TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE

We often talk of peace in the context of war. But this is a very narrow and restricted notion of peace. Peace is deeply linked with the entirety of human life. Peace is a complete ideology in itself. Peace is the only religion for both—man and the universe. It is the master-key that opens the doors to every success. Peace creates a favourable atmosphere for success in every endeavour. Without peace, no positive action—small or big—is possible.

COMPASSIONATE BEHAVIOUR

The Quran urges that everyone should treat others with sympathy and kindness. Even when one experiences unkindness from others one should not return unkindness for unkindness, but should continue to behave sympathetically.

God’s attribute in the Quran is said to be ‘the Compassionate, ‘the Merciful’. That is, very kind and sympathetic. Similarly, the Prophet of Islam, has been called ‘A Mercy to the universe’ (21: 107). That is, the Prophet of Islam has been sent as a blessing to the whole world. The most prominent quality of the Prophet is his being the instrument of universal mercy.

The Quran, as a matter of divine guidance urges people to exercise patience and compassion in their dealings with one another. This means everyone should treat others with sympathy and kindness. Even when one experiences unkindness from others one should not return unkindness for unkindness, but should continue to behave sympathetically. Al-Qurtubi, the famous classical Commentator of the Quran, has interpreted this verse thus: ‘they exhort one another to patience and compassion’ to mean that creatures of God ought to be dealt with mercifully.

A number of Hadith narrations have been related in the books of Hadith which enshrine certain observations made on this subject by the Prophet of Islam. Here are two of them:

“God will be merciful to those who are merciful (to His creatures).” (Musnad Ahmad)

“You should be merciful to people on earth, God on high will be merciful to you.” (Sunan Abu Dawood)

God will not show mercy to one who does not show mercy to others. (Sahih al-Bukhari)

This teaching of Islam spread so widely that it came to be included in Muslim literature all over the world. Every language reverberated with these ideas. An Indian Muslim poet composed this couplet:

Karo meherbani tum ahl-e-zameen par

(Be kind to people on earth)

Khuda meherban hoga arsh-e-barin par

(God on high will be merciful to you)

Of all matters which are of great personal importance, the virtue of mercy is ranked as the foremost. q

 

Discipline is not a trivial matter. It essentially represents universal ethics.