SHAFAQNA- Islam Today : Living as we do in a world of instant communication, not a day passes by in which we do not hear, read or watch news about a conflict somewhere which leaves many people hurt or dead, while the rest of the world searches for a solution. People living in the same country, on the same land, side by side for ages, suddenly start fighting against one another and cause the destruction of cities – sometimes even entire countries. When asked, every citizen on earth would say, ‘I want world peace’ – with the exception of a few opportunists who make money from war and conflict.
There are many think tanks and non-governmental organisations working to bring peace to the world, but when we look at their results, we see no progress. The situation makes one realise that there is a major intellectual flaw in the way the world operates. Due to the urgency of the dire situation we witness in the world today, this flaw should be corrected sooner rather than later. Today, as always, there are two opposing poles in the world. However, contrary to what one might think, these two poles are not formed by Muslims on one side and Jews and Christians on the other. Rather, these are the forces of good and evil which form the opposing poles. That is to say,
the supporters of moral values belong to one group and the adherents of ideologies that feed on bloodshed and violence belong to another. Christians, Jews and Muslims are all on the same side. The common beliefs, observances and moral values of all three religions are distinctly explained in their holy books, the Quran, the Gospels and the Torah.
As God commands in the Quran: ‘As for the faithless, they are allies of one another. Unless you do the same, there will be turmoil on the earth and great corruption’ (8:73). What we are observing today in the world is this turmoil and great corruption, and only an intellectual struggle in which believers are united against those ideologies which feed on violence will provide the peace and harmony that the entire world longs for. As God has commanded, waging a common intellectual struggle against evil together in solidarity and unity is the responsibility of all devout and sincere Christians, Jews and Muslims of good conscience and common sense.
This intellectual union is one based on mutual love, respect, understanding and cooperation. We have no time to lose. We must encourage this cooperation quickly – as every single day causes even further losses of life. We should determinedly avoid anything and everything that might lead to disputes or divisions, however small. The calamities brought upon the world by radical tendencies have the same source as well.
Even though the radicals we see today like ISIS, Boko Haram, etc., prove to be harmful and destructive, it is only ignorance that makes it possible for these radical movements to find supporters. People who are not properly informed, or who are misinformed, fall under the influence of extremist tendencies and adopt the ideas put forward by them without judging them properly.
With intellectual activities carried out jointly by members of the three Abrahamic faiths, we can eliminate the conditions that prepare the ground for radicalism and bring about peace as a result. It is an unfortunate historic fact that various conflicts have arisen between members of these three faiths in the past, but none of these conflicts were caused by the essential nature of Christianity, Judaism or Islam. All the conflicts and wars in the world have happened because of mistaken decisions and the ideas of nation-states, communities and individuals, and the reason behind these actions is invariably political or economic interests and expectations.
All three religions have a common goal and that is to ensure that all mankind lives in peace, security and happiness. Each religion says that any conflict violating that goal is wrong. Studying the conflicts throughout the course of history shows us that there is a great alliance which has been formed by the forces which target religious and moral values; the history of the world reveals this truth.
In order to bring about peace, we should concentrate on this truth and be aware of this danger. Up until today, the forces united against the good, and especially against the believers of the world, have exerted great might against moral values by combining all their means together. This is what brought about the conflicts and wars we are witnessing today.
However, it is in our power – in the power of the devout – to intellectually shatter that alliance and bring about world peace. When we are united, we can eliminate the negative and destructive consequences of irreligious and materialist indoctrination. Intellectual victory against the alliance of evil will enable us to establish a society in which moral virtues, peace, security and well-being prevail. But that can only be done by the sincere members of the three revealed faiths, Islam, Judaism and Christianity, joining together in light of this common purpose.
We need to invite all believers to unite around common objectives, to strive together against atheism and the hatred of religion and the radicalism which is the very source of that hatred. With that alliance we can put an end to social and moral degeneracy and spread moral virtues. All honest, conciliatory and virtuous Jews, Christians and Muslims, who are supporters of moral virtue, peace and justice, and are of good conscience and common sense, must unite in order to bring peace to the world.