Page 27 - Non-violence and peace-building

Non-violence and Peace-building in Islam

ends in mutual destruction. Tigers and elephants
know this, and thus they act accordingly.
2. The same thing holds true for bulls. If two bulls fight,
it is very unlikely that one can finish off the other.
And so, bulls have a fascinating way of avoiding
such pointless confrontation—by establishing their
respective territories. If two bulls enter the same
locality and confront each other, they bang against
each other’s horns to symbolize an agreement to
divide the territory into two separate zones, one
for each. After this symbolic confrontation, they
draw back and carefully observe the line they have
demarcated between themselves. And so, it is very
rare that two bulls fight with each other.

3. There is a certain insect which, if you touch it,
curls up and freezes. This is the method it uses to
protect itself from its enemies. When it sees that
its enemy is almost on top of it and that escape
is impossible, it suddenly becomes completely
motionless. Its enemy thinks it is dead and so
ignores it. When its enemy leaves the scene, it runs
away.
4. Animals that live in burrows constantly face the
threat of enemies entering their homes. Because
their homes are small, they cannot run away from
their front door if an intruder enters. That is why
such animals make another tunnel, at the rear of
their homes, which they can use to escape in an
emergency situation. When they see a predator
entering their burrow, they run out through this

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