Peace is apparently a very small word but if it is found in a house, then there is mental peace; if it is found in a society, then there is safety of wealth and life; if it is found in a country, then it guarantees and assists in the progression and prosperity of the nation and if it is found at a global level, then it saves nations from losing hundreds and thousands of precious lives and millions and billions of pounds. Perhaps, there would not be any sane and wise person in this world who would deny its importance, benefit and merit. The society where unrest prevails, people’s properties get damaged there, killings commonly take place there, women become widow and children become orphans there. Strikes take place frequently there. The business community and especially those who survive on daily earnings suffer severely. Roads get damaged or blocked, which causes great distress to the travellers, especially those taking patients to the hospital. In short, unrest damages one’s religion as well as Dunya [this world]. The importance of peace and safety can be judged from the fact that the Du’as Sayyiduna Ibraheem عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم asked, one important Du’a out of them is: ‘O my Lord عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Make this town (Makkah) secure’. (Derived from Part 13, Ibraheem: 35) If we ponder upon the Du’a to be recited after looking at the (new) moon, then we would realize that Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has made the Du’a for peace and safety in it too.
اَللّٰہُمَّ اَہِلَّــہٗ عَلَـیْنَا بِالْاَمْنِ وَالْاِیْمَانِ وَالسَّلَامَۃِ وَالْاِسْلَامِ رَبِّیْ وَرَبُّکَ اللّٰه
(Daarimi, vol. 2, pp. 6, Hadees 1688)
There have been many people in the history who claimed to have spread peace, but the rules and fundamentals laid down by the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم for the survival of mankind and peace and safety of the society are matchless and they have neither been provided by any religion, nor by any leader of a nation. Once, there was such a time when the law of “might is right” was practiced in this world. The one having power used to establish the rules. The one with power would do whatever he wanted to do and no one would be able to stop him. This practice made injustice prevalent in society. Oppressing orphans, widows and slaves severely, abduction and fornication becoming common, stealing, robberies and depriving the deserving person of his right had become a common practice of people. A weak person would keep making his plea but there would not be anyone to listen to his plea. In this dire, horrendous and turbulent time, Allah Almighty bestowed the oppressed mankind with Divine Mercy. The Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم graced this world with his blessed presence as the biggest preacher of peace and uplifted the flag of truthfulness and peace.
٭ To stop those who would disrupt the peace of society, punishments were enforced.
٭ Punishments for the heinous sins like robbery, fornication, and drinking alcohol were imposed.
٭ Usurping [taking over] each other’s wealth unlawfully, interest and gambling were declared to be ‘Haraam.
٭ An unjust murder of one person was declared as if the murder of the whole humanity.
٭ Unity was established among the tribes of ‘Arab.
٭ Breach of promise was prohibited even with a non-Muslim.
٭ He صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم not only delivered justice to the oppressed ones but also mentioned the virtues of looking after the orphans, widows, poor and miskeen (the destitute) for the survival of the mankind. Moreover,
٭ He صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم prevailed justice in the society by mentioning exclusive rights of women, children, slaves and elderly people. To the extent that in order to stop the unrest in the society, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said the following words: ‘When anyone of you dies, forgive him and do not speak ill of him.’ (Abu Dawood, vol. 4, pp. 359, Hadees. 4899)
After the declaration of Prophethood, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم spent 13 years of his Makki life facing the oppressions and tyrannies of the disbelievers and polytheists. Had he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم wanted, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم could have taken the revenge on every single person for his oppressions and tyrannies on the day when Makkah was conquered but as it is said, “Greatness lies not in being strong but in the right use of strength”, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم set a great example of forgiveness and peace prevalence by forgiving even his bloodthirsty enemies. When the sword and power were used, even then the aim was to mould the humanity to its perfection (i.e. from human being to being human), bringing equality to the human rights, and establishing justice and peace all around. Not only that, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم brought up his companions in such a wonderful way that the rulers who came afterward followed their footsteps and established peace at the national and social level. How rapidly Islam has been spread by leaps and bounds and the number of those accepting Islam is increasing even today, such example cannot be found in any other religion. Islam is the biggest standard-bearer for the survival and safety of humanity and the prevalence of peace in the society.
Remember! Enforcing peace at every level and then keeping it established is undoubtedly a difficult phase. If we want peace and prosperity, then we will have to abide by the Shari’ah and principles laid down by the great benefactor to mankind, the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. There is no other way than this. Let’s supplicate. O Allah Almighty! Protect our Deen, faith, lives, wealth and dignity, and bless us and our cities with peace and safety.
Comments