TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE

Everything has a price attached to it. You can acquire a particular thing only when you are ready to pay for it. In this world, you simply cannot get what you want without paying its appropriate price. This holds true for peace as well. Peace, too, has its price. An individual or group can obtain peace when one pays its price. What is the price of peace? It is to tolerate loss. This fundamental truth is narrated in the Quran (2: 155-56) in the following words: We shall certainly test you with fear and hunger, and loss of property, lives and crops. Give good news to those who endure with fortitude. Those who say, when afflicted with a calamity, ‘We belong to God and to Him we shall return,’ are the ones who will have blessings and mercy from their Lord: it is they who are on the right path! This verse of the Quran tells us about a basic fact of life. According to the law on the basis of which this world has been created, it is necessary that people will face different kinds of loss. Sometimes, they will face challenges from others. At other times, they may face economic loss. Sometimes, they may become victims of some accident or the other. At other times, they may be denied what they consider to be their right. Every person undergoes such unpalatable experiences sometime or the other in their lives. This is entirely in accordance with the law of nature. In such a situation, if people do not tolerate their losses, it will easily result in violence. If they accept and tolerate their losses, it will enable them to live in peace. To patiently accept and tolerate loss is not tantamount to defeat. Rather, it is something that requires great courage and boldness. It is to voluntarily accept reality. It is to remain aware that even though one may have suffered some loss, one still has many resources left, on the basis of which one can rebuild one’s life. If one keeps patience and tolerance in the face of loss, one saves oneself from losing balance. Despite a temporary setback, one is able An atmosphere of peace enables normal relations to be established between people. Feelings of love and friendship prevail in such a situation. In a favourable atmosphere constructive activities flourish and the existing resources can be used for development or other activities.