TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE

All the books of Hadith have a chapter on knowledge. In Sahih al-Bukhari, there is a chapter entitled. “The virtue of one who acquires learning and imparts it to others”. In one Hadith, the scholar is accorded great respect. According to one teaching, the ink of a scholar’s pen is considered very precious, as he builds individuals and nations along positive lines. In this way, he bestows upon the world a real-life treasure. The very great importance attached to learning in Islam is illustrated by an event in the life of the Prophet. At the battle of Badr, in which the Prophet was victorious, seventy prisoners of war who were all literate people were given the task of teaching the children from Madinah to read and write. This would serve as ransom, and they would be set free. Thus, this was the first school in the history of Islam, established by the Prophet himself. It was of no matter to him that all its teachers were followers of other faith, all were prisoners of war, and all were likely to create problems for Islam and Muslims once they were released. This practice of the Prophet showed that whatever the risk involved, education was paramount. The connection between education and peace is that whenever there are conflicts of any kind in society which are bound to happen, then educated people will resort to conflict resolution and peace building by an intellectual discussion across the table. They will use their best arguments in an atmosphere of mutual respect and sound knowledge of the issue. Once sound reasoning has been presented, the opposite party will accept it in the light of facts. On the contrary those who lack education will resort to violence to get what they think is their right. They might be influenced by their emotions, ego and pride in their assumption that it is their right. Violence results in disruption of the social system, causing huge losses in terms of lives and property. Islam accords importance to both secular as well as religious education. Secular education prepares one for a career for our economic life and religious education for our moral life in society. An individual who is busy in moulding himself for both these roles will have neither the time nor the inclination to indulge in not just violence, but also in any ordinary futile activity. o Islam accords importance to both secular as well as religious education. Secular education prepares one for a career for our economic life and religious education for our moral life in society.