Working Toward World Peace
Wa laa tufsiduu fil-‘ardi ba’-da ‘is-laahihaa wad-‘uhuu
khawfaww-wa tama-‘aa: ‘inna Rahmatallaahi qariibum-minal Muhsiniin. Do no mischief on the earth after it has
been set in order and call upon Him in fear and hope. Surely, the mercy of
Allah is near to those who do good. (7: 57)
Wa ‘izaa qiila lahum laa tufsiduu fil-‘ardi' qaaluuu
‘in-namaa nahnu mus-lihuun. And when it is said to them, ‘Create not
disorder in the earth’ and they say, ‘We are only promoters of peace.’ (2: 12).
It is no longer a secret that in
this age of science and technology, man has the capacity to destroy this earth
many times over. If mankind wants to avoid this catastrophe then it can do so
only by adopting the Islamic teachings which are based on the concept of a
lasting universal peace. In fact the religion of Islam is the only faith which
has severely condemned any activity which is likely to disturb peace. From the
verses of the Holy Quran which I have recited in the beginning, it is clear
that Islam places great importance on the maintenance of peace and deprecates
all acts which are likely to disturb it whether in the domestic, national or
international spheres. The marvellous thing about Islamic precepts is that they
are always of universal applications. This confirms the fact that the Holy
Prophet of Islam was raised as a mercy for all mankind. Almighty God says in
the Holy Quran:
And We have not sent you but as a mercy
for all mankind.
(21: 108).
And We have not sent you but as a bearer of glad tidings to all mankind and as a Warner, but most men do not know. (34: 29).
And We have not sent you but as a bearer of glad tidings to all mankind and as a Warner, but most men do not know. (34: 29).
Challenges to World Peace Today
Let us now identify some of the
causes of the disturbance of peace in the world today and the remedies provided
by Islam. Perhaps it would be better to start with nationalism and racism
before I explain other relevant subjects like exploitation, greed, hypocrisy,
class struggle, international relations and treaties.
Nationalism and Racialism: The political unit
in the modern world is the nation state. The problem is to know how such a
state is to be defined and what is the character of its relationship with other
states? Whatever it is, nationalism has become a complex and compelling faith
for which men have died and conquered. It has become more of a curse than a
blessing.