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. PEACE BETTER THAN POLITICAL SUPREMACY P EOPLE are generally obsessed with politics. They believe that acquiring a territory and establishing political rule over it, is the greatest kind of success. According to the Quran, peace is the summum bonum. While political supremacy is limited in its scope, the ambit of peace is unlimited. Peace is greater than political rule. In the chapter entitled Al-Fath (Victory), the Quran refers to the Hudaibiya agreement—a peace treaty drawn up between the Prophet and his opponents, which was finalized in the year AD 628. The Quran mentions it as a “clear” victory (48: 1)—a victory which is beyond any doubt. Then in the chapter entitled Al-Nasr (Help), the Quran refers to political victory over Makkah in AD 630. Here the Quran uses the word fath (victory). This difference in terminology proves that, according to the Quran, political victory is the superseding of opponents in the control of a particular geographical 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? Because political victory gives you only one thing and that is administrative control over a piece of land. But peace has greater potential than this. Peace opens the door to multiple opportunities and by availing of those opportunities, Peace opens the door to multiple opportunities and by availing of those opportunities, you can achieve all kinds of success, including political rule.