Events have shown that the problems faced by the people of
Kashmir have produced a willingness to make re-assessments. The
Kashmiris have started on their new journey from violence to peace.
They have left negativism behind, having come to understand the
importance of positive thinking. In the light of past experiences,
they have abandoned utopian politics and begun their journey anew
along a realistic and constructive path. They have left off futile
activities, having discovered the secret of result-oriented conduct.
Their recognition of positive values without doubt guarantees a
bright future for Kashmir.
The Power of Peace is Greater
A few years age I met a well-educated Muslim, who had lived in
Afghanistan for some years, and had a good working knowledge of
the local language. He told me that he had once asked some Afghani
extremists why they engaged in suicide bombing. They replied that
they did not have the weapons to retaliate against the weapons used
by their enemies, and so were compelled to opt for suicide bombing.
The Muslim gentleman replied that the case was just the contrary.
In fact the enemy had no alternative to the weapons they had. Then
he went on to explain that they were using the power of violence,
whereas according to Islam, the power of peace was greater. The
Prophet of Islam once observed: “God grants to peace what He does
not grant to violence.” (
Sahih
Muslim, Hadith No. 2593) A political
example of this is found in the early history of Islam. The battle of
Uhud took place in 3 A.H. in which the Muslims were defeated. The
Prophet then drew up a peace treaty with the opponents in 6 AH.
This was adopting peaceful activism rather than violent activism.
The result, in the words of the Quran, was ‘a clear victory’. (48:1)
This is an example of the superiority of the peaceful strategy over
the violent strategy.
14
The Dawn Over Kashmir
