Maulana Wahiduddin Khan I Peace in Islam
Scholars define peace as—absence of war. This definition is a negative definition. The positive definition of peace is that peace is the presence of opportunities. Peace normalizes the situation, peace opens the door of opportunities, and by availing these opportunities we can attain all kinds of success. India is a great name in the map of peace. It was India that produced a great pacifist like Mahatma Gandhi.
Encyclopaedia Britannica has published a nine-page article on pacifism. In this article Mahatma Gandhi has been acknowledged in these words: "The most massive, comprehensive, and historically effective example of nonviolent activism is that of the movements unchained and organized by Mahatma Gandhi."
Gandhi was the greatest asset of India, and the greatest message of Gandhi was peace. By following the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, India has emerged as a nation of peace. In India there are followers from almost all religions, and all are living in peace and harmony.
Now the question is that in every society there are differences. Difference is part of human life. We have seen that sometimes difference leads to confrontation and confrontation leads to violence. In such situation, there is a question of how we should establish peace in the society. The answer is that to establish peace in the society is a very easy task. The formula for it lies in a nine-lettered word, that is, tolerance.
The fact is that difference is part of nature. Differences cannot be removed from a human society. The only practicable formula in this regard is that you have to learn the art of difference management, rather than trying to eliminate the difference. This is the only formula of peace.
Moreover, difference is not an evil. Instead, difference is a blessing. Difference is a natural boon for the society. The fact is that differences create challenge, challenge leads to discussion, and the result is intellectual development. The only condition is to tolerate differences and avail it as an opportunity.
Peace in the Islamic Scriptures
The very word 'Islam' (from the Arabic sum) connotes peace. According to a tradition of the Prophet Muhammad: Peace is Islam. (Musnad al-Bazzar, Hadith No. 1396) This means that peace is one of the prerequisites of Islam. Similarly, the Prophet of Islam has said: "A Muslim is one from whose tongue and hands people are safe." (Al-Nasai, Hadith No. 4995)
One of the attributes of God described in the Quran is "As-Salam", which means peace and security. That is to say that God's being itself is a manifestation of peace. Indeed, God is Peace. (AI-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, Vol. 3, p. 267) In the Quran divine guidance is likened to the paths of peace (5:16) . Similarly, God's desired religion is called "paths of peace" (5:16). Paradise, the ultimate destination of God's true devotees, is called the 'home of peace' (6:127). It is also said that, the people of Paradise will wish peace to one another, indicating that the social culture of the people of Paradise will be based on peace.
The Quran, avers that, 'reconciliation is best' (4:128), and judging by the consequences, the way of peace is far better than that of confrontation. By the law of nature, God has decreed that success will be met with only on a reconciliatory path, and not on a confrontational or a violent course of action.
Whenever the Prophet had an option between two courses of action, he always chose the easier (non-confrontational) one. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 3560) This means that, violent activism should not be indulged in if peaceful activism is an option. For, non-violent activism is the easier course as compared to violence. Peaceful activism or non-violent activism, which should not be confused with passivity, is the perfect solution to problems in all spheres.
Whenever any problem arises between two groups, be it individual or social, one way to deal with it is to opt for the way of violence and confrontation. Another method is to make every attempt, by scrupulously avoiding the path of clash and confrontation, to solve the problem by peaceful means. There are many forms which peaceful means may take; it is, in fact, the exact nature of the problem which tells us which of the peaceful means is to be employed on which occasion.
Non-violent Activism in Islam
Islam teaches us non-violence. The Quran tells us that God does not love disorder (2:205). This verse also clearly states what is meant by disorder. According to the Quran, disorder is that course of action, which results in disturbance in the social system incurring loss in terms of life and property (2:205).
We may put it differently and say that certainly God loves non-violence. He does not want people to indulge in such violence in human society as would result in death and destruction.
The entire spirit of the Quran is in tune with this concept. For instance, the Quran attaches the greatest of importance to patience. Patience is the only Islamic act, which is promised reward beyond measure (39:10). Patience, in fact, is another name for peaceful activism, while impatience is another name for violent activism. Patience, in essence, is exactly what is called non-violence in modern times. Patient activism means non-violent activism.
This point has been clearly made in the sayings that have been recorded of Prophet Muhammad. According to one tradition, the Prophet of Islam observed: "God grants to non-violence what he does not grant to violence." (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 6766)
In this tradition the word "rifq" (gentleness) has been used as compared to "unf' (violence). These words denote exactly what is called violence (unf) and non-violence (la unf) in modern times. It bespeaks the eternal superiority of non-violence over violence.
God grants to non-violence what he does not grant to violence. This is no simple statement. It tells us of a very profound reality. It tells us of an eternal law of nature. By the very law of nature itself, all bad things are connected with violence, while all good things are connected with non-violence. Violent activities breed hatred in society, while peaceful activities breed love in society. Violence is a source of destruction, while non-violence is a source of construction. Hostility flourishes in an atmosphere of violence, while amity flourishes in an atmosphere of non-violence. The way of violence gives rise to negative values, while the way of non-violence gives rise to positive values. The way of violence embroils people in problems, while the way of non-violence shows people the way to exploit opportunities. To put it briefly, if violence is death; non-violence, as compared to violence, is life.
Enemy as a Potential Friend
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). This means that an enemy is not an enemy, rather he is a potential friend. And, it is by adopting of peaceful methods that we will be able to convert this potential friend into an actual friend.
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.
Peace and Justice
From one aspect the scholarly definition of peace thus, "Peace is the absence of war" is absolutely correct. Peace in fact means the absence of a situation of war or violence.
However, some people hold this definition of peace to be inadequate. They say that justice should accompany peace; that peace devoid of justice is no peace. But setting such a condition for the attainment of peace is impractical. This is because peace on its own does not bring justice. That is, justice is not necessarily an element of peace. What peace does, in actual fact, is to open up opportunities. It creates favourable conditions that would enable us to strive for justice and other constructive ends. Peace is always desirable for its own sake. Everything else comes after peace, not along with peace. According to Islam, peace is therefore not simply an absence of war; peace opens doors to all kinds of opportunities that are present in any given situation. It is only in a peaceful situation that planned activities are possible. It is for this reason that the Prophet Muhammad went to great extents to establish peace at all costs. The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, signed between the Prophet and his opponents in AD 628, provides one such clear example. From the details of the peace treaty, it is clear that no clause regarding justice was included. Obviously the conditions of this treaty were quite against justice. But the Prophet accepted this treaty, not because it was giving them justice, but because it was paving the way to work for justice. It is for this reason that the Quran says, "Reconciliation is the best" (4:128).
Peace Bomb
A peace policy always serves as a peace 'bomb', in the sense that it conquers the enemy without any bloodshed. History shows that the peace bomb has always proved to be mightier than the violence bomb.
A peace 'bomb' means life, and a violent bomb means death. A peace 'bomb' leads to construction, while a violent bomb leads to destruction. Likewise, a peace 'bomb' brings progress, while a violent bomb brings annihilation. Peace enhances creativity, whereas violence does the very opposite. The power of a peace 'bomb' is based on love, while that of a violent bomb is based on hatred.
Prophet's Prayer
Islam lays great emphasis on peace and it is for this reason that the Prophet of Islam so earnestly used to entreat his Lord thus in his daily prayer: "O God, You are the source of Peace; from You is all Peace, and to You returns all Peace. So, make us live with Peace; and let us enter Paradise: the House of Peace. Blessed be You, our Lord, to whom belongs all Majesty and Honour!"