Page 92 - Age of Peace Goodword.indd

Lessons from History

History is a record of human experiences, both positive
and negative. What is implicit in this record is the message
that we should not repeat the negative experiences of history:
we should repeat only those experiences which have led to
positive results in the past.
Mankind’s past has been recorded in books which are
readily available in libraries across the world. Before rushing
to the battlefield, the would-be combatants would be well
advised to visit such libraries for guidance. Only after making
a thorough study of the annals of history – which tells us about
the negative and positive aspects of the events of human life
over the past millennia – should they plan their future actions.
If you observe a garden with lush green trees, a mountain
or an ocean; if you see the world of nature; if you see the starry
universe, you will find that, everywhere, there is peace and
tranquillity. It is only human life which is vitiated by violence
and fighting. In this sense, man seems to be a creature at odds
with the whole of the universe. If those who are engaged in
militancy were to give some thought to this incongruity, they
would feel ashamed of their conduct. They would immediately
give up violence as a way of life and adopt the culture of peace.
A verse in the Quran gives this advice:
‘Travel about the land and see what was the end of the
deniers.’ (6:11)

The implication here is that what happened to the deniers
was not only unrewarding but also punitive and that a similar
fate awaits those who engage in uncalled for militancy. It
follows that one should study human history and then plan
one’s actions only after paying heed to its lessons.

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