In the name of God, the Kind, the Merciful

A systematic study of the Holy Qur'an-29

By

Dr Javed Jamil

EID MUBARAK TO YOU ALL

LAST WORD

The FINAL Document of Peace

            This is not without significance that Islam literally means Peace, and is defined as submission to God which means that peace cannot be obtained       without total submission to the Lord of the universe. Similarly Iman means total satisfaction which again can be obtained only through unshared devotion to God. When the Qur'an calls, "Enter Islam wholeheartedly", it does not merely invite its adherents to follow the institutionalised system of Islam; it also beckons to them that the real, comprehensive and long lasting peace can be achieved only through total acceptance of the System of God. In Islam, peace is not just a state of absence of war or chaos in society; it has the broadest and the most comprehensive meaning, in terms of extent, depth and longevity. Thus peace has to be not just personal, not just family and not just social; it has to be at all the three levels and in the widest discernible sense. At the individual level, it does not merely mean peace of mind; it encompasses physical, mental and social health. At the family level, it comprises peaceful relationship between the       husband and wife, between the parents and children, and between children themselves. At the social level, it does not only indicate absence of war or chaos, it also means absence of all forms of crimes and social tensions, and prevalence of mutual brotherhood and justice. Peace is also not something bound by time or space; it is as much for this world as for the Hereafter; peace is   eternal. And the best way to achieve peace, the Qur'an says, is to continuously engage in Jihad, which again has the most comprehensive meaning possible. Jihad is primarily aimed at achieving peace at all levels; it implies revolution: within the body, and outside. Endeavours to achieve peace, the regular (or major) Jihad, must obviously be chiefly through peaceful means; but if peaceful means are not enough to ensure peace, armed (or minor) jihad must be used, whenever unavoidable, in order to quell aggression, violence and mischief. Jihad is obligatory for every Muslim who must "enjoin good and forbid evil". But, before telling others to behave, one has to learn behaving oneself. This makes Jihad against "self" as the best form of Jihad. Internal revolution is a sine qua non for external revolution. The external revolution is however not to be forgotten; it has to remain the ultimate goal. The external revolution too needs to be achieved mainly through peaceful means: propagation, campaign against evils and ideological aggression against the ideologies that promote atheism, commercialisation of human susceptibilities and misguided concepts of peace and freedom. The combination of Internal and External Revolution alone can lead to real peace.

            In short the message of the Qur'an, the Final Document of Peace, is unequivocal; anything good and desirable has to be promoted, and anything     undesirable has to be discouraged. All possible means within the ambit of Islam are to be availed for achieving the goal. This goal however cannot be achieved with perfection unless there is unity of mankind; and mankind cannot unite unless it submits to One God, imitates One Prophet, follows One Book and faces One Direction. This is the real meaning of Wahdat (Unity) that is central to all Islamic systems of affairs. Wahdat of God means, in effect, the Wahdat of mankind. The only way of achieving the real peace is therefore in accepting Wahdat in principle, and in practice. The Wahdat of Muslim Community is also aimed at not against the Unbelieving world but striving the unity of the whole world in accordance with the commands of God.But this is to be reminded again that this unity of mankind cannot be achieved through force; this requires Da'wah, intellectual and mass campaigns and demonstration of concern for the whole humanity, especially the underprivileged. Islam must emerge as the Solution for the World and Muslims must emerge as the Saviours of Mankind. Only then we will achieve the purpose for which man was created and for which Islam was dispatched. Let us pray to the Lord of the Universe for the unity of mankind in total submission to His Law!

Quran is the Majestic Word of the Majestic Ruler of the Universe. If man makes an effort to understand it, it is because it is meant for him. Otherwise it is impossible for man to do justice to the Word of God. The greatest service to Him will be to respect His Word the way it deserves. It deserves not just to be read, understood or researched; it deserves to be applied. If mankind fails to apply it in this world, it will be a loser here and in the Hereafter. Individuals that make sincere efforts in that direction will of course earn the Pleasure of God; and this is all that matters.

Invocations (From Quran)

·        Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek. Show us the straight way, the way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray. (1: 5-7/A)

·        And there are men who say: "Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and defend us from the torment of the Fire!" (2: 200-201/A)

·        "Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our Lord! Lay not on us a burden Like that which Thou didst lay on those before us; Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear! Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness! Have mercy on us! Thou art our Protector; Help us against those who stand against faith." (2: 286/A)

·        "Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and anything we may have done that transgressed our duty: Establish our feet firmly, and help us against those that resist Faith." (3: 147/A)

·        "Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls: If thou forgive us not and bestow not upon us Thy Mercy, we shall certainly be lost." (7: 23/A)

·        "O my Lord! Forgive me, my parents, all who enter my house in Faith, and (all) believing men and believing women: and to the wrongdoers grant Thou no increase but in perdition!" (71: 28/A)

·        Say: "O God. Lord of Power (And Rule), Thou givest power to whom Thou pleasest, and Thou strippest off power from whom Thou pleasest: Thou enduest with honour whom Thou pleasest, and Thou bringest low whom Thou pleasest: In Thy hand is all good. Verily, over all things Thou hast power. Thou causest the night to gain on the day, and thou causest the day to gain on the night; Thou bringest the Living out of the dead, and Thou bringest the dead out of the Living; and Thou givest sustenance to whom Thou pleasest, without measure." (3: 26-27/A)

·        And remember Abraham and Isma'il raised the foundations of the House (with this prayer): "Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us: For Thou art the All-Hearing, the All-knowing. Our Lord! make of  us Muslims, bowing to Thy (Will), and of our progeny a people Muslim, bowing to Thy (will).." (2: 127-128/A)

·        "Say: "O my Lord! Let my entry be by the Gate of Truth and Honour, and likewise my exit by the Gate of Truth and Honour; and grant me from Thy Presence an authority to aid (me)." (17: 80/A)

·        "Our Lord! bestow on us Mercy from Thyself, and dispose of our affair for us in the right way!" (18: 10/A)

·        "O my Lord! bestow wisdom on me, and join me with the righteous; Grant me honourable mention on the tongue of truth among the latest (generations); "Make me one of the inheritors of the Garden of Bliss; Forgive my father, for that he is among those astray; And let me not be in disgrace on the Day when (men) will be raised up... (26: 83-87/A)

Now await in patience the command of thy Lord: for verily thou art in Our eyes: and celebrate the praises of thy Lord the while thou standest forth, And for part of the night also praise thou Him,- and at the retreat of the stars! (52: 48-49/A)