Page 232 - Quranic Wisdom - New.indd

No Aggression

course of action that will continue to bear fruit, unless there is
some unavoidable breakdown.
Aggression, being an expression of anger, and not the
outcome of any reasoned planning, cannot serve any positive
purpose. It should not, therefore, be a course that anyone should
consider following. Experience shows that aggression, a form of
uncontrolled behaviour, is bad for both the aggressor and the
victim of aggression. Indeed, leaping into aggression is leaping to
one’s own destruction.

Aggression, being an expression of anger, and not the
outcome of any reasoned planning, cannot serve any
positive purpose.

Considering that aggression entails great losses in terms of
money and human life, and also in terms of opportunity, what
drives one to aggression? It is nothing but anger and vengefulness,
or the urge to exploit. All these stimuli are negative, and no
negative action resulting from them is going to yield any positive
results. Positive ends can be achieved only through positive
action. No wise man can countenance aggression.
Aggression breeds hatred, and hatred is the source of all kinds
of evil. Aggression, therefore, is disruptive of the fabric of society.
People who follow aggressive instincts cannot, therefore, play any
constructive role in building a better society and should ponder
upon how even the animals in the jungle live peacefully without
indulging in aggression.

The alternative to aggression is peace. Peaceful behaviour is
the best course, leading inevitably to peaceful ends. There is no
logic to aggression. But there is every reason to support peace.
Constructive activity, of whatever nature, stems from long-term,
unflagging efforts and aggression only disrupts this process.
Aggression is the ugliest form of human behaviour, while

231