The True Jihad
Non-Violence and Islam
~ 46 ~
The Qur’an
sets patience
above all other
Islamic
virtues. Its
rewards is
“beyond
measure.”
The entire spirit of the Qur’an is in consonance with
this concept. For instance, the Qur’an attaches great
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 Muhammad, may
peace be upon him, observed: God
grants to
rifq
(gentleness) what he
does not grant to
unf
(violence).
(Abu Dawud,
Sunan
, 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.
