December 29, 2003

• Thoughts on peace by a Muslim

  
  

  My dearest wish is that we all live in peace together on this beautiful planet of ours. But you only have to watch the news or read the papers to find conflict and suffering in every corner of the world. The causes may seem complex, but I believe the root of much of it is one group trying to impose its will on another. The motives may be political, religious or racial arrogance, but it amounts to the same thing. One group sees itself as ‘right’ & others as ‘wrong’. Religion is often used to justify such claims.

  
  

  The fact is that all religions (you can include any strongly held belief here) claim exclusive possesion of the ‘truth’. Even if they are very tolerant of other beliefs & even if they include or combine elements from many faiths. Furthermore, most religions require their followers to live according to that truth. I don’t claim to be any different. As a Muslim I believe Islam is the truth. When I meet a Christian, Jew or Hindu I know they believe they are right and I am wrong and vica versa. But does that have to be a source of conflict? Does that mean we cannot share this earth in peace? – I think not!

  
  

  Problems usually arise because the followers of each religion (or political belief) are also motivated by a desire to ‘share’ this truth with others. Human nature is such that it wants others to agree with its own viewpoint – perhaps out of love, but if you forgive me for being a little cynical, more often than not it is to make themselves feel more ‘secure’. We all feel better when our beliefs are confirmed by others. It seems to me that the only way to ever really achieve a ‘peaceful’ world is to resist the feeling that one must ‘change’ or ‘impose’ something on someone else who does not want you to do so. We must accept the right of each other to follow our own way. Accept that there will always be those who will hold different beliefs and follow different faiths to our own. Learn to respect people ‘as they are’ and put differences aside. ‘Agree to disagree’.

  
  

  Even within one particular faith you will find people follow different paths, each claiming theirs is the only correct way. Some are inclined towards a very esoteric faith, others a very literal interpretation. Others follow the orthodox or traditional path while still others follow a more modernistic and progressive approach. We don’t have to agree with all these paths and we can still stand by our principals, that our path is the true way. But we do need to accept the right of others to follow their own path without the urge to interfere or change them. This does not mean we cannot state our views. But it does mean I will not impose anything on anyone who is not interested and it means that I can accept, respect and share with those who hold different beliefs from me without feeling the need to change or impose my ideas upon them.

  
  

  One difficulty with this ‘Agree to Disagree’ approach may be where faith of ‘X’ (or I should say, ‘their interpretation’) requires a belligerent attitude towards those of faith ‘Y’. Obviously we cannot accept ‘X’s’ right to go around killing ‘Y’. Sadly there will always be a minority inclined to such behaviour, just as there will always be those inclined to violence & crime. In such cases all societies must protect themselves & agree on what can and cannot be tolerated using basic principals of morality universal to all major faiths & beliefs. I do believe that mankind is quite capable of living in peace with each other. We may not share the same religions or beliefs but we do share our humanity & we all possess the qualities of love, compassion and forgiveness. I believe that mankind has the ability to create a more ‘peaceful’ world. Please feel free to email me with your thoughts on this, or any other subject.

  
  

  HassanRadwan@yahoo.com

  • 5:21 pm
  • 2 Comments