TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE

spared no effort in disseminating negative propaganda against Islam. Given this state of affairs, there were only two options before the believers. One was to attempt to put an end to tyranny and launch an outright war on the other party in the name of securing their rights. The result of such a move would certainly have been further loss in terms of lives and property. The second option was to remain patient in the face of immediate loss, be it political or material, and, in spite of the losses avail of the opportunities that were already available. The Prophet of Islam and his Companions chose this second course. The result was that in just a few years, the entire history of Arabia was altered for the better by an Islamic revolution. The present age however is an age of religious freedom; the world has become a global village. There is openness amongst people about learning from each other. The development of science and technology has made the canvas needed for God realization bigger. Today there exists a great number of opportunities for self-betterment and for working on a much larger scale. If availed of wisely, we can rewrite the history of Islam in magnificent terms. Towards a Non-Violent World Though the history of the non-violent movement is a very long one, historians concede that “the most massive and historically effective example of non-violent activism was that of the movement organized by Mahatma Gandhi”. India can be justly proud that it was in this country, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, where for the first time in human history a non-violent movement culminated in such resounding success. The first target for Mahatma Gandhi was to usher in peaceful political change throughout the country. This ambition was fulfilled in 1947. Mahatma Gandhi’s second target was to bring about social change on the basis of non-violence. But before he could achieve his second target, he was tragically removed from the scene of action. Today there exists a great number of opportunities for self-betterment and for working on a much larger scale. If availed of wisely, we can rewrite the history of Islam in magnificent terms.