May peace prevail on this earth
A few weeks ago I visited the Argotti Gardens in Floriana, where I saw written on a pole "May peace prevail on earth". These few words drew my attention to write something about this important topic.
The single most important malady of the world today is the absence of peace. In the contemporary world, man, as a whole, has reached a high standard of achievement in material progress, made possible by the advancement of science and technology in every sphere of human requirement at a mind-boggling pace.
Nevertheless, man is not happy and content. There is growing restlessness, fear, premonition, lack of trust in the future and dissatisfaction with one's heritage. Man is in search of peace.
To establish true peace, we must understand the spirit of true justice and equality. Every religion has the same teachings of peace; every religion guides to establish peace. God Almighty says that peace will only come about with justice and benevolence.
So, this is the way to establish peace. Do justice! Every problem cannot be solved with force, but good and just treatment fosters a feeling of bonding and trust. The urge for real peace comes from the heart and the voice that comes from the heart is the only one that establishes real peace because it is based on love and warmth. The Allah Almighty addresses all nations of the world on the basis of humanity and says all human beings are created from male and female and they are all equal.
This teaching of brotherhood, alone can foster love, affection and equality. Peace and security cannot be established until people of each race and nation are able to recognise that they are indeed the children of Adam and created by a male and female and are therefore equal.
Islam says that all mankind is like a family and it can only look after the peace and security of each member, only if it lives like a close-knit family. The apparent differences in mankind are only for identification. As humans we are all the same, and have the same sentiments and feelings. Peace and security will prevail when each other's sentiments are cared for.
In the end I would like to write one thing. We can have peace in this world if the majority of the believers in this world, of whatever religion, develop in themselves the love and fear of their Lord.
Man cannot live at peace with himself nor can peace be vouchsafed for society without this formula; no other formula can work. It is only the love of God which can bring about true respect for His creation.
This is the ultimate philosophy. Without returning to God one cannot attain peace and without that peace, peace in society cannot be built.
All human efforts to create peace from selfish ulterior motives are bound to fail. If there is no God, there is no peace. That is the ultimate wisdom.
To establish real peace we must remember our Lord and love His creation, and try to live by "Love for All, Hatred for None".
It is my fervent prayer that Allah the Almighty makes the world understand the reality of peace, and may peace prevail on earth.
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William P Flynn
Dec 10th 2008, 22:38
GerryCowie has actually credited secularists with having a heart. Must be the silly season.
I like this time of year, GerryCowie. We secularists can crawl from our hellhole and move around freely for the next few weeks as no one would notice our devil horns.
We pass for reindeer when catholics see us doing the devil dance as they walk to midnight mass.
Joe Xuereb (London UK)
Dec 10th 2008, 20:36
Mr. Atif, from where I am standing, this is the ultimate folly, as in utter, as in self-serving. And Gerry, we know you miss the point every time so stop repeating yourself.
@ John Borg. Are you for real?
@ Flynn, William. Hello. Fun isn't it! Certainly better with no meddling doctors with egg on their faces.
John Borg
Dec 9th 2008, 21:26
Joe Bonetti and Emmanuel Vella - why do you presume that this fellow speaks for all the Muslim-Arab world just because he is Muslim and possibly Arab? Should all Maltese be called filthy because their streets are full of rubbish?
Gerry Cowie
Dec 9th 2008, 19:51
Peace to all!
Peace, of course, is not just silence, but I guess a contentment of the inner being.
Those who are religious are of course called to proclaim their beliefs and not hide them under a bushel!
How nice that the words of Mr Atif, uttered from a religious perspective can touch the hearts even of those without a belief or who have rejected the religion of their upbringing.
Even the heart of a secularist cannot fail to be moved by the sentiments of this man.
Joe Xuereb (London UK)
Dec 9th 2008, 17:38
cont./ Contrary to what many believe, a godless life is one of clear visions, and therefore one were attainment of true justice is possible (indeed the only way). When I die, and even if I am blown out of the way because of my love of true justice - life is about nothing but justice, remember - I will do just that, die and then a big Zero. But this (being killed I mean) would only prove my point. And please you others, save your martyrdoms for other worthies, I would want none of it. And certainly, I do not need Imamic panegyrics. Those should be reserved for those who could use some true, inner peace. Peace keeping invested in a tooth-fairy hasn't worked for thousands of years. Try something else. And get over it.
Joe Xuereb (London UK)
Dec 9th 2008, 17:26
This panegyric echoes what was said in the video interview given to Rosanne Zammit on 8.10.08 on timesofmalta.com by another imam, Mohammed El Sadi. Among other things, he more or less accused the Maltese as a Nation were becoming less tolerant and that the earth, place, country, whatever, we occupy is on loan and everybody, traditionally, was free to roam and indeed - and here was the trap - both Mohammed and Jesus were itinerants, strongly implying, 'hey you Maltesers, we're only doing what your dear Lord did. So shut up and move over'. You would say the Islamic terrorists who massacred innocents were not true Muslims. The rest live a subdued life, even working and appear peaceful. But theirs is a vested interest in appearing so. They await the day when they will take over. I live a godless life as I have seen through the God, Allah, Lord thingy. I have no axe to grind. My vision is clear and peaceful. Nonetheless, you are mistaken if you think I would give up my heritage, my churches even, passively and see them overrun by my version of infidels. To
use a cliche, 'over my dead body'.
Robert Agius
Dec 9th 2008, 16:57
"love him who is furthest away from you" F. Nietzsche (reply to love of one's nieghbour).
I find this rather preposterous and pretentious. No peace if there is no love and fear of god?!?!?!?!?! I guess real peace and love would come from people who do not need the fear or love god but, rather, do from a selfish, and egoistic compultion to love of humanity. Religous institutions have been, and i reckon will always be, a detriment to world peace. Unless,......
One keeps religion to oneself. There is one piece of (without selfish ulterior motives) universal wisdom for you.
'love for all, hatred for none......with religion, of lack thereof"
Joe Bonnetti
Dec 9th 2008, 15:23
For attention to: Laiq Ahmed Atif, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta, Ta' Xbiex..... It is good to state this "remember our Lord and love His creation, and try to live by "Love for All, Hatred for None", but how can we accept what you stated unless you first clean the Arab mentality against Christians. Just to mention what recently we encountered while in Egypt, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and in Iran when we had hanging a cross and holding a bible, the Arab that was with us told us to take and hide them as Arabs might come on us and kill us. This only happened last week, so we let you pray in European Countries like Malta, but not in Arab countries? WHY can you or any one who is a Muslem tell us why?
vincent a galea
Dec 9th 2008, 13:54
What lovely sentiments and may these pleas not fall on deaf ears!
I sincerely wish that those who perpetrated the 9/11 Twin Towers USA atrocities; the London Underground and bus attacks; and all the other killings of innocent lives all over the world, including the recent Mumbai bloodshed, read this contribution...
William Flynn
Dec 9th 2008, 11:25
Min fhommok 'l'Alla (from your lips straight to Allah), Laiq Ahmed Atif. As I remember this was a saying in Maltese often spoken by my nanna.
You remind us that we are all children of Adam. Last Saturday I was having a conversation with my father and he told me that the Maltese word for person (bniedem) is a corrupt "bin Adam". I'm not sure that's right, but it sounds right. Funny, I had never made the connection.
I belong to no religion, but any excuse, religious or not, for a time contemplating peace and respect for our fellows is most welcome; even by those who don't turn to God for it.
To man's eternal shame, the warmongers often kill in God's name; and God's name is often the last word spoken by their victims.
Emmanuel Vella
Dec 9th 2008, 10:55
Well said Mr. Atif!! I cannot agree with you more!! Were there is no God, there is no peace. We cannot have peace among us, unless we love God with all our heart, and love also our neighbour. This is the teaching of Jesus, the son of God. Jesus taught us to love our enemies, not to kill all infidels. Jesus suffered for our love and salvation, and did not send suicide killers, and terrorists to wipe out all non-Islamists. Let us all be truly tollerant towards each other, and accept other religions even where we are in a majority. Muslims expect to be accepted and tollerated. But do they accept and tollerate Christians in their countries? We all know the truth, don't we?
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