Wronging, hurting or harming anyone is not the ideal of Islam, whose moral foundation is mercy, restraint, forgiveness and justice. That is how Maisara Jannat presents the Islamic teaching on non-violence in a piece for Desh Rupantor, opening with a hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari: a Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand other Muslims are safe.
In the writer's explanation, the teaching is not limited to refraining from physical harm. Abuse, insult, taunting, false accusation and damaging another's honour are also a kind of injury, so a true Muslim's conduct creates safety and ease for others.
Anger is a natural feeling, but Islam stresses restraint in the moment of anger. The piece cites another hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari: the strong one is not the one who defeats others in wrestling, but the one who controls himself when angry.
Non-violence is closely tied to forgiveness. Verse 40 of Surah ash-Shura says the recompense for an evil is an evil like it, but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation, his reward is with God. In the writer's account, the Prophet, despite insult and persecution, forgave rather than took revenge and called people to the good.
Non-violence does not mean accepting injustice, the piece adds. When an innocent person is wronged, redress is needed, but it too must be just. Verse 8 of Surah al-Maidah instructs that hatred of a people must not lead believers away from justice.
The writer concludes that if respect for others' rights, sparing the weak, restraint in anger and asking forgiveness for mistakes spread from the individual to the family and society, hatred and enmity will fall and peace and goodwill will grow.
Source: Desh Rupantor
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