TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE

This verse of the Quran shows that peace is desirable in Islam to the greatest possible extent. Even if peace can be established only by incurring risks, this course should unhesitatingly be embarked upon in the way enjoined by the Quran. If reconciliatory offers are made by the antagonists in the course of the war, they should be accepted without delay. Even supposing that there is the fear of some deception in the making of the offer of peace, this offer should nevertheless be accepted in the hopes that God will always be on the side of the peace lovers and not on that of the deceivers. Another reality that emerges is that, in this world, peace can be established only by those who have great courage. In the present world, problems inevitably arise between different groups, for no human situation is ever absolutely ideal. Everyone at some point in his life is faced with injustice and the misappropriation of what belongs to him by right. In these situations, only such individuals can establish peace who can rise above all considerations and disdain all pretexts to engage in violent retaliation. Only the truly courageous can establish peace in this world. Those who are lacking in courage will continue to fight, and will thus never allow the history of the world to be re-written in terms of blessed peace. No Corruption on this Earth In the following verse, the Quran alludes to a particular kind of character, the self-styled reformer: When they are told, Do not cause corruption in the land, they say, We are only promoters of peace. (2: 11) This refers to those who claim to be engaged in reform work, but whose method is of the wrong kind, for their actions result in corruption and perversion. Here the word ‘corruption’ (fasad) means that their activities result in clash and confrontation with others, so that mutual hatred is generated. In the process morality is undermined and a negative mindset prevails. All these factors are referred to as spreading corruption on the earth, for they all destroy social peace, and ultimately, members of society are eternally at loggerheads with each other. This teaching of the Quran shows that it is not enough for an action to have a good goal to be right. The kind of side effects produced by The ultimate weakness of violence is that it begets the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it.