TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE

We often talk of peace in the context of war. But this is a very narrow and restricted notion of peace. Peace is deeply linked with the entirety of human life. Peace is a complete ideology in itself. Peace is the only religion for both-man and the universe. It is the master-key that opens the doors to every success. Peace creates a favourable atmosphere for success in every endeavour. Without peace, no positive action—small or big—is possible.

SUICIDE BOMBING

TODAY, suicide bombing is a unique and terrible manifestation of violence. The deadliest instance took place in New York, commonly referred to as 9/11, when the famous Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre (WTC) were destroyed by a group of Muslim militants. They hijacked four passenger airplanes, two of which were flown into the towers of the WTC. The attack resulted in the death of about 3,000 people and brought down the 110-storey buildings, besides causing severe damage to surrounding buildings and structures.

It is apparent that Muslims top the list of those using such deadly methods of suicide bombing. Yet, suicide is completely forbidden in Islam. According to a tradition recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari, a badly injured Muslim, unable to bear the consequent pain, killed himself with his own sword. This was the first case of suicide in Islam. The Prophet said to his Companions that this person would be among the people of Hell.

Islam believes that the whole world
including the Muslim world is dar al-insaan
(the abode of human beings).

According to Islamic texts, suicide is absolutely unlawful. This being so, how is it that Muslims have established large organizations which train young people to carry out suicide attacks? A great amount of funding is required for such activities. And, it is Muslims who are funding them. Thus, in this organised activity the whole Muslim community is, directly or indirectly, involved. A saying of the Lebanese American writer Khalil Gibran (1883–1931) applies in this case:

‘A leaf does not fall without the silent consent of the tree.’ The root cause is that the Muslim community thinks of the world as being divided between Muslims and kafirs (non-believers); that, besides Muslims, everyone else is kafir; that the countries ruled by Muslims are dar as-salam (Land of Islam) while countries ruled by people other than Muslims are dar al-kufr (Land of Disbelief). This mindset makes Muslims think that any heinous act may be perpetrated with impunity against supposed disbelievers.

It is because of this negative mentality of the present day Muslims that the ulama, or Muslim scholars, have become emboldened to publicly declare suicide bombing as lawful—an act which has always been unlawful in the absolute sense.

Moreover, there are certain Muslim scholars who have gone to the extent of openly issuing fatwas, or verdicts, claiming that suicide is lawful. They have coined a new term—istishhad (to seek martyrdom)— justifying suicide bombing.

According to Islamic texts, suicide is absolutely unlawful.

Such fatwas are undoubtedly wrong. And it is strange that the entire community of religious scholars has not openly condemned this patently wrong fatwa. The method of suicide bombing—known as hara-kiri—was first adopted in a big way by Japan. Traditionally practiced in that country, it was a ritual form of suicide carried out by slashing one’s abdomen.

Japan adopted hara-kiri during the Second World War which turned out to be ineffective, and was subsequently abandoned. The practice of suicide bombing by Muslim militants has likewise become totally ineffective. By such attacks, they end several innocent lives, and eventually have nothing positive to show as results. Then why does this deadly suicide bombing still continue?

Muslims have developed a baseless belief that a believer killed in a battle becomes a martyr, and therefore goes straight to heaven. This is a false belief. Islamic teachings clearly show that, Muslims who kill themselves in suicide bombing will die an unlawful death. No heaven is waiting to welcome them.

Islam believes that the whole world including the Muslim world is dar al-insaan (the abode of human beings). It is Muslims’ bounden duty to regard all human beings as God’s creatures. Once, in Madinah, the Prophet of Islam, on seeing the funeral procession of a Jew, stood up in deference to it. One of his Companions asked him why he did so, to which he replied:

‘Was he not a human being?’

The Prophet Muhammad thus recognised a commonality between himself and a Jew—that the God who had created him had also created the Jew. This is the real basis of human equality.