By

Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Hamdy Zaqzouq

President of Al-Azhar Center for Dialogue

Edited by

Dr. Kamal Boraiqa Abdelsalam Hassan

Al-Azhar Magazine (Dhul-Qi’dah, 1439 A.H. July, 2018.)

     Peace in the Islamic perspective can be represented in the form of three interlocking circles. The first circle, peace which a human being has within himself, is made possible by the second circle: peace with God in his faith. Both make the third circle possible: peace with his fellow human beings and the environment. All three circle of peace influence one another. For according to Islamic doctrine, faith is kept by the person who acts in an impartially correct way, i.e. one who seeks peace with the world around him. The idea of world peace implies that all the nations of the world should have the chance to live in peace and thus to work together to create peace.

     Muslims, too, see the necessity of world peace and would like to work towards it, so that it might come about. If we should succeed in preventing certain groups, religions or peoples from becoming the victims of aggression and expansionism, then the first step towards world peace will have been taken.

     In other words, the condition for world peace is that every human being on earth is granted the right to his life, his religion, his property, to the freedom to use his intelligence and to the protection of his family. We can learn to grasp the value of peace, if we take a lesson from history and see that wars are unable to solve any problem. They can only create new problems; at best, they can delay the solution of problems in a costly way, although they can perhaps also make the solution of some problems impossible forever. For this reason; the hate and complexities of earlier ages should not be reactivated over and over again. Instead, one should decide to follow some strategy of positive thinking which finds constructive solutions.

     Today we are faced with new generations and new worlds, which are neither responsible for the injustices of earlier times, nor deserving of praise for the positive achievements of previous generations. What they need from us is not to deny them the chance to build a fruitful life. Time after time, new peaceful solutions have to be found for new situations.

     The Islamic world too needs the chance to be able to become active for peace, both inside and outside of it, and it is prepared to work together with all the powers of peace in the world. Basically, Islam recognizes all Heavenly Religions (cf. Qur'an 42: 13 etc.) and can therefore live in co-existence with other religions. It is also prepared to work for peace with them, if it is given the chance.

     Islam, too, takes the view that peace can be secured through the free self-development of human beings and nations and wishes such self- determination for all peoples. Many efforts are being made from all sides towards peaceful solutions of the world's problems. Yet the credibility and ability to inspire confidence in the existing international peace institutions will remain considerably impaired, if they cannot demonstrate that they are seeking an impartial justice. There is certainly an international law, but it should not only be proclaimed, but also practiced.

     Yet one has to admit that generally, almost everywhere in the world, this is unfortunately not the case. The law should not just be on the side of the wealthy countries. If it is, then that should be explainable. Only in such a way can one distinguish it from the law of the jungle, where strength, but not justice, triumphs. The complicated nature of the world peace problems cannot on the one hand be ignored, yet on the other it will in the end become insoluble, if one does not at least make a visible attempt to solve the problems in an impartial and just way. For example, on the basis of the present state of world politics, every war of aggression, regardless of who is responsible for it should be made impossible or be punished. The same goes for wars of expansion into so-called occupied areas.

     The violation of human rights all over the world should be forbidden as a matter of principle and in cases where it occurs punished. Rich and poor countries should be subject to international law in the same way. Islam also teaches that the guarantee of international human rights is the basis for peace. The basic rights demanded by Islam for every human being are: his right to life, to religion, to his own use of his intelligence, to his family and to his property.

     From an Islamic point of view all religions should be seen as and practiced as that which they are intended to be: languages and instruments of peace, which should work together with all peaceful powers in the world.

     As a way to peace, Islam teaches not only to get the benefits of human rights but, in connection with this, also the consciousness of responsibility in exercising general human duties.

     From a quite general point of view, every human being who looks on while crimes are being committed against humanity, for example genocide, without at least protesting about the fact is, according to Islam, an accomplice to the crime. In this way, world peace becomes impossible. Religions should work together for peace instead of fighting one another.