Maulana Wahiduddin Khan I Peace in Islam
What are the advantages of non-violent activism over violent activism? These are listed here in brief:
According to the Quran, each human being is endowed with two faculties: the ego, which is called nafs ammara (12:53) in the Quran and the conscience, which is called nafs lawwama (75:2).
Violent methods arouse people's egos, which inevitably results in some form of destruction. Conversely, non-violent activism awakens people's consciences, which results in introspection in the people concerned. This brings about miraculous results and, in the words of the Quran, the enemy becomes "your dearest friend." (41:34).
One great benefit of the non-violent method is that people's time is not wasted. In this way they have the occasion to exploit the opportunities existing in the prevailing circumstances to the ultimate extent. We find this in the case of the no war pact of Hudaybiyyah. This peace treaty made it possible for the energies of the believers to be expended in peaceful constructive activities rather than being wasted in armed confrontation. (Seerah ibn Khathir, Vol. 3, p. 324)
One tremendous harm resulting from violent activism is the breaking of social traditions in order to launch such movements, whereas the great benefit of non-violent activism is that it can be continued without any disruption of tradition.
Violent activism ultimately destroys the existing system, for the replacement of one system by another is not possible by this means. On the contrary, through non-violent methods it becomes possible to gradually replace one system with another. That is why movements based on violence end up by bringing about one political coup or another. True revolution cannot result from any movement launched on the basis of violence.