TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE

Man, likewise is subject to these very processes. The lives of individuals as well as the cohesion of society are dependent upon this universal principle. In the case of true believers, the conversion is of anger into forgiveness. This is achieved by extinguishing the fire of revenge within. Their hatred is then converted into love. In short, on all occasions when one reacts negatively to the misdeeds of one’s fellow human beings, one must make every endeavour to take this negative reaction and convert it into positive action. This principle was exemplified in many ways throughout the life of the Prophet of Islam. For instance, he had good reason to regard the Makkans as objects of his vengeance, for they stubbornly opposed his message, forced him to leave his native city and subsequently had skirmishes with the Muslims without there having been any provocation on the part of himself or his Companions. But when Makkah was conquered, he did not treat them as war criminals which was, in effect, what they were, but, instead, forgave them unconditionally and unilaterally. The Prophet did not wreak his revenge on a single one of them. Non-Aggression Another important Islamic principle calculated to guarantee a peaceful society is that of refraining from all offensive action. In Islam, war is to be waged only as a matter of defence, and that, too, when it is quite unavoidable. The Quran permits to fight only against attackers, so that we have no right to wage war against anyone who is not on the offensive. The Prophet of Islam himself engaged directly in warfare on only three occasions, at Badr, Uhud and Hunain. In each case, he was forced into fighting. The Battle of Badr took place when the Makkan army advanced upon Madinah with the avowed intention of slaying the Prophet and his Companions. Only then did the Prophet ready himself and his Companions for defensive action. The battle of Uhud, which takes its name from a mountain on the periphery of Madinah, was fought between the Makkans and the Muslims of Madinah. The fact that the fighting took place on the borders of Madinah, which is a 300-mile march from Makkah, is a clear indication of the defensive nature of the engagement as far as the Madinans were concerned. For the Prophet, there was no way out but to defend himself. On all occasions when one reacts negatively to the misdeeds of one’s fellow human beings, one must make every endeavour to take this negative reaction and convert it into positive action.