plan. God wants that in matters of religion, every person should enjoy freedom to choose their own path. The Prophet of Islam and his followers were commanded to end religious persecution (THE QURAN 8: 39), and allow such natural conditions that God desires to prevail among people. This plan of God is referred to in the above-cited Hadith. It says that in accordance with God’s decision, religious freedom must be established and religious persecution be rooted out for ever. With the age of religious freedom well established in the 20th century, no one faces persecution any more. Only those individuals or groups engaging in unnecessary violence will face violence, giving their opponents the opportunity to engage in retaliatory violence. One who engages in violence will face retaliatory violence, irrespective of whether he does it in the name of religion or any other name. o Spiritual versus Material Being spiritual means rectifying one's relationship with other human beings. It is far from meaning the renunciation of all contacts with the material world.