Nations have always devised strategies to wage wars in the disguise of stopping injustice. But the world has witnessed many a time how truthful their intentions were and how fruitful such wars proved to be.

LAEEQ AHMAD DAR, QADIAN

JULY 24, 2020

According to Albert Einstein, the Fourth World War will be fought with sticks and stones as the civilizations and technological advancements would be completely destroyed after the Third World War. It is evident that the current circumstances are leading the world to another global conflict.

Given the fact that the weapons possessed by various nations today are far more destructive than those used in the previous wars, one can imagine how agitating the scene would be where the survivors will be struggling to deal with a post-apocalyptic situation. With only a limited amount of resources and means to sustain life, it would certainly be another fight for survival.

Governments are well aware of the destructive nature of wars and grave consequences which follow them. Still the worldly institutions do nothing to prevent wars. Instead, they are busy making defence contracts and securing possession of even more destructive weapons gearing-up for another World War.

Governments have always devised strategies to wage wars in the disguise of stopping injustice and establishing peace. But the world has witnessed many a time how truthful their intentions were and how fruitful such wars proved to be; particularly after the Second World War. Over a couple of months after the war, Albert Einstein famously said,

The war is won, but the peace is not. The great powers, united in fighting, are now divided over the peace settlements. The world was promised freedom from fear, but in fact fear was increased tremendously since the termination of the war….. The nations were promised liberation and justice. But we have witnessed, and are witnessing even now, the sad spectacle of “liberating” armies firing into populations who want their independence and social equality, and supporting in those countries, by force of arms, such parties and personalities as appear to be most suited to serve vested interests.^[1]

Thus, there is no doubt that it is ruin the world is headed towards. No matter how cherishing the voice of these worldly institutions may sound, how hopeful their promises are, they are only obsessed with a desire to fulfil their own interests. The worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community says:

Now, rather than focusing on the progress of the world, it is more important and indeed essential, that we urgently increase our efforts to save the world from this destruction.^[2]

Thus, in order to establish peace and harmony in the world and to save it from being destroyed completely, we must look for the proper way. We see today, nations are driven by their vested interests. Their alliances and enmities carry the sole objective of fulfilling these interests.

Here the Holy Quran reminds us that the purpose of our actions should be in accordance with the common good of man. It says:

And help one another in righteousness and piety; but help not one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allah; surely, Allah is severe in punishment.^[3]

Hence, this solution proposed by the Holy Quran seems to be the most accurate one, acting upon which will definitely make a paradise on this earth.

Out of his heartfelt concern for the security of the world and his ardent desire to make this earth a haven of peace, the worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has been for over a decade taking this peace-ensuring message of Islam to different parts of the world.

He has so far addressed various parliaments including the European Parliament, and written to many world leaders including Presidents, Prime Ministers and religious figures drawing their attention towards this cause. He emphasizes on the need to resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner. He says:

Hence, it is my request to you that instead of leading the world into the grip of a World War, make maximum efforts to save the world from a global catastrophe. Instead of resolving disputes with force, you should try to resolve them through dialogue, so that we can gift our future generations with a bright future rather than ‘gift’ them with disability and defects.^[4]

No sane person whose intellect is not stained by impurities of prejudice can deny the fact that these are the principles which can guarantee us peace at every level. Any peace-loving person would naturally be inclined to accept these ideas as the sole guarantor of tranquillity for mankind.

Hence, we should use all peaceful means to urge our governments to act upon these golden principles so that we may succeed in preventing the global catastrophe standing right ahead.

However, despite this, we see that there is a tendency to associate each and every occurrence of terrorism and inhumanity with religion; especially Islam. But, it is an undeniable fact that it has always been Divine guidance which succeeded in resolving man’s problems and establishing peace in the world.

The greatest instance of such a revolutionary reformation can be witnessed in the era of Islam’s advent. Islamic teachings influenced the minds of the people to such an extent that their bestial nature was transformed into Godly attributes.

Hence, it is essential that we remove the misconceptions regarding Islam and present its beautiful and peaceful teachings to the world so that people may act upon them as this is the sole guarantor for peace.

The author is a graduate from Jamia Ahmadiyya Qadian, the Ahmadiyya Institute of Languages and Theology, and currently serves as a missionary in Qadian.

References:

[1] From the address delivered on the occasion of the Fifth Nobel Anniversary Dinner at the Hotel Astor in New York, December 10, 1945

[2] World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace p. 152

[3] Holy Quran 5: 3

[4] World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace p.144