Maulana Wahiduddin Khan I Peace in Islam
According to a tradition of Prophet Muhammad, “God grants to gentleness what he does not grant to harshness.” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2593) That is to say, peaceful activism is distinctly superior to violent activism. There is nothing mysterious about the point made in this hadith. This is a simple and a well-known fact of life in a situation of war and violence, feelings of hatred and enmity flare up between the two sides and, in the process, the existing resources are destroyed. People from both sides get killed and the entire society turns in to a jungle of negative feelings. It is quite obvious that in such an atmosphere no constructive and consolidated work can be done. There is nothing to be achieved in war and violence, save death and destruction.
On the contrary, an atmosphere of peace enables normal relations to be established between people. Feelings of love and friendship prevail in such a situation. In a favourable atmosphere constructive activities flourish and the existing resources can be used for development or activities. A positive bent of mind will prevail which will help develop academic and intellectual activities.
The greater ill-effect of war and violence is that it limits opportunities whereas the greatest benefit of peace is that it opens up opportunities to the ultimate extent. War invariably results in further loss, while peace invariably results in further gain. That is why Islam commands us to establish peace to the greatest possible degree and shun confrontation, violence and war.