A world of turmoil needs a solution

Islamic teachings can bring calm and tranquillity into people’s lives if they are followed in sincerity and with guidance. Neither yoga nor mental and physical exercises or even the strongest tranquillisers are of any use if the world of a person has turmoil at its core.  The concept of ‘jihad bin-Nafs’ in Islamic theology is designed to encourage a combative spirit in people, assisting them in their fight against all that inspires evil and malicious acts within themselves or those provoked by the actions of others from the outside world. The Quran, in a half sentence of a verse, put it succinctly, says: ‘Allah loves not those who create mischief’. S28 V77

If this verse is properly understood, then all those who believe in God the Creator and the Master of the worlds, will also understand why ‘al-Fassad’ is so disliked by God. Al-Fasaad, translated as mischief or corruption, is at the root of all our problems. It steals into the world of human peace and tranquillity when we compromise our relationship with God. When Muslim pilgrims circle the Ka`bah, it evokes imagery of how our lives revolve around the One God and His Peace. When we break away from this circling movement around God, in an attempt to create our own imagery, stupidly thinking ourselves wiser than our own Creator, then we tear open the floodgates of mischief and corruption.

Although we are all looking for our own peace in this world of appalling turmoil we continue to fail miserably in our attempts to attain it. Indeed, the Muslim world, in general, appears unable to adopt an Islamic peace or to demonstrate that God’s guidance about peace is true or that we even believe in our own arguments.

In a beautiful hadith, the Prophet Mohammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, says: ‘I am the leader of a house in the lower Paradise (Al-Jannah) for people who leave argument even though they were right. And I am the leader of a house in the middle Paradise for people who do not lie even in joking, and I am the leader of a house in the upper Paradise for people who seek to beautify the moral (aspect of their) character. Narrated by Abu Daud in the Book of Al-Adab.

Even in the matter of inviting people to God, Allah guides us saying: ‘O prophet! Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation and reason with them in the best manner possible’. S16 V125

Further, it guides Muslims in how to treat their opponents: ‘Argue not with the People of the Book except in the fairest manner, unless it be those of them that are utterly unjust’. S29 V46

War is not sanctioned in Islam, except to suppress a warring party who is spreading mischief in the world and bringing misery and destruction to the lives of people. However, Islam does encourage the pacification of groups of people and nations by treaties and conventions, so that peace can be established among the peoples of this world.  The Prophet did just this when he arrived in Madinah, when he wrote the first treaty of nations (tribes and religious groups) and everyone agreed upon it.

The turmoil in our world is of our own making and the result of our actions, or inaction. It most certainly does not come from God. The Quran says: ‘corruption (al-Fasaad) has become rife on the land and at sea because of men’s deeds; this in order that He may cause them to have a taste of some of their deeds; perhaps they will turn back (from their evil deeds). S30 V41

Causing further turmoil to end a turmoil can never be the solution.  We need to reflect on the root cause for all the turmoil in our world. Allah’s beautiful Names contain one that is called ‘the Peace’. Allah is Peace, only He and His teachings and guidance will cause peace to happen and take root.

The leaders of the Muslim world, at every level and layer of the community, need to commit themselves to making the teachings of the Quran the most powerful tool in establishing harmony and peace in the world. The Quran is not a book of mythology nor is it a book aimed at the interests of any particular people. It is a Book containing guidance for the whole of humanity and every word is effectively and powerfully written. Its words should be delivered to all just as effectively and powerfully.

We Muslims appear to have taken a back seat and the Quran has been put on the back burner and neglected, even though we now desperately need it for the guidance it contains. Every group now appears to follow their own version of Islam and to have lost interest in the Islam of the Prophet, or the ‘Islam’ of others. This situation cannot be tolerated and must end, so that the blessed teachings of the Holy Quran take their rightful place in guiding the Muslim community.

We are fast approaching to the blessed month of Ramadan, the month in which the Quran was revealed. We should all make a commitment to understand and accept the powerful guidance of the Quran in the fight to end the turmoil in our own selves, in our lands and in the world as whole.