Principles of Islam
30. Non-Violence
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importance to patience. In fact, patience is set above
all other Islamic virtues with the exceptional
promise of reward beyond measure. (39:10)
Patience implies a peaceful response or reaction,
whereas impatience implies a violent response. The
word
sabr
exactly expresses the notion of non-
violence, as it is understood in modern times. That
patient action is non-violent action has been clearly
expressed in the Qur’an. According to one tradition,
the Prophet of Islam observed: God grants to
rifq
(gentleness) what he does not grant to
unf (violence).
(Sunan,
Abu Dawood, 4/255)
The word
rifq
has been used in this
hadith
as an
antithesis to
unf
these terms convey exactly what is
meant by violence and non-violence in present
times. This
hadith
clearly indicates the superiority of
the non-violent method.
God grants on non-violence what He does not grant
to violence is no simple matter. It has very wide and
deep implications. It embodies an eternal law of
nature. By the very law of nature all bad things are
associated with violence, while all good things are
associated with non-violence.
