TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE

That is why true believers are described in the Quran as “those who curb their anger and those who forgive their fellow men.” (3: 134) Forgiveness An important principle by which to build a culture of peace within oneself is forgiveness. The Quran has to say this of peace-loving people: “When they are angered, they forgive.” There are a number of verses in the Quran which advocate forgiveness. Once a person came to the Prophet and asked him, “O Prophet, give me a masterly piece of advice by which I may be able to manage all the affairs of my life.” The Prophet replied: “Don’t be angry.” What he meant by this was: ‘forgive people even in the face of provocation.’ That is, adopt forgiveness as your behaviour at all times. Unilateral Tolerance The Prophet of Islam once said that you must forgive your oppressor. This is a great piece of wisdom. Oppression can be brought to an end only by forgiving the oppressor. Retaliation is not going to end oppression. This saying of the Prophet is a lesson in result-oriented action. An oppressed person must first of all think that his reaction should be aimed at ending the state of oppression rather than worsening his plight. Whenever any oppressed person thinks along these lines, he will find that forgiving the oppressor is the greatest form of revenge. Forgiving the oppressors is the simplest strategy for putting an end to oppression. This is not an act carried out under compulsion. It is based on a fine moral principle. Patience, respect for all, compassion and forgiveness are the pillars on which a peaceful society can be built. Islam lays emphasis on these principles by adherence to which a culture of peace can be built within individuals. Wherever these values are to be found, the result will undoubtedly be a society of peace and harmony. o