TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE

TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE We often talk of peace in the context of war. But this is a very narrow and restricted notion of peace. Peace is deeply linked with the entirety of human life. Peace is a complete ideology in itself. Peace is the only religion for both—man and the universe. It is the master-key that opens the doors to every success. Peace creates a favourable atmosphere for success in every endeavour. Without peace, no positive action—small or big—is possible. GREATER THAN POLITICAL VICTORY P EOPLE are generally obsessed with politics. They believe that acquiring a territory and establishing political rule over it is the greatest success. But, according to the Quran, peace is the summum bonum. While political victory is limited in its scope, the ambit of peace is unlimited. Peace is therefore a greater success than political rule. In the chapter Al Fath (Victory), the Quran refers to the Hudaybiyyah Agreement—a peace treaty drawn up between the Prophet and his opponents, which was finalized in March 628 AD. The Quran mentions it as fat’han mubeen or a ‘clear victory’ (48: 1)—a victory which is beyond any doubt. Then in the chapter Al Nasr (Help), the Quran refers to political victory over Makkah in 630 AD. Here the Quran uses the word fath (victory). This difference of terminology proves that, according to the Quran, political victory is simply the superseding of opponents in control of a particular area, whereas establishing peace—a ‘clear’ victory—is the greater victory. It means that establishing peace has more importance than a political victory. Why is there this difference? The reason is that political victory gives you only one thing and In an atmosphere of peace, all the members of a society feel that they are living in a state of equality. All are equal members of a large family.