ISLAM – A RELIGION OF PEACE

• The Example of the Prophet of Islam

• In Islam war is a state action

• The Power of Peace

It is no exaggeration to say that Islam and violence are contradictory to each other.The concept of Islamic violence is so obviously unfounded that prima facie it stands rejected.

Islam claims to be an eternal religion and, as such, could never afford to uphold any principle which could not stand up to the test of time.

Any attempt to bracket violence with Islam amounts therefore, to casting doubt upon the very eternity of the Islamic religion. Islamic terrorism is a contradiction in terms, much like ‘pacifist’ terrorism. And the truth of the matter is that, all the teachings of Islam are based directly or indirectly on the principle of peace.

-    The very word ‘Islam’ (from the Arabic silm) connotes peace.

-    According to a tradition of the Prophet, ‘Peace is Islam’. (Al-Bukhari) This means that peace is one of the prerequisities of Islam.

-    Similarly, a Hadith states: A Muslim is one from whose tongue and hands people are safe.

-    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. (Al-Bukhari)

-    In the Quran divine guidance islikened to the paths of peace. (5:16).

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.

The wife of the Prophet of Islam, Aisha (daughter of Abu Bakr) said this of the general policy of the Prophet in social matters: Whenever the Prophet had an option between two courses of action, he always chose the easier (non-confrontational) one. (Bukhari). This means that, violent activism should be not indulged in if peaceful activism is an option. For, peace is the easier course as compared to violence. For instance, trying to change the status quo in the very first stage of a movement is a hard option, while launching one’s activities in the available sphere without doing so is an easier option.

Going to war in confrontational situations is a hard option while following conciliatory course in dealing with one’s rival is easier. Countering aggression with aggression is a hard option, while countering aggression with patience and forbearance is an easier option. An agitational course of action is harder than employment quiet strategy. Adopting a radical method of reformation is harder than that of following a gradual method. Taking emotional extreme steps without a thought for their consequences creates difficulties. While a well-considered method, keeping an eye on the consequences, gives much better results. The policy of confrontation with a ruler is a harder option, while initiating one’s action, by avoiding the ruler, in the sphere of education and learning is an easier option. These instances show us the easier and harder options, as demonstrated by the Hadith.

The truth is that peace in Islam is the ‘rule’, while war is the ‘exception’. All the teachings of Islam and the practical life of the Propphet of Islam testify to this.  

The Example of th e Prophet of Islam

The entire life of the Prophet is a practical demonstration of this peace loving policy. At the time of migration from Makkah, the idolaters were all set to wage war, but the Prophet avoided this by quietly leaving his homeland for Madina.

On the occasion of the Hudayabiyah treaty in 628, a state of war prevailed. But the Prophet unilaterally accepted all the conditions of the idolaters and negotiated a peace treaty. On the occasion of the battle of Khandaq, the 12,000 strong army of the Quraysh had camped at the borders of Madinah in order to do battle. But the Prophet and his companions dug a long trench to set up a buffer between himself and his enemies, thus avoiding bloodshed.

The mission of Islam is based on monotheism. The goal of Islam is to make people realize the existence of the one and only God and to strive to bring about a revolution in their hearts and minds in order that they may love God as is His due. And the greatest concern of man should be to fear and worship his Creator. (2:165).

Such a dawah mission cannot afford wars and violent confrontations. When a state of war and violence prevails, the normal atmosphere is vitiated and such circumstances as would foster intellectual movements and spiritual reformation cannot be effectively created. It cannot be denied that peaceful circumstances produce a propitious environment for Islam, while violent circumstances inevitably result in antagonism towards Islam.

In Islam War is a State Action

In Islam, war is not the prerogative of the individual but of an established government. Only an established government can declare war. In other words, individuals can pray on their own, but they cannot wage wars of their own accord. Only when a war is declared by the ruling government, can the public join in and support it, and not before that. Islam does not sanction individual actions on this issue.

As a general principle, the Quran tells us that, even where an external attack is feared, the common man should not act independently, but should take the matter to the ruler, and then under his guidance take proper counter measures. (4:83).

The Hadith also states that ‘the ruler is a shield, fighting is done under him, and security is attained through him’.

This clearly shows that the decision to do battle and its planning are the task of an established government. The common man can play his role as need be under government orders, and not independently.

This Islamic principle shows that there is no room for non-state warfare, which is what we generally call guerilla war. A guerilla war is fought by individual organizations, not by the State. As far as the State is concerned, if it wants to wage a defensive war against any country it has first in obedience to the Quran – to issue a proper declaration. Only then can it wage a laawful war (8:58). In Islam, there is only ‘declared’ war. Therefore, in accordance with this principle, no proxy war in Islam can be lawful.

Most Islamic actions are governed by certain conditions. The waging of war is also thus subject to certain principles, one being that, even when a defensive war has been declared by the State, it will be aimed only at the combatants. Targeting non-combatants will be unlawful. The Quran enjoins us not to do battle with those who are not at war. Such people have to be dealt with kindly and equitably. But you are free to do battle with those who are fighting against you. (60:8-9)

If, for instance, a Muslim state is at war with a particular nation, and this war is in conformance with Islamic principles it should still not permit any destructive activities against non-combatants (civilians), as was done on September 11, 2001, in New York and Washington. Similarly in Islamic war, Muslim are not permitted to commit suicidal bombings in order to destroy the enemy. Strapping explosives on to oneself and hurling oneself upon the civilian settlements of even those with whom one is at war, for the purpose of destroying the enemy, and in the process killing oneself deliberately, is totally un-Islamic. This can in no way be termed ‘Shahadah’ (martyrdom). According to Islam we can get martyred, but we cannot court death (martyrdom) deliberately.

The Power of Peace

According to a hadith, “God grants to gentleness what he does not grant to harshness”. That is to say, peacefful 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 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 teaches us to avoid war and confrontation at all costs and commands us to establish peace to the greatest possible degree.

(Maulana wahiduddin Khan – source: Al-Risala)