The theme of peace and justice is very important and also very timely. As we know, science has shown great scope for the betterment of the world, offering apparently unlimited hope for human progress. Now mankind finds itself on the threshold of a new era. With technological progress we are able to find a new world of prosperity...a new and better world. But at the same time we see violence and intolerance everywhere in the world.
This unhappy state of affairs seems to nullify all our scientific progress. I think that religion has a great role to play in this matter.
What is religion? Religion is simply a discipline of peace, an ideology of peace. Someone has very aptly remarked that religion is peace and peace is religion. Without peace there is no religion. And also, without religion there is no peace. I hope that these discussions and consultations produce something very substantial, which will prove helpful in the building of a peaceful world. I hope and pray that there will emerge some practical formula towards peace. God willing, we shall be able to contribute something very constructive for the betterment of humanity.
Now I would like to give a brief description of the major religions of the world. Let’s take Hinduism first, as it is the most ancient religion. Everyone who has studied Hinduism will agree that Hinduism in itself is a philosophy of peace. The basic concept of Hinduism is that Truth is one and that different religions are only different manifestations of the same truth. This concept was termed by a great religious scholar Sarwa dharma sambhawa. So Hinduism is nothing but a philosophy of peace. Some scholars like Arnold Toynbee have pointed out that this concept of Hinduism generates a spirit of mutual coexistence. It is a philosophy of live and let live. As the great Hindu philosopher Vivekananda put it: "Follow one, hate none." This kind of respect is just another name for peaceful living.
Now take the case of Buddhism and Jainism. These two religions are very similar in their teachings. Both religions believe in non-violence. They have gone to the extent of including the concept of non-violence as an article of faith in their system. This concept can be described in these words: "The killing of a sensation is sin and to save a sensation is virtue." This means that according to Buddhism and Jainism, violence is not simply bad conduct in the moral sense, but a sin which is even greater than bad conduct.
Now take the case of Christianity. Christianity is also a religion of peace. That is why Christianity has gained such great popularity. And now it enjoys the status of the greatest religion numerically. As you know, Jesus Christ said:
"I tell you not to resist an evil person. Whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also."
It means that the Christian formula for peace is unilateral accommodation. According to this saying of Jesus Christ, you yourself have to adjust in the face of any controversy.
This concept of unilateral adjustment is neither cowardice nor defeatism. It is a matter of great practical wisdom and I think, the only possible formula for peace. Actually there is no alternative. We have to adopt this formula of unilateral adjustment, otherwise peace will forever remain a distant dream.
Now take the case of sufism and Sikkhism. Both these traditions are very similar to each other. The Essence of both these traditions is love, compassion and peace. A sufi poet has described this beautifully in a Persian couplet which translates thus:
We do not know the stories of kings and generals. We know only the stories of love, compassion and peace.
I will give here an example from Islamic history. One day, in Madinah, the Prophet of Islam noticed a funeral procession passing along the street. The Prophet stood up in deference. A companion of the Prophet remarked at this: "O Prophet, you know it was the funeral of a Jew, that is a non-Muslim." The Prophet replied: "(alaisat nafsan) Was he not a human being?"
It shows that in the Prophet’s vision everyone was a human being. He saw everyone on an equal plane. Thus, according to Islam, everyone deserves equal respect. Everyone is a creature of God. One can say, therefore, that according to this brief description, the formula for peace according to Hinduism is mutual coexistence. And the formula for peace according to Buddhism and Jainism is non-violence, or no violence. The Christian formula for peace is based on the concept of unilateral adjustment, while the sufi formula for peace is love for all. And the Islamic formula for peace is respect for all.
I would like to say something more about Islam, because Islam is the most misunderstood religion today. You know Islam is always in the news. Every day brings some fresh news in the media in which Islam is portrayed as a religion of violence, a religion of intolerance. So people are puzzled. They ask whether Islam is a different kind of religion. Whether Islam is an exception among the religions. And whether peace is not a concern of Islam. I have studied Islam from its direct and original sources—the Qur’an, which is the sacred book of Islam, the Sunnah, and those Arabic books which are considered to be the classical literature of Islam. After this thorough study, I am convinced of the fact that all those impressions are based on sheer misunderstanding. Quite contrary to the general view, Islam is a religion of peace in the complete sense of the word. Even the name of Islam connotes peace. You know the root word of Islam is silm. Silm in Arabic means peace. One of God’s names is Salam, and Salam means peace. The Qur’an mentions itself as barakah. The Prophet of Islam is described as Rahamah. And barakah and rahamah are only other names for peace. That is, peace is basic to Islam. Islamic living is living in peace. All the teachings of Islam are oriented towards peace.Now the question arises as to why this misunderstanding exists. The answer is simple. People see that a number of Muslims are engaged in violence around the world in the name of Islam. It is this practice on the part of certain Muslims that is responsible for the confusion and misunderstanding. But I would emphasize that you must differentiate between Muslims and Islam. Islam is an ideal. Islam is an ideology, while Muslims are only those groups of people who claim to be followers of Islam. But Muslims have to be judged by Islam, and not vice versa.To explain this point I would like to give a parallel example of democracy. There is democracy as a political ideology. And there are people who claim to have adopted the democratic system. If anyone wants to know what democracy is, he will study authentic literature on democracy. He will not confuse democracy as an ideal with democracy as practiced by a certain group of people. The same course has to be followed when studying Islam. Islam and Muslims have to be seen as distinct entity. Muslims have to be seen in the light of Islam and not vice versa.
Anyone who studies Islam from its direct sources will be convinced that Islam is a religion of peace in the complete sense of the word. When you open the Qur’an, the very first verse reads:
In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.
This verse is repeated in the Qur’an 114 times. This clearly shows that the God of Islam is the God of Mercy and Compassion, and the book of Islam is the book of mercy. This tells us clearly that the people of Islam must also possess the quality of mercy and compassion.If you go through the Qur’an, you will find that most verses of the Qur’an, directly or indirectly, express the spirit of peace.For instance, there is a verse in the Qur’an: ‘And God calls to the home of peace’ (10:25). This means that the destination of Islam is peace. All the teachings of Islam are oriented toward the goal of peace.
If you make a detailed study of the Qur’an you will discover many verses which deal with the objects and events of the universe, as signs of nature. These verses project the universe as a model of peace and harmony. For example, there is a verse in the Qur’an which says the ‘sun and moon have no right to change their orbit,’ (36:40) and this is true also of all the planets and stars. There are innumerable astronomical bodies in space. All are in motion, but all follow their own orbits without the slightest deviation. The Qur’an presents this universal phenomenon as a model for peaceful behavior. Holding up this phenomenon as an ideal, the Qur’an asks us to follow the same course of peace, that is, to move in one’s own orbit and not trespass on that of others (3:83). Thus peaceful living is the religion for both man and the universe.
There is an interesting story in American history. When America gained its freedom, an American went out to celebrate. Walking along the road, he started waving his hands about enthusiastically. He happened to hit the nose of a passerby. The passerby asked: ‘What’s this nonsense? Why did you hit my nose?’ The man replied, ‘Today America is free, I am free to walk as I wish, I am exercising my freedom.’ The passerby replied, ‘Your freedom ends where my nose begins.’
There is nothing particularly American about this formula. It is, in fact, a formula of nature. As Islam is a religion of nature, it is also an Islamic formula. According to this everyone should work in his own sphere without trespassing upon another’s domain. And if all people were to act like this, the outcome would no doubt be peace and harmony.Now I would like to present some examples from the traditions of the Prophet. Once a man came to the Prophet with this request, ‘O Prophet, give me a masterly piece of advice which will enable me to manage all the affairs of my life.’ The Prophet replied: ‘Don’t be angry.’That is to say, stick to positive behavior in all situations. In fact, in normal conditions man is governed by his own nature. And nature always takes the course of peace. When people are provoked, their nature is upset, and they are derailed into negativity. So the Prophet advised people never to take a negative course of action, and to keep to peaceful and positive behavior in all situations, even in the face of provocation.
According to another tradition, the Prophet of Islam once observed:
‘Don’t wish for confrontation with your enemy, instead always ask for peace from God.’
That is, even when they have enemies, Muslims are not allowed to take the course of confrontation. They must rather seek the way of avoidance. The Qur’an further states that if you deal with your enemy positively and return good for evil, he will become your closest friend (41:34). These references from the Qur’an and Sunnah make it clear that peace is the greatest concern of Islam. The Islamic method is a peaceful method. Islamic activism is a peaceful activism. There is no doubt about it that Islam is a religion of peace in the complete sense of the word.
Why does Islam lay such great stress on peace? The reason is obvious: all the good things which Islam wants to see in human life can be brought about only in a peaceful environment. For instance, constructive activities such as spiritual uplift, character building, educational activity, social welfare, worship and prayer—all of these can be performed only in peaceful conditions. In fact, no peace, no progress; no peace, no development.
Peace is thus the central point of Islamic living; in this world as well as in the life hereafter. According to Islam, a peaceful life is the ideal life in both worlds. Some people portray Islam as a religion of violence by using the word Jihad. They say that Jihad in Islam is a holy war. In fact, there is no concept of holy war in Islam. Jihad has nothing to do with war or violence. Jihad actually means struggle, that is, peaceful struggle. This is clear from this verse of the Qur’an: ‘And make Jihad on them, with the help of the Qur’an’ (25:52). There is no verse in the Qur’an which says: And make jihad on them with the help of the sword. This shows clearly that Jihad is an act to be performed by the power of ideology rather than the power of the sword. In fact, Islamic activism is a peaceful activism. Thus Jihad is only another name for peaceful activism on Islamic lines.
Let’s take another example. There is a verse which reads: ‘Reconciliation is the best.’ We learn from this verse that, according to the Qur’an, the best policy is one of reconciliation (4:128). When there is a conflict between two individuals or two groups, Muslims ought to follow the course of reconciliation. In controversial matters, the policy of Islam is one of adjustment and not of confrontation.According to the Qur’an, God has promised the highest reward for those who practice patience. Why has the Qur’an laid such great stress on patience, known as Sabr in Arabic? The reason is that sabr, or patience, is the only bedrock for the establishment of peace.As we all know, social life is full of unpleasant situations. Everything depends on responses. In such circumstances a negative response will result in breakdown, whereas a positive response will lead toward peace. Hence patience is the price that has to be paid for the achievement of peace.
In conclusion, I would like to refer to a very relevant verse from the Qur’an. The Qur’an says that on the Day of Judgement God will say:
‘O peaceful soul, come and enter my paradise’ (89:28).
Thus, according to the Qur’an, Paradise is a divine haven of peace. It is only those who have proved to be Mr. Peace in this world will be allowed to enter God’s Paradise ................