The True Jihad
Non-Violence and Islam
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‘Read!’ (
iqra
) (96:1). By perusing this verse we learn
about the initiation of Islamic action. It begins from
the point where there is hope of continuing the
movement along peaceful lines, and not from that
point where there are chances of its being marred
by violence.
What are the advantages of non-violent activism
over violent activism? They are briefly stated as
under:
1.
According to the Qur’an there are two
faculties in every human being which are mutually
antipathetic. One is the ego, and the other is the
conscience, called respectively
nafs ammara
and
nafs
lawwama
(The Qur’an, 12:53; 75:26). What the
violent method invariably does is to awaken the
ego, which necessarily results in a breakdown of
social equilibrium. On the other hand, non-violent
activism awakens the conscience. From this results
an awakening in people of introspection and self-
appraisal. And according to the Qur’an, the
miraculous outcome of this is that “he who is your
enemy will become your dearest friend.” (41:34)
