Symbolic References to “Peace” in Classic Islamic Discourse
By Humaira Masihuddin
Islamabad, Pakistan
The pedigree of discourse on “Peace” is very impressive. In fact scholars and philosophers have dwelled upon this essential notion for thousands of years. From Aristotle to Buddha to Eleanor Roosevelt , Nelson Mandela and Quaid e Azam , every great person has contributed to this notion with deep observations and great words. Civilizations have come and gone and made their contribution to the collective history of mankind in all dimensions including peace.
Today I would like to examine the discourse that emanates from the world of Islam to enrich and embellish this great concept and tradition and also offer ways and means by which the Islamic concepts can be rekindled in the hearts and minds of people around the world.
But first of all, the question I would like to ask is: Have the Quran and Sunnah got anything to offer to this great and lofty notion, the notion of peace and peaceful coexistence, and if there is such a contribution, how manifest and solid is it?
It is common knowledge that the Qur'an and the practice of the Prophet (SAW) called Sunnah are the fountainheads of Islamic Law. Before we examine these two I would like to underscore the fact that the meaning of the very word Islam is intrinsically related to peace, and the word Iman (translated as belief), is derived from the word ‘amn’ which interestingly means security.
I would like to quote 3 verses from the Qur'an which have very interesting implications for the concept , description and strategy for the attainment of Peace;
1 But if the enemy incline towards peace, do thou (also) incline towards peace, and trust in God: for He is One that hears and knows (all things). 8:61
2 “And good and evil deeds are not alike. Repel evil with good. And he who is your enemy will become your dearest friend.” (41:33-34)
3 The worshippers of the All-Merciful are they who tread gently upon the earth, and when the ignorant address them, they reply, “Peace!” 25:63
When we look at the Sunnah we find that the life of the Prophet (SAW) is replete with stories of peace-making, peace overtures and peaceful coexistence; some of the amazing highlight and landmark incidents of his life pertain to his single-minded pursuit of Peace.
In his life before prophet-hood, there is only one prominent public foray that the Prophet (SAW) ventured into. Historians say, when the Prophet was 35 years old, the Makkans decided to rebuild the ancient temple called the Kaaba, located in the center of Makkah. And as the time came near for the placing of the venerated Black Stone (Hajr-e-Aswad), said to be of divine origin, a feud broke out as each tribe wanted that the honor of placing the Black Stone should fall in its lot. An agreement was reached that the first person to enter the Haram would decide the dispute. It so happened that Muhammad (SAW) was the first person to enter the Haram, much to the satisfaction of the crowd gathered, as he had already acquired the titles of the Honest and the Trustworthy. The Prophet (SAW) came up with a brilliant plan in which he placed the stone in the middle of a sheet, and asked representatives from all the tribes, that is all the stakeholders, to lift the sheet, while he himself placed the stone in the walls of the Kaaba. This was the lone and solitary public interaction he had.
The Arabs of those days were known for starting tribal wars on the smallest of pretexts. This then was symbolic of the kind of solutions for mankind that Islam would offer, that perhaps the Prophet himself may not have been aware of at that time, but this quality of problem-solving and peace-making was something which was intrinsically a part of his personality, and which stayed with him till the day he passed away.
It is well known in history how the Prophet, at the age of 40, was conferred prophet-hood and ensued then, 23 years of preaching in the face of extreme hostility and opposition. These 23 tumultuous years saw him as persecuted, ridiculed, a fugitive and a victorious leader of mammoth proportions but during all these times of changing tide the one thing that did not change was his essential character (A man determined to bring peace and harmony). A British author, RVC Bodley, in his book The Messenger, offers a very interesting insight into the Prophet’s Personality. He says, “I doubt whether any man whose external conditions changed so much ever changed himself so less to meet them.”
Let us zoom forward to the 6 th year of migration. The Prophet (SAW) had left Makkah after facing dreadful persecution and an assassination attempt, and had moved to Madinah, where he had been engaged by the Makkans in three battles already, and now the 6 th year of his migration was upon him. A very strange proposal came from the Makkans during a pilgrimage trip to Makkah when the pilgrims were in Hudaibiya . The most humiliating terms of a peace treaty were offered to him. The makkans proposed: If someone from the Makkans breaks ranks and joins the Muslims, he must be returned back to the Makkans. But if someone from the Muslims defected to join the Makkans, he would not be returned.
Much to the great chagrin of his companions, Muhammad (SAW) agreed to these unjust terms, in the name of peace, so much so that when the Makkans demanded the removal of the suffix “Rasulullah” (Prophet of God), from the treaty, he agreed to that as well, erasing it with his own hands, as his companion Ali expressed his inability to do so.
Thomas Merton rightly says, “Peace demands the most heroic labor and the most difficult sacrifice. It demands greater heroism than war.”
Four years after the same peace armistice was breached by the Makkans, the Prophet decided to march on Makkah. The world has not seen such a commander, and such a conquest. The Prophet divided the army into four battalions to enter Makkah from four sides. The marchers marched in glorious formations into the city which had persecuted many of them. At one point, a commander Saad ibn ubaida commented, “Today is the day of slaughter, a day when the inviolable shall be violated. The day of God’s abasement of Quraish.” Not appreciative of this undue passion, The Prophet, the ever-loving peacemaker, asked this commander to hand over the flag to his son Qays who was of a relatively mild temperament and said, “This is a day of mercy, the day on which God has exalted Quraish.”
History narrates that he himself, the conqueror of Makkah, entered the city in the humble position of prostration, as he prostrated on his camel in all humility in front of God, a perfect servant of Allah.
Centuries before the Geneva Conventions, Muhammad (SAW) elucidated the rules of engagement. His followers were told, “Don’t forget that Islam is a mission of peace and love. Don’t destroy fruit trees or fertile fields in your paths. Be just and spare the feelings of the vanquished.”
At this point in time, I would like to move from the hard historical facts to some of the mystical aspects of peace present in the Prophet’s personality. It has always intrigued me that his mother’s name was Amina, which comes from the word Amn, peace and security. His foster mother’s name was Halima - “the patient and forbearing”. These two traits dominate his personality like no other traits. He surprises us at every turning point in his life. His conduct stupefies the reader of his biographies, as this incident, that took place during the conquest of Makkah. When he was venturing on the most important mission of his life, he saw a dog who had just given birth to a litter of puppies. Even at that time, in the midst of such an important mission, he commanded a soldier to stand by the vulnerable dog, lest the army ended up harming her and her puppies. Is it surprising then, that this great man, at the citing of every new moon prayed to God that may God bring this moon in security and faith, peace and submission.
His message was always universal. He admonished his followers in the following words: “Never desire war and aggression. Always ask God for security and peace. But when peace is threatened, Heaven is beneath the shadow of swords.”
One of the mightiest sayings of the Prophet expounding mankind as one is: “All creation is the family of God. The one who serves his family the best is the best loved by God.”
(The author is a lawyer and criminology consultant based in Islamabad)
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