Page 163 - Age of Peace Goodword.indd

The Age of Peace

especially verse 41 of Chapter al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage) and
other verses on this subject, you will find that the Quran
differentiates between two domains of life: the political and
the non-political. The Quran suggests maintaining a division
of labour between the two. According to the Quran, the
duty of the ruling party is to maintain peace and stability in
society, while the duty of reformers is to confine themselves
to non-political activities, such as education—both formal
and informal, dawah work (conveying the message of God to
people), inculcating right thinking in people and so on. Thus
the two groups can play their roles in building a better society.
In this way all kinds of work will be carried on smoothly and
there will be no occasion for confrontation. The principle of
the division of work obviates the need for confrontation and
clash in society. As a result, society is blessed with an ambience
of peace, not war.

The truth is that Islam in the full sense is a religion of
peace. In no way is it a religion of war. In Islam, peace is
the rule and war is only a rare exception.

This and other such teachings which are set forth in the
Quran and the Hadith are aimed at putting an end to the
prevalence of war and violence in society. In this way a normal
and propitious environment is established, in which all kinds
of healthy and constructive activities become possible.

The truth is that Islam in the full sense is a religion of peace.
In no way is it a religion of war. In Islam, peace is the rule
and war is only a rare exception. Moreover, this exception was
applicable in previous ages when tribal culture prevailed in the
world. Now this is a totally different age. Today we are living
in the age of democracy and the United Nations. Therefore, the
word ‘war’ has become an obsolete term in the international
dictionary. If any war takes place in the present, it goes against
the universal norm.
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