Page 102 - Non-violence and peace-building

Lessons for Conflict-Resolution

them, religion is no longer linked to duty, but, rather,
to pride.
The Quran (25:63) says:

The true servants of the Gracious One are those
who walk upon the earth with humility and
when they are addressed by the ignorant ones,
their response is, ‘Peace’ […]
But when the Muslim community declines, a totally
contradictory mentality develops. In this stage, Muslims
invoke the teachings of Islam in order to stress their
claims to superiority over others, not to mould their
own lives according to these teachings. And so, Muslims
in this stage of decline of the community will proudly
declare, “Our religion is based on pure monotheism!”
and at the very same time, they will worship dead and
living personalities.

They will proudly announce, “Islam stands for
equality!” But this claim will not be reflected in their
relationships and dealings.
They will proudly claim, “Our religion exhorts us to
promote goodness and combat evil!” But if you examine
their actual behaviour in the light of this principle and
critique them, you will immediately become their most
inveterate enemy.

Explaining the glorious character of the Prophet, they
will proudly relate that the Prophet never lost his temper
despite efforts to provoke him. But at the very same
time, they will resort to violent protests when faced with
anything that goes against their way of thinking. They

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