“You say that Islam
propagates peace; but in most of the Islamic Republics violence keeps erupting
every now and then. Terrorism has become a way of daily life in most of these
countries,” seems to be the legitimate question raised by many. “You say that religions
advocate peace; then why is that there are so many conflicts in the name of
religion?” is the question generally addressed to the people who follow any
religion.
The answer to religious
conflicts and terrorism is one and the same. People do not follow the values
and tenets or principles that religions teach. Instead they use religion as a
mere identification, collection of rituals and as a tool to dominate others.
This has led to the present situation. We shall briefly see what Islam has to
offer to tackle these two issues that are disrupting peace world over.
Unity in diversity
The different religions
and principles are an inseparable part of history. There is a convergence of
views between different religions as also divergence. Even within the same
religion, there are differing views. Therefore, unity in diversity is the only
practical solution feasible. This would lead to unity. The society that Prophet
Muhammed (pbuh) created in Medina was a pluralistic society. There were Muslims
as also Jews. In the city of Najran, just outside Medina, Christians lived. All
of them lived together without any conflict.
Do not hurt the Feelings
One of the main reasons
for religious conflicts is because people denigrate and malign other religions.
On one side, the religious folks attack each other. On the other, in the name
of freedom of expression, the incidence of people without any religious
affiliations attacking religions is on the increase. People stoop to defame
religious leaders, who are held in high esteem by their communities, by
depicting them in cartoons and obscene pictures. Mostly these are not
constructive and rational criticisms. Such people indulge in this just to gain
some cheap popularity and increasing the sales. They forget that the freedom of
expression comes with a responsibility. They also forget that all such freedom
is not without limits!
The Holy Quran ordains us
to desist from hurting the feelings. “Revile not ye those whom they call upon
besides Allah, lest they out of spite revile Allah in their ignorance.” (Holy
Quran 6:108). We can critique a religion without igniting passions and in a
logical manner appealing to the intellect. We can also espouse the cause of our
own religion in an eloquent and gracious manner. “Invite (all) to the way of
thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that
are best and most gracious.” (Holy Quran 16:125). The Holy Quran has also
critiqued other philosophies but without hurting their sentiments and
belittling or demeaning them in anyway.
Do not get emotional about
criticisms
When someone criticizes or
attacks your religion, do not get emotional, advises Islam. Just as any idea or
a view-point has support, so also it is natural to have opposition for that as
well. People who are happy when receiving endorsements about their view-points
should also be patient when they get opposing and differing views. When people lose
patience and indulge in violent activities, peace in society is bound to be
disrupted. Their principles get weakened and receive a setback as well.
When Prophet Muhammed
(pbuh) propagated Islam, people ridiculed him and the tenets he preached. He
was vilified as a ‘liar’, ‘sorcerer’ and of unsound mind. They said that Holy
Quran was written by someone and taught to the Prophet (pbuh). They further
added that he was lying that the Holy Quran was revealed to him by God. They
scoffed at him saying that this was a myth from their ancestors. They created
poems chiding him. Even after all these incidents, the prophet (pbuh) never
once asked his followers to attack his detractors, and even after assuming the
leadership of Medina he did not do so. He advised his followers to be patient
and act in accordance with the will of God. He also exhorted them to ignore
fools and respond with logical and rational arguments tempered with reasoning.
God says thus in the Holy
Quran
“Ye shall certainly be
tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves; and ye shall
hear much that will grieve you, from those who received the book before you and
those who worship many Gods. But if ye preserve patiently, and guard against
evil, then that will be determining factor in all affairs.” (Holy Quran 3:186)
“And have patience with
what they say, and leave them with noble (dignity). And leave Me (alone to deal
with) those with possession of good things of life, who yet deny the Truth; and
bear with them for a little while.” (Holy Quran 73:10,11)
“And the servants of
Allah, the most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when
the ignorant address them, they say, “Peace!” (Holy Quran 25:63)
From the above sayings it
is clear that when one’s religion is attacked, one needs to act with patience
and dignity. Then one needs to engage in debates with rational arguments based
on reasoning.
The arguments that the
Prophet (pbuh) created the Holy Quran were countered with the following arguments.
“He has been living amidst you for years. He has never uttered a falsehood. He cannot
read and write. How can a person who cannot read or write create the Holy Quran
which is in a poetic style? If you have doubts whether the Holy Quran is God’s
revelation, bring a book that is matching in such poetic style as the Holy
Quran.” The Prophet (pbuh) directed the poets among his followers to respond to
these fault-finders in a poetic form.
Hence when the principles
and religion we follow are attacked, we should not be guided by our emotions and
take law into our hands. Instead, we should approach it in a rational and
logical manner. We should be able to identify and expose those who are
criticizing for the sake of publicity. In case there is some truth in what
those detractors say, then we should also be willing to accept the truth.
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