INTERFAITH HARMONY AND THE GLOBAL PEACE

INTERFAITH HARMONY

AND

THE GLOBAL PEACE

What does interfaith harmony imply? What is faith and who is its source? Is interfaith concord practicable in the present day world scenario? How are interfaith accord and the global peace connected? Is it something like peaceful co-existence based on some ideology that ensures for the honour and dignity of all? Try to think on this topic; these are some of the basic reservations and one of the initial replies that you may get instantly. Majority of the humans believe that faith is a defined way of life manifested by the messengers of our Creator Lord at various stages of human history. It is perceived that pursuing faith based way of life one may enter a world where every one lives without meaning any harm to fellow beings and also fearing no mischief from others.

Harmony in the absence of peace is something hard to comprehend. Peace is, therefore the corner stone for any worthwhile activities that can be considered harmonious in the lives of all humans. We are, ostensibly all humans, and I am sure, you will all agree with me, that we remain human as long as we are humane. No human being, therefore, can or should resort to inhuman activities. This is equally and forcefully applicable in our individual as well as collective lives and serves as the foundation of peace on this globe. Peace presumably is prologue to interfaith harmony and its end product too. 

Other side of the spectrum indicates that antagonism is in human nature and we are also familiar that it is mostly inhuman. History is replete with such examples. This human instinct, if not satiated with the message of peace communicated by the messengers of our Creator Lord, certainly turns to satisfy it by oppressing and killing other humans. When basics of faith are prearranged by the Creator Lord for all humans then faith alone cannot be the reason or cause for skirmishing between humans. It is, in fair probability, the faithless and greedy that is suffering from complexes too who indulges in fighting to satisfy his hunger and greed for power. History however indicates that mostly the followers of self-coined faith undertook fighting based ostensibly on faith or for faith resulting in to miseries and tortures to humankind. This category of trouble mongers is not very hard to differentiate but is dreadfully difficult to deal with in the absence of unambiguous recognition and fully practiced God given way of life.

Greed and uncalled for complexes often make individuals and countries undertake oppression and aggression against fellow humans. This too can only be controlled in case we pay attention to the ways and means of peaceful living taught by our Creator Lord and earnestly endeavour to practice the same in our individual and collective lives. Oppression and aggression being inhuman activities are, however not to be allowed unchecked in the interest of peace but are to be resisted by all peace loving humans individually as well as collectively. For this they are to employ all reasonable means at their disposal while exercising utmost restraint from use of atrocious force. The faithful though are required to restrain from fighting but are desired to remain ready to deter, resist and repress oppression and aggression following the God given guidelines and remaining within the bounds specified by the Creator Lord. In order to have a practicable peace on this globe, that is a prelude and the product too of interfaith harmony, the message of our Creator Lord provides the following procedure:-

a.     Religious differences or irritants are not desired by Allah Almighty to become cause of confrontation amongst humans[i].

b.     Believers identified as such in the Torah, the Gospel and the Qur’an are not expected to indulge in infighting rather they are desired to strive in the cause of Almighty Allah in unison so that they may qualify for the supreme triumph[ii].

c.      Those who have been victimized are permitted rather encouraged to retake their right. Striving is also ordained against all those who are bent to put an end to Allah’s remembrance in various places of His worship. This task is to be executed by all those who mention Allah’s name may be in a Cloister, a Church, an Oratory or a Mosque. They should all, therefore, get amalgamated to embark on striving against the friends of devil[iii].

d.     All those who claim to follow the teachings of Prophet Abraham [p.b.u.h] are preferred to profess and proclaim concord of contemplation and conviction. They then translate the same in to striving for Allah Almighty with the endeavor worthy of His right. It is very well known that all people of the Book believe in Prophet Abraham [p.b.u.h] and should therefore get united in thought and action to undertake corrective measures for Allah’s cause against all those who aim at disrupting world peace[iv].  

e.     The followers of the Qur’an are not to indulge in argumentation, confrontation or fighting with the People of the Book. There are only two exceptions to this. One; that it is done in a better way and two; it may be only against those who from amongst the People of the Book indulge in doing wrong[v].

Above guidelines interpreted and implemented involving an impartial and influential international array can not only bring peace to this globe but also pave way for the meaningful interfaith synchronization. In the best interest of the humans inhabiting this globe we may trust United Nations Organization with this intricate assignment, but after some indispensable improvements in its set up.

By

Sarfraz Hussain Naqvi

Sadaat House, Malpur, Islamabad

PAKISTAN

0332-5148200; paksec@live.com & col.sarfraz@gmail.com   

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[i] 5:2. O ye who believe! Profane not Allah's monuments nor the Sacred Month nor the offerings nor the garlands, nor those repairing to the Sacred House, seeking the grace and pleasure of Allah. But when ye have left the sacred territory, then go hunting (if ye will). And let not your hatred of a folk who (once) stopped your going to the Inviolable Place of Worship seduce you to transgress; but help ye one another unto righteousness and pious duty. Help not one another unto sin and transgression, but keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is severe in punishment.

Al-Maidah

[ii] 9:111. Lo! Allah hath bought from the believers their lives and their wealth because the Garden will be theirs they shall fight in the way of Allah and shall slay and be slain. It is a promise, which is binding on Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur’an. Who fulfilleth His covenant better than Allah? Rejoice then in your bargain that ye have made, for that is the supreme triumph.

9:112. (Triumphant) are those who turn repentant (to Allah), those who serve (Him), those who praise (Him), those who fast, those who bow down, those who fall prostrate (in worship), those who enjoin the right and who forbid the wrong and those who keep the limits (ordained) of Allah And give glad tidings to believers!

At-Touba

[iii] 22:39. Sanction is given unto those who fight because they have been wronged; and Allah is indeed Able to give them victory;

22:40. Those who have been driven from their homes unjustly only because they said: Our Lord is Allah. For had it not been for Allah's repelling some men by means of others, cloisters and churches and oratories and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft mentioned, would assuredly have been pulled down. Verily Allah helpeth one who helpeth Him. Lo! Allah is Strong, Almighty.

Al-Hajj

[iv] 22:77. O you who believe! bow down and prostrate yourselves and serve your Lord, and do good that you may succeed.

22:78. And strive for Allah with the endeavor which is His right. He hath chosen you and hath not laid upon you in religion any hardship; the faith of your father Abraham (is yours). He hath named you Muslims of old time and in this (Scripture), that the messenger may be a witness against you, and that ye may be witnesses against mankind. So establish worship, pay the poor due, and hold fast to Allah. He is your Protecting Friend. A blessed Patron and a blessed Helper!

Al-Hajj

[v] 29:45. Recite that which hath been inspired in thee of the Scripture, and establish worship. Lo! worship preserveth from lewdness and iniquity, but verily remembrance of Allah is more important. And Allah knoweth what ye do.

29:46. And argue not with the People of the Scripture unless it be in (a way) that is better, save with such of them as do wrong; and say: We believe in that which hath been revealed unto us and revealed unto you; our God and your God is One, and unto Him we surrender.

29:47. In like manner We have revealed unto thee the Scripture, and those unto whom We gave the Scripture aforetime will believe therein; and of these (also) there are some who believe therein. And none deny our revelations save the disbelievers.

Ankaboot