Page 46 - Non-violence and peace-building

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Desist from Intolerance

The Quran (30:60) relates:
[S]o have patience [O Muhammad]! God’s
promise is true; let not those who will not be
convinced make you discouraged.

onsider a new tree. Based on the law of nature,
Cthis tree will start bearing fruit after a few years.
But if some impatient people start demanding that the
tree start yielding fruit after just a few months, they
will destroy the tree with their impatience. Because of
their behaviour, the tree will not be able to manifest its
natural potentiality.
Similar is the case with developments that manifest
themselves in the social sphere. Those on the path of
truth will be repeatedly faced by provocations from
people who are opposed to them. They will have to
encounter numerous challenges, both mental and
physical, that threaten to provoke them. This is a very
delicate period for them. In such a situation, if they lose
their patience and peace of mind and get entangled
in the controversies that their opponents are bent on
raking up, their real task will remain unfinished and

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