The conviction that one’s goals are worthwhile, the observation of discipline with no contradiction between words and thoughts, cool thinking, even in times of crisis—all these are qualities which determine success, and obviate failure in the wider field of life.
According to the Quran there are two faculties in every human being which are mutually antipathetic. One is the ego, and the other is the conscience, called respectively nafs ammara and nafs lawwama. What the violent method invariably does is to awaken the ego, which necessarily results in a breakdown of social equilibrium. On the other hand,non-violent activism awakens the conscience, from which results an awakening and self-appraisal in people.
In Islam, war is not the prerogative of the individual but of an established government. Only an established government can declare war. Only when a war is declared by the ruling government, can the public join in and support it, and not before that. Islam does not sanction individual actions on this issue.
Islam is based on monotheism, its goal being to make people realize the existence of the one and only God and to strive to bring about a change in their hearts and minds in order that they may love God as is His due. And the greatest concern of man should be to fear and worship his Creator.
