Conflict resolution in Islamic teachings

Contrary to the over-reactive and at times compulsive nature of Muslims (or Muslim politics), displayed only too often nowadays, Islamic teachings present an entirely reasonable and sensible three stage approach to the handling of human conflicts, wherever and whenever they may occur.  Their guiding aim in resolving any conflict is reconciliation, with a fair deal for all parties involved and they include clear and unambiguous principles for achieving it.

Islam links this approach to conflict resolution with the essential beliefs of a person in Allah’s justice and rewards in both this world and in the Hereafter.

In the first of the three stages of approach necessary to resolve a conflict the individuals concerned must demonstrate their personal and public commitment to behave in a just and fair way at all times.

In a hadith of the Prophet Mohammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, said when he was asked about al-bir (righteousness): ‘You have come to ask about the al-bir? (in the first place) ask yourself about it. Al-bir is what your soul finds its tranquillity in and your heart is at peace with. A sinful act is what may put your heart in discomfort and you feel your chest struggling with it, even though, people may judge your act being the right one.

In another hadith, the Prophet says: ‘al-bir is the best of character, and the sinful act is what may place your heart at discomfort and you dislike being exposed to people about it’. Narrated by Imam Muslim

It is a duty for Muslims to demonstrate aspects of absolute justice in all their dealings. These two verses from the Quran, among many, are a direct reference for guidance to behave justly and fairly. The Quran says: ‘Believers! Be upright bearers of witness for Allah, and do not let the enmity of any people move you to deviate from justice. Act justly, that is nearer to God-fearing. And fear Allah, surely Allah is well aware of what you do’. S5 V8

In another verse, the Quran guides: ‘Believers! Be upholder of justice, and bearers of witness to truth for the sake of Allah, even though it may be against yourselves or against your parents and kinsmen, or the rich or the poor, for Allah is more concerned with their well-being than you are. If you twist or turn away from (the Truth) know that Allah is well aware of all that you do’. S4 V135

Self-awareness of truth and justice is essential in the Islamic belief of accountability and human destiny. Achieving and employing this stage of awareness and personal commitment will stop many conflicts arising, let alone flourishing.

In the second stage, when a conflict becomes apparent and needs third party intervention, the Islamic system, as in any civilised society, provides logical steps so that justice can be served. The Islamic legal system provides all the essential guidelines and protection for a just outcome for all parties involved. 

In the third stage, the justice of Allah will be implemented. While His justice may not be apparent to us in this world, it surely will in the Hereafter. On the Day of Judgement, all such cases will be resolved by Allah and immaculate justice served by Him.

Acts of justice and injustice are present in all our deeds and all our decisions.  But, we need to be careful how we glorify our deeds, as Allah’s justice is ultimate and inevitable.

A sensible and God-fearing person will always find a way out of conflict and reward himself spiritually, by repelling a provocation with an act of goodness. In a hadith, our Prophet, Mohammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, said: ‘whoever is a believer in Allah and in the Hereafter, let him say a word of goodness or let him be silent’.

The Quran’s guidance for the resolution of any conflict is described in this beautiful verse: ‘Good and evil are not equal. Repel (evil) with that which is good and you will see that he, between whom and you there was enmity, shall become as if he were a bosom friend. But none attains to this except those who are steadfast; none attains to this except those endowed with mighty good fortune’. And if you are prompted by a provocation by Satan, seek refuge with Allah, He and He alone is All-Hearing, All-Knowing’. S41 V34-36

With our divisiveness and the dominance of greed and selfishness in many of us, we Muslims appear to care little about the guidance shown in the teachings of Allah in resolving our conflicts in this world. In the process, we have become cheap in name and nature. People would rather act through a sense of enmity and destruction than try to seek the pleasure of Allah and build further upon the achievements of the past. The words of wisdom say: ‘do not destroy the good in achieving your ideals.

Systemic destruction is taking place in many Muslim lands. The hearts, minds and desires of the people are totally disregarded in any attempt to resolve these conflicts. Yet they are the true witnesses to the destruction of entire towns and cities, the victims of bombardment, the families with nothing left in their lives and have become refugees and are in dire need. But, still, the fighting continues!.

A sensible approach will only prevail when and if the leaders in all conflicts look beyond their immediate interests and fear the inevitable consequences of their evil actions. Such an event appears to be increasingly further out of reach. People have now become so intolerant of each other that the smallest error results in savage reprisals between them. Yet, still, most Muslims, leaders and those led, would claim their religiosity and the pleasure of Allah.

Personal bonds are broken, without thought, for worldly gains, no matter how insignificant they may be. A good character is a fast disappearing commodity. Fitnah is overtaking our lives in all aspects and we don’t fear the consequences and accountability of our actions. We still see ourselves as the one who is the ‘saved one’. The Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him said: ‘Take advantage of good deeds, in the time of Fitnah, as it will come as dark nights. A person would wake up in the morning as Muslim but by the evening ends up as disbeliever, or would spend his evening as Muslim but wake up as disbeliever. He would sell his religion (deen) for any price of this dunya (worldly matter). Narrated by Imam Muslim

However, we do not seem to be in the business of resolving most of our conflicts; rather it seems that we are in a race to create even more conflicts and sustain them at any cost. Wise and cool headed leadership is needed if peace and justice is to be brought to the peoples in Muslim lands in particular and to the people of the world in general.  

Action and accomplishment in Islam

One of the most important values that Islam offers to people and requires of its believers, is to show their usefulness to human society. Islam is not an idle belief, nor does it proclaim ideologies that disconnect it from the practical aspects of human life. Islam is a proactive system in which believers are encouraged and driven to serve humanity. Anyone who studies the Quran and reflects on its teachings will find that the Quran combines practice with faith in many of these teachings. One of the shortest surahs in the Quran reads as follows: ‘By the time; man is indeed in the state of loss; except those who have faith and do righteous deeds, and counsel each other to hold on to truth and counsel each other to be steadfast’. Surah 103

Indeed, the spirit of Islam encourages and directs people towards the path of action and good deeds. The Quran, highlighting the purpose of human life in this world, says: ‘Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion of the universe, and Who has power over everything. Who has created death and life that He might try you as to which of you is better in deed. He is the Most Mighty, the Most Forgiving’. S67 V1-2

Islam teaches us that we must lead in action in every field and aspect of human life. It requires that human beings are useful in themselves and in their society. The Prophet Muhammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, was one of most kind and proactive persons in the service of humanity. In one of the earliest revelations of the Quran, Allah testified to his high character, saying in the Quran: ‘and you are certainly on the most exalted standard of moral excellence’. S68 V4

When the Prophet received his first revelation and returned home in terror after his first experience of contact with Gabriel (Jibreel), his wife Khadija comforted him and said: ‘Nay, Allah will never disgrace you. You indeed join relations, and you speak truth, and bear the burden of other people, you honour guests and help out the victims of natural disasters’.

This description of the character of the Prophet, by his wife Khadija, reveals the moral endeavour necessary when trying to serve and benefit human society. How many people have ever managed to offer such service to people?

In our time we have a Muslim Ummah, spread out over every continent of the world and exceeding 1.5 billion persons in number. More than enough, one would think, to contain many wishing to lead the world in morality and action.  But Muslims, with few exceptions, appear to be far too busy doing what the rest of the world is doing; running after the glamour of power and wealth and indulging in murderous politics.

Allah has created the capacity, in all of us, to become useful in human society and we never lose this capacity, even those of us who appear incapable of doing any good. Sometimes only a little knowledge with the right environment is needed to bring it out. But, knowledge and Faith, through which Allah raises the rank of people, are twinned in the Quran. The Quran says: ‘Allah will raise to high ranks those of you who believe and are endowed with knowledge’. S58 V11

No man should live in ignorance. Indeed, Allah wants and encourages all people to come out of the darkness of ignorance and inactivity and embrace a useful existence, enhancing their characters and their lives.

In a very famous hadith, the Prophet Mohammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, emphasises the religious importance of being useful to people and says: ‘the best among people are those who are most beneficial to others’. Islam has never been a selfish religious teaching. It is universal in its character and benefits all, whether they are believers or not.

The Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him also said: ‘the most beloved person in the Sight of Allah is one who is most beneficial to people. And one of most beloved actions to Allah is a happiness that a person causes to a Muslim (and for that reason to anyone), or helps remove from him a distress, or pay off their debt, or relieve him from hunger.’ Authenticated by Al-Albani

The Muslim Ummah has become so selfishly entangled with its own personal problems that the vast majority of its members are living with only the most tenuous connection to their religion. It is sad to see that Islam is no longer the driving force it was once in creating a socially lively, intellectually coherent, and practically consistent society, where people took pride in their worthiness.

Islamic ibadaat (obligatory and non obligatory forms of worship), in addition to their spiritual virtues, are meant to purify people from suffering of all kinds, including ignorance and an inactive state of mind. The Quran gives us an eternal principle for encouraging us into action. It says: ‘Allah does not lay a responsibility on any one beyond his capacity. In his favour shall be whatever good each one does (earns), and against him whatever evil he does’. S2 V286

The word ‘does’ is translated in this context from the Arabic expression to ‘earn’. It is the effort that one has to make to earn the pleasure of Allah and the emancipation from every suffering and source of suffering.  Earning goodness comes through positive action and engagement. A morally exalted person does make impact on others, however, sometimes it may also induce exasperation in others.

In the world, in which we live today, true Islamic ethical values and moral system must certainly be regarded as a blessing. Our proactive engagement in the service of mankind is nothing less than a religious duty which will earn rewards from Allah. The Muslim world has gone through very damaging processes of late. Sometimes resulting in self-inflicted wounds and on other occasions deliberate provoking impactful damage on others. Loyalty to Allah’s guidance and a purposeful collective action to honour ourselves with knowledge and spirituality, thereby avoiding what is wrong and in error, is one path to raise us higher in rank in His sight.

We need to display our resilience and become responsible people once more. Usefulness to others, whether to the Muslim community or non-Muslim communities, will help us to regain both our spiritual strength and the moral high-ground. It will also earn us a place in the hearts of all the people and only then will we finally regain our pride and honour and earn the pleasure and rewards of Allah.