Page 85 - Non-violence and peace-building

Non-violence and Peace-building in Islam

Moradabad’s Muslim localities going up in flames and
being drenched in blood.
Consider, now, what guidance the Quran and Hadith
provide in this regard. The Quran says that God was
displeased with the Jews and sent them punishments
because they did not stop their own people from
committing evil deeds. Thus, the Quran (5:79) relates:

Those of the Children of Israel who were bent
on denying the truth were cursed by David and
Jesus, the son of Mary. That was because they
disobeyed and were given to transgression; they
would not prevent one another from doing
the wrong things they did. Evil indeed were
their deeds. You see many among them allying
themselves with those who deny the truth. Evil
is that which their souls have sent on ahead for
them. They have incurred the wrath of God and
shall suffer eternal punishment.
This principle is elaborated upon in the Hadith. A
hadith in this regard relates that the Prophet said that
when people see an oppressor and do not restrain his
hand, God would punish them as a whole.

From this we learn that ‘social turmoil’ is always
caused by ‘individual misdeed’. That is why the only
way to prevent turmoil and disturbance in society is
to restrain individuals from wrongdoing. Accordingly,
Muslim communities should remain so alert that if one
person does some mischief, people around him from
within the community must immediately stand up and
stop him. If someone treats somebody else wrongly,

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