Transcript DEVELOPMENT through UNILATERAL PEACE in a GLOBALIZED WORLD An Islamic Perspective by: Naghma Siddiqi At National Seminar on Globalization, Multiculturalism and Peace-building in the XXI Century.

DEVELOPMENT through UNILATERAL
PEACE in a GLOBALIZED WORLD
An Islamic Perspective
by: Naghma Siddiqi
At National Seminar on
Globalization, Multiculturalism and Peace-building in the XXI
Century Prospects and Challenges
organized by Interfaith Foundation India at New Delhi
on 19-20 April, 2014.
WHAT IS GLOBALIZATION?
Globalization is the process of international integration of
world views, products, ideas, technology and other aspects
of culture including improved transportation, banking,
communication, technology.
The Result: A ‘global village’ of multicultural, multi-religious
and multi-ethnic societies
Benefits: freedom and plentiful opportunities for all.
Drawback: Differences in multi-cultural, multi-religious and
multi-ethnic societies often lead to problems & confrontations
that often lead to clashes, conflicts, violence and war.
THE QUESTION: How can peace and development take place in
a globalized world?
“And God calls to Home of Peace, (Darussalam)” – Quran, 10: 25
“Reconciliation (Sulh) is the best option.” – Quran, 4: 128
WHAT IS PEACE?
Peace is the master key that paves the way to continuous and
sustainable development in individuals, and in turn, in society.
The Need: Peace is a pre-requisite for all forms of progress and
development. No peace, no development.
Definition of Peace: Peace is defined as the ‘absence of war,’
‘the good life,’ ‘presence of justice’ and even ‘plural peaces’.
The Problem: There is no clear definition of peace.
THE STUDY DEFINES PEACE: As the presence of opportunities.
PEOPLE who want to avail of the OPPORTUNITIES have to
maintain PEACE UNILATERALLY as peace opens doors to them.
STRIVING towards OPPORTUNITIES people DEVELOP and
become an instrument of development in society and nations.
“And God calls to Home of Peace, (Darussalam)” – Quran, 10: 25
“Reconciliation (Sulh) is the best option.” – Quran, 4: 128
WHAT IS DEVELOPMENT?
Development is the process of advancement or gradual
unfolding by which anyone or anything grows.
Individual Development: The growth of an individual in his
lifespan, from conception to death.
Human Development: The cumulative development of
individuals throughout human history.
Sustainable Development: The ability to sustain individual
development by unilaterally maintaining peace and striving
positively towards one’s goals. This further lead to
development in society, groups, nations and internationally.
THE STUDY DEFINES DEVELOPMENT: as the sustainable,
continuous growth of individuals in society.
DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDUALS cumulatively leads to
continuous, sustainable development in a society and nations.
“And God calls to Home of Peace, (Darussalam)” – Quran, 10: 25
“Reconciliation (Sulh) is the best option.” – Quran, 4: 128
TRANSFORMATION TO CULTURE OF PEACE, SALAM & RECONCILIATION, SULH
UNESCOs Culture of Peace Program.
“Because the new millennium must be an opportunity to transform-all together the culture of war and violence into a culture of peace and non-violence.” – UNESCO
Manifesto 2000 for Culture of Peace and Non-Violence
In Islam such a positive change is called tazkia-e-nafs or purification of the
self. (Quran 70:26), linking it to success:
‘He, who undertakes tazkia (purifies his thought), shall indeed be
successful.’– Quran 87: 14
MUZAKKA PERSONALITIES TRANSFORM from the Culture of Violence and
Confrontation to the CULTURE OF PEACE AND RECONCILIATION.
Culture of Violence & Confrontation
Hatred I Ill-will I WE-THEY Ethics I
Confrontation I Violent Behavior,
Action
Culture of Peace & Reconciliation
Love I Well-wishing I WE-WE Ethics I
Non-confrontation, Reconciliatory
Action
This leads to peaceful, successful individuals and a pragmatically peaceful
and developed society.
“And God calls to Home of Peace, (Darussalam)” – Quran, 10: 25
“Reconciliation (Sulh) is the best option.” – Quran, 4: 128
INDIVIDUAL TRANSFORMATION LEADS TO PEACE &
DEVELOPMENT
Society is defined as a collection of individuals. It is individuals who act to
bring in change in society.
TRANSFORMING INDIVIDUALS IS THE KEY!
INDIVIDUALS: In Society I Administrations I Organizations
MAINTAIN UNILATERAL PEACE
OBTAIN AND STRIVE TOWARDS OPPORTUNITIES
FOLLOW THE PRINCIPLE OF RECONCILIATION, NON-CONFRONTATION
INDIVIDUALS, SOCIETY, NATIONS DEVELOP & BECOME PEACEFUL
“And God calls to Home of Peace, (Darussalam)” – Quran, 10: 25
“Reconciliation (Sulh) is the best option.” – Quran, 4: 128
INDIVIDUAL  SOCIAL PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT
In a world full of differences and problems the only way to maintain
peace and develop from the Islamic perspective is for INDIVIDUALS
to Transform Themselves to the Culture of Peace & Reconciliation:
1. FOLLOWING
IDEOLOGY OF UNILATERAL PEACE, SALAM: by
understanding life is a test so we have to limit our own freedom.
‘And God calls to the ‘home of peace, (darussalam).’ – Quran 10: 25
2. FOLLOWING
METHODOLOGY OF UNILATERAL RECONCILIATION,
SULH: to maintain unilateral peace: adjustment and compromise:
“Reconciliation (Sulh) is the best option.” – Quran, 4: 128
3. DEVELOPING MUZAKKA PERSONALITIES: by following UNILATERAL
ETHICS to become POSITIVE through Tazkia:
4. LEADING
‘He, who undertakes tazkia (purifies his mind), shall
indeed be successful.’– Quran 87: 14
TO DEVELOPMENT IN SOCIETY: As more positive
personalities succeed they develop societies and nations:
THE RESULT: Individuals become Peaceful, Develop and become an
instrument for broader change in society.
“And God calls to Home of Peace, (Darussalam)” – Quran, 10: 25
“Reconciliation (Sulh) is the best option.” – Quran, 4: 128
1. INDIVIDUALS ON CULTURE OF PEACE, SALAM
The Arabic term for peace is salam: inner peace and security.
FREEDOM OF CHOICE FOR TEST: Life is a test (Quran 18:29). Success is
for those who know, ‘my freedom ends where others’ nose begins.’
ACCEPT FLOWERS AMIDST THORNS: As men are free they can use their
freedom properly or misuse it. Thus man lives in a ‘jungle of problems’:
‘We have created man into a life of toil and trial’ – Quran 90; 4
DUTY-FIRST, NOT RIGHTS-FIRST: Realizing God Almighty makes man
accountable to Him, and thus duty-conscious, not rights conscious:
UNILATERAL ETHICS: In Quran divine guidance is likened to the path of
salam. (5: 16). Culture of Salam develops unilateral ethics in people.
THE CULTURE OF SALAM makes one realize one’s Creator, become dutyconscious, accept problems as a natural part of life and, thus, respond to
them in a positive manner.
Considering freedom as a test, those who want to develop limit it on
their own to develop and help form a pragmatically peaceful society.
“And God calls to Home of Peace, (Darussalam)” – Quran, 10: 25
“Reconciliation (Sulh) is the best option.” – Quran, 4: 128
2. SOCIETAL RELATIONS BASED ON RECONCILIATION, SULH
‘For Reconciliation is best.’ (Quran 4: 128)
DIFFERENCE MANAGEMENT, NOT ELIMINATION: When all have freedom
those who develop ‘manage problems rather than try to eliminate them.’
MAINTAINING UNILATERAL PEACE: In the face of provocation:
‘Repel evil with good. And you will find that one who was your enemy
will become your dearest friend.’ – Quran 23: 96
OPPORTUNITIES IN SPITE OF PROBLEMS: In spite of problems we
always have pragmatic freedom and opportunities if we maintain
unilateral peace.
‘With every hardship there is ease; surely with every hardship there
is ease.’ – Quran 94: 7
POSITIVE STRIVING THROUGH NON-CONFRONTATION: To succeed one
should strive positively through non-confrontation like planets:
‘each floats in its own orbit.’ Quran – 36: 40.
THE CULTURE OF SULH makes one manage problems, find and avail of
the opportunities and strive towards them through non-confrontation.
Those who form relations on positive lines are able to develop and
become an instrument of broader change in society.
“And God calls to Home of Peace, (Darussalam)” – Quran, 10: 25
“Reconciliation (Sulh) is the best option.” – Quran, 4: 128
3. MUZAKKA PERSONALITIES SUCCEED
‘He who undertakes tazkia shall indeed be successful.’ (Quran 87: 4)
MUZAKKA PERSONALITIES SUCCEED: When all have freedom those who
develop ‘manage problems rather than try to eliminate them.’
CHALLENGES LEAD TO DEVELOPMENT: Problems have a positive role:
‘All developments in history are due to the challenge-response
mechanism.’ – Arnold Toynbee, A Study of History
LIVING GOD-ORIENTED LIVES UNLEASHES ONE’S POTENTIAL: Living Godoriented lives, instead of self-oriented lives unleashes one’s potential:
‘Be devoted servants of God.’ – Quran
INDIVIDUALS DEVELOP  SOCIETY DEVELOPS: When individuals, the
building blocks of society (The Institute of Individual and World Peace)
develop they become an instrument of broader development in society.
MUZAKKA PERSONALITIES DEVELOP SOCIETY: When individuals
transform to the culture of peace and reconciliation they are able to
succeed and lay the foundation for a peaceful, duty-conscious society.
This results in peace and development in communities, nations and
internationally.
“And God calls to Home of Peace, (Darussalam)” – Quran, 10: 25
“Reconciliation (Sulh) is the best option.” – Quran, 4: 128
4. INDIVIDUAL  SOCIAL PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT
When INDIVIDUALS in SOCIETY, NATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS
Maintain Unilateral Peace-First, They find ample Opportunities:
‘With problems there are always opportunities.’ – Quran 94: 7
CONSIDER THE SCENARIO
STEP 1 Remove focus from PROBLEMS
STEP 2 Maintain UNILATERAL PEACE-FIRST  Obtain Normalcy
STEP 3 Focus on available OPPORTUNITIES
Step 4 Strive towards Opportunities through NON-CONFRONTATION
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
SOCIAL, NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
“And God calls to Home of Peace, (Darussalam)” – Quran, 10: 25
“Reconciliation (Sulh) is the best option.” – Quran, 4: 128
Thank You
Naghma Siddiqi
Centre for Peace and Spirituality International
Hamdard University