How could peace be ensured among Muslims? What can be done for it?
This question could sound weird when it is heard first time. It could be said, "A Muslim is already in peace with other Muslims. Why do we need this question?" However, when we look at the big picture, we see that the reality is vice-versa. We sometimes witness problems among individual Muslims, Muslim communities, and Muslim states. It is impossible for Muslims to ensure peace in the universe, which is a desire for them before ensuring the peace among them.
Internal sedition, which arose following the Asr as-Saadah (age of happiness and tranquility in which Prophet Muhammad lived) by the death of Caliph Uthman (reined from 644 until 656 as the third caliph) as a martyr, cost Muslims a lot. Thousands of Muslims lost their lives in Jamal and Siffin wars. Sedition soothed only after Hazrat Hasan waived his right of Caliphate based on certain conditions. As a result, Muslim armies gained power again and reached the frontiers of Istanbul.
Iran-Iraq war, which lasted 9 years, is a recent example that demonstrates the harms of struggles among Muslims. Iran and Iraq fought, more than one million people died, but gun-selling states came out as the only winners of this war.
However, Islam does not call for internal strife and disagreements. O you who believe! Come in full submission to God, all of you, (without allowing any discord among you due to worldly reasons) (Al-Baqarah Surah, 2:208) It sees Muslims as organs of the same body. (1) It likens Muslims to bricks of a wall, enforcing each other. (2) While the situation is like this, Muslims not getting together is nothing but opposing to a clear decree of the Quran. If the patient does not read the prescription, not use the prescribed medicine; it is not the prescription to be blamed but the patient. There exists every prescription, every medicine for all our pains and sufferings in the pharmacy of the Quran. And the prescriptions for discord among Muslims are in the following verses of the Quran:
And hold fast all together to the rope of God and never be divided... (Aal-i Imran Surah, 3:103)
The believers are but brothers (Al-Hujuraat Surah, 49:10)
Those who have made divisions in their Religion (whereas they must accept it in its totality), and have been divided into different parties – you have nothing to do with them... (Al-Anam Surah, 6:159)
(Set your whole being, you and the believers in your company, on the upright, ever-true Religion) turning in devotion to Him alone, and keep from disobedience to Him in reverence for Him and piety, and establish the Prayer in conformity with its conditions; and do not be of those who associate partners (with Him),
Those who have made divisions in their religion (whereas they must accept it in its totality), and become split into different factions (following different guides to falsehood), each party rejoicing in what (portion) it has. (Ar-Rum Surah, 30:31-32)
...Establish the Religion and do not divide into opposing groups concerning it... (Ash-Shura Surah, 46:13)
Be not as those who split into parties and followed different ways after the manifest truths had come to them. Those are the ones for whom is a tremendous punishment. (Al-Imran Surah, 3:105)
At this point, it will be useful to mention the following: Arising of different sects and communities in Islam is not a division or splitting off. All of the sects and communities that adhere to the Quran and Sunnah are on the right way to reach the truth. These sects and communities are like vehicles on a highway whose directions are the same. As long as they do not crash one another, their differences do not matter. All of the Islamic communities should have the same aim and target; instead of struggling with one another, they should do their best s to convey the truths of the Quran to the needy hearts.
To make another simile, different communities are like a united army. As different units are needed in the armies, there is a need of different communities in the army of Islam. We should examine the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): "The disagreement among my ummah is a mercy" from this point of view. What is dangerous and forbidden is the army falling into confusion and internal struggling within the army.
Different sects in Christianity acquired the status of being different religions in the course of time. The Christian world experienced bloody sect wars, which lasted for centuries. Apart from a few exceptions, these kinds of conflicts did not take place among Islamic sects. The Muslim world that has been undergoing hard times for a couple of centuries needs solidarity and unity more than ever needed before. As Badiuzzaman Said Nursi says, "Islamic Unity is the biggest fard (religious obligation) duty of the present time. (4) Muslims should work hard and should save themselves from this dispersed situation. Islamic Unity should not be considered as becoming one state. For, it is not possible to unite Muslims who are scattered all over the world with more than one billion population under one state. Islamic Unity means combined action and mutual aim of all Muslims. They should support one another and collaborate on military, political, economic, cultural, etc. issues.
When this unity is ensured, Muslims will be the most influential deterrent force; for instance, when we are faced with incidents such as the Bosnian tragedy, our response will not be limited to reactions as, "Why does the West not intervene?" Instead, necessary actions will be taken by us.
Besides, as it happened in the Iraqi annexation of Kuwait, if a Muslim country invades another Muslim country, allied forces of different religions cannot intervene, the Islamic army will settle the problem by itself. In fact, the following verse of the Quran orders this to us:
If two parties of believers fall to fighting, make peace between them (and act promptly). But if one of them aggressively encroaches the rights of the other, then fight you all against the aggressive side until they comply with Gods decree (concerning the matter). If they comply, then make peace between them with justice and be scrupulously equitable. Surely God loves the scrupulously equitable. (Al-Hujuraat Surah, 49:9)
Internal sedition, which arose following the Asr as-Saadah (age of happiness and tranquility in which Prophet Muhammad lived) by the death of Caliph Uthman (reined from 644 until 656 as the third caliph) as a martyr, cost Muslims a lot. Thousands of Muslims lost their lives in Jamal and Siffin wars. Sedition soothed only after Hazrat Hasan waived his right of Caliphate based on certain conditions. As a result, Muslim armies gained power again and reached the frontiers of Istanbul.
Iran-Iraq war, which lasted 9 years, is a recent example that demonstrates the harms of struggles among Muslims. Iran and Iraq fought, more than one million people died, but gun-selling states came out as the only winners of this war.
However, Islam does not call for internal strife and disagreements. O you who believe! Come in full submission to God, all of you, (without allowing any discord among you due to worldly reasons) (Al-Baqarah Surah, 2:208) It sees Muslims as organs of the same body. (1) It likens Muslims to bricks of a wall, enforcing each other. (2) While the situation is like this, Muslims not getting together is nothing but opposing to a clear decree of the Quran. If the patient does not read the prescription, not use the prescribed medicine; it is not the prescription to be blamed but the patient. There exists every prescription, every medicine for all our pains and sufferings in the pharmacy of the Quran. And the prescriptions for discord among Muslims are in the following verses of the Quran:
And hold fast all together to the rope of God and never be divided... (Aal-i Imran Surah, 3:103)
The believers are but brothers (Al-Hujuraat Surah, 49:10)
Those who have made divisions in their Religion (whereas they must accept it in its totality), and have been divided into different parties – you have nothing to do with them... (Al-Anam Surah, 6:159)
(Set your whole being, you and the believers in your company, on the upright, ever-true Religion) turning in devotion to Him alone, and keep from disobedience to Him in reverence for Him and piety, and establish the Prayer in conformity with its conditions; and do not be of those who associate partners (with Him),
Those who have made divisions in their religion (whereas they must accept it in its totality), and become split into different factions (following different guides to falsehood), each party rejoicing in what (portion) it has. (Ar-Rum Surah, 30:31-32)
...Establish the Religion and do not divide into opposing groups concerning it... (Ash-Shura Surah, 46:13)
Be not as those who split into parties and followed different ways after the manifest truths had come to them. Those are the ones for whom is a tremendous punishment. (Al-Imran Surah, 3:105)
At this point, it will be useful to mention the following: Arising of different sects and communities in Islam is not a division or splitting off. All of the sects and communities that adhere to the Quran and Sunnah are on the right way to reach the truth. These sects and communities are like vehicles on a highway whose directions are the same. As long as they do not crash one another, their differences do not matter. All of the Islamic communities should have the same aim and target; instead of struggling with one another, they should do their best s to convey the truths of the Quran to the needy hearts.
To make another simile, different communities are like a united army. As different units are needed in the armies, there is a need of different communities in the army of Islam. We should examine the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): "The disagreement among my ummah is a mercy" from this point of view. What is dangerous and forbidden is the army falling into confusion and internal struggling within the army.
Different sects in Christianity acquired the status of being different religions in the course of time. The Christian world experienced bloody sect wars, which lasted for centuries. Apart from a few exceptions, these kinds of conflicts did not take place among Islamic sects. The Muslim world that has been undergoing hard times for a couple of centuries needs solidarity and unity more than ever needed before. As Badiuzzaman Said Nursi says, "Islamic Unity is the biggest fard (religious obligation) duty of the present time. (4) Muslims should work hard and should save themselves from this dispersed situation. Islamic Unity should not be considered as becoming one state. For, it is not possible to unite Muslims who are scattered all over the world with more than one billion population under one state. Islamic Unity means combined action and mutual aim of all Muslims. They should support one another and collaborate on military, political, economic, cultural, etc. issues.
When this unity is ensured, Muslims will be the most influential deterrent force; for instance, when we are faced with incidents such as the Bosnian tragedy, our response will not be limited to reactions as, "Why does the West not intervene?" Instead, necessary actions will be taken by us.
Besides, as it happened in the Iraqi annexation of Kuwait, if a Muslim country invades another Muslim country, allied forces of different religions cannot intervene, the Islamic army will settle the problem by itself. In fact, the following verse of the Quran orders this to us:
If two parties of believers fall to fighting, make peace between them (and act promptly). But if one of them aggressively encroaches the rights of the other, then fight you all against the aggressive side until they comply with Gods decree (concerning the matter). If they comply, then make peace between them with justice and be scrupulously equitable. Surely God loves the scrupulously equitable. (Al-Hujuraat Surah, 49:9)
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