RELIGION AND PEACE

Religion is simply a discipline of peace, an ideology of peace. Someone is very aptly remarked that religion is peace and peace is religion. Without peace there is no religion. And also, without religion there is no peace. I hope that these discussions and consultations produce something very substantial, which will prove helpful in the building of a peaceful world I hope and pray that there will emerge some practical formula towards peace. God willing, we shall be able to contribute something very constructive for the betterment of humanity.

The theory of religion or doctrine emerged to organize the unruly negative nature of human beings and to lead to the civilize manner of society. In these theories Peace is inherent when it becomes birth. No religion has ever taught of destruction or annihilation of human beings. Every doctrine is base on Peace, Love and Service. But nowadays the spiritual nature of religion is converted into political game-plan by some politicians and it stained true faces of religion.

Now I would like to give a brief description of the major religions of the world. Let’s take Hinduism first, as it is the most ancient religion. Everyone who has studied Hinduism will agree that Hinduism in itself is a philosophy of peace. The basic concept of Hinduism is that Truth is one and that different religions are only different manifestations of the same truth. The concept was termed by a great religious scholar Sarwa Dharma Sambhawa. So Hinduism is nothing but a philosophy of peace. Some scholars like Arnold Toynbee have pointed out that this concept of Hinduism generates a spirit of mutual coexistence. It is a philosophy of live and let live. As the great Hindu philosopher Vivekananda put it. “Follow one, hate none.” This kind of respect is just another name for peaceful living.

Now take the case of Christianity. Christianity is also a religion of peace. That is why Christianity has gained such great popularity. And now it enjoys the status of the greatest religion numerically. As you know, Jesus Christ said: “I tell you not to resist an evil person. Whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” It means that the Christian formula for peace is unilateral accommodation. According to this saying of Jesus Christ, you yourself have to adjust in the face of any controversy.

Now take the case of Sufism and Sikhism. Both these traditions are very similar to each other. The essence of both these traditions is love, compassion and peace. A Sufi poet has described this beautifully in a Persian couplet which translates thus:
“We do not know the stories of kings and generals. We know only the stories of love, compassion and peace.”

I will give here an example from Islamic history. One day, in Madinah, the Prophet of Islam noticed a funeral procession passing along the street. The Prophet stood up in deference. A companion of the Prophet remarked at this: “O Prophet, you know it was the funeral of a Jew that is a Non-Muslim.” The Prophet replied: “(alaisat nafasan) was he not a human being?” It shows that in the Prophet’s vision everyone was a human being. He saw everyone on an equal plane. Thus, according to Islam, everyone deserves equal respect. Everyone is a creature of God. One can say, therefore, that according to this brief description, the formula for peace according to Hinduism is mutual coexistence. And formula for peace according to Buddhism and Jainism is non-violence, or no violence. The Christian formula for peace is based on the concept of unilateral adjustment, while the Sufi formula for peace is love for all. And the Islamic formula for peace is respect for all. And Sanamahi formula for peace is to know one’s own soul and respect the other soul.

In the complete sense of the word Islam is a religion of peace. Even the name of Islam connotes peace. You know the root word of Islam is Silm. Silm in Arabic means peace. One of God’s names is Salam, and Salam means peace. The Qur’an mentions itself as barakah. The Prophet of Islam is described as Rahamah. And barakah and rahamah are only other names for peace. That is, peace is basic to Islam. Islamic living is in peace. All the teachings of Islam are oriented towards peace.

All the religion taught peace to humanity but why men who adopt the religion are so aggressive to fight each other? The answer is that there is a wide gape among the religious leaders. Without the integration among the religious leaders there will be no peace in this world.

We ifop, appeal to the religious leaders to bring the spiritual integration among themselves to bring the world in peace and harmony.

Sir Dayaito Luwang
Secretary General, ifop