TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE

necessarily think in terms of peace and will engage in their struggle in a peaceful manner. Where there is moderation there is peace, and vice versa. In stark contrast to this, an extremist attitude very soon leads to confrontation and violence. Extremism and violence are obviously interconnected. That is why extremism is held in religion to be abhorrent. It would not be wrong to say that violence is another name for extremism and that moderation is to refrain from extremism. Killing One Human Being is Like Killing all Mankind The Quran states: Whoever kills a human being, except as a punishment for murder or for spreading corruption in the land, shall be regarded as having killed all mankind. (5: 32) Murder is a horrendous act. The killing of a human being is permissible only when the danger he poses to social peace has no other remedy. Killing a single person without proven justification is equal to killing all human beings. The difference between the two is only one of degree and not in nature. Killing one human being is just as horrendous as killing all human beings. Such a killing, without proper sanction, appears to be a simple matter. But such an act breaks all traditions of respect for life. The above verse of the Quran shows the great importance of peace and security in Islam. If someone is unjustly killed, Islam demands that the whole of society should become so greatly agitated over this offence that it should work united towards restoring a state of peace and security. It should be treated as a matter of the greatest urgency, as if all of humanity were under attack. Extinguishing the Fire of Violence The Quran states: Whenever they kindle the fire of war, God puts it out. (5: 64) This verse of the Quran shows the creation plan of the Creator for this world—a plan based on the principle of peace. This means that God’s dealings with human beings are based on peace and security, then man should also deal with other human beings in a peaceable manner, and not with harshness or violence.