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Peace and Sustainable Development in Chitral
- An
Islamic perspective
Human being is the vicegerent of Allah Almighty on
earth. Every creature is blessed with certain
qualities and capacities to effectively function in
life. Being the elevated and revered one human is
predestined to be the best among all creatures on
this planet earth. Every other unit is created for
humans with a purpose to meet the varying needs and
requirements. Allah Almighty reminds the sons of
Adam that “raise your eyes and you will see no
imbalance in the creation but justice and sobriety
(Al-Qur,aan)”. Each soul is entrusted with the
honour and responsibility to use all the available
resources and means to lead life as a trust not with
unbridled luxury or mastership.
The creator has kept one demand before his
vicegerent that is, to use the authority and
resources with sagacity and moderation so that
virtues are maximized and evils and tribulations are
minimized. The logic behind the creation of mankind
is nothing but to be disciplined accountability
before Him, to bow down to Him and to love Him more
than any one else in life. But to lead such a life
one needs a code of conduct, a modus vivendi and
above all a role model to be followed. To operate
life with precision an operating code (Al-Qur,aan)
has also been given to run it as per the ordained
rules and inevitable principles .This operating code
was first taught to our beloved prophet selected to
be the best and wise of all among all creation. He
has been called to be the beloved and meticulously
chosen to show to humanity the path of light, to
discriminate between truth and untruth, to
reconstruct the destructions, to harmonize the
disruptions and to create unity out of diversity. He
is named by the creator and sustainer of the
universe to be the real harbinger of peace and
development and the ultimate blessing upon humanity.
Speaking of him The holy Qur,aan (33:21) says “
verily we have sent him as a blessing upon humanity
for all the times to come”.
The arrival of holy prophet was a unique event in
the history of the world. Unlike his predecessors he
did not come for a specific nation or community but
for the whole humanity as the last and eternal
source of guide to sustainable success and
deliverance in all spheres of life. His birth and
his selection for the guidance of the degenerating
humanity was the beginning of a new age and a new
direction in world history. The fact remains that
when we make a comparative analysis of the pre and
post prophethood eras, we stunningly find that after
his arrival the whole world enters fundamentally and
comprehensively into a new thinking and stage which
is characterized with peace, awareness, harmony,
development which were the lacking elements in the
previous societies or ages. With his arrival a new
culture was introduced and a new social and
political system of life was designed. Developments
of human values were elevated and were given high
priority. Stability and progress was conditioned to
dispensation of true justice and practice of honesty
which were unknown to the mankind. He not only
introduced these concepts in his life but also
practiced them and proved their efficacy with will
and velour. Sir Allama Mohammad Iqbal in one of his
poems terms him to be the embodiment of truth.
Professor Howelt a western scholar calls him to be
the most successful person in all domains of life
who inspires the humanity with his intelligence,
character and wisdom.
The present world scenario shows that the current
age is living under a uni-polar world system. This
system has deliberately manufactured a “New World
Order” which gives birth to numerous challenges for
the Muslims of the world in general and Pakistan in
particular. Protection of its specific ideological
frontiers, cultural and social heritage, national
identity and political and economic freedom seems to
be endangered and at the edge of cadaver. Peace and
development all over the world is conspicuously
engendered. This contemporary appalling situation
calls upon the Muslims around the world to seek
guidance and education from the universal ideals and
teachings of Islam and practices of the holy prophet
so that the world once again becomes a cradle of
tranquility and serenity in all and sundry. This is
the “Cry of the Day”. However, the truth of the
wisdom is that humanity was given the “World Order”
fourteen hundred years ago by Allah Almighty through
His last messenger (PBUH) as to how to live and let
others live in peace and harmony, synchronization
and co-existence with clear guidance and open
lessons of success and failures.
The geo-political and socio-economic conditions of
Pakistan are exhibiting the demand that it should
not be too late to demonstrate prompt acumen on the
part of each and everyone to play its role to rid
the country out of the prevailing mounting social,
political, economic and cultural pressures and on
the most the ideological dangers hovering upon it
from all directions and quarters to make it weaker
day by day. To cope and grapple with such situations
it is mandatory on us that we should say goodbye to
the so called champions of democracy and liberation,
peace and development and espouse the traditions of
the holy prophet in letter and spirit in our daily
lives. In it solely lies the lasting secret of the
present national security and future progress of our
nation.
Analysis of the current situation in the country
shows that Pakistan is in the grip of acute
political instability, chronic economic challenges
and shooting social chaos. Despite of all this
Chitral retains its characteristics of peacefulness,
and social liveliness. In this regard the typical
geo-political position of this region has a great
hand. The land of Chitral has been a den of peace,
serenity and harmony. Its people inspite of their
backbreaking problems and ordeals dwellers of this
land have managed to demonstrate high examples of
hard work, forbearance, bravery and ethical emblem
with preach and pride. However, we can not
underestimate the mounting risks and underneath
challenges that could accompany the post LAWARI
scenario. This can pose unconscious threats and
opportunities to its people in all colours and
forms. All this can lead to a great social change in
all walks of life with both negative and positive
underpinnings. And its indications are raising heads
from all directions and the positives need to be
identified and supported whereas the negatives to be
nip in the bud before it becomes too late. This
silent change can have its drastic impact on the
social heritage and cultural harmony.
For the protection of its cultural unification and
diversity and social cohesion it is a must that we
should teach and preach the eternal guidance of
Qur,aan and Sunnah so that the process of peace and
development in this region should remain intact and
even could pave the way for national unity and
integration and with all its hidden potentials to
become a MODEL. Chitral has been blessed by Allah
Almighty with innumerable natural resources, rich
climatic zones and social capital. Being the largest
district of the province its bosom nurtures and
keeps with care the treasures of enough sweet
waters, precious stones, forests replete with
natural diversity, flora and fauna, fruits, wild
life and fast growing aware human population which
rarely exists in other part of the country as is
here.
Islam is the religion of peace in the true sense of
the word. The holy Qur,aan has termed it the path of
peace. The word “Islam itself means peace which is
derived from an Arabic word “Silm” which denotes
peacefulness. Hence, the spirit of Islam is peace
and nothing but peace. Allah also likes peace and
abhors absence of harmony or violence. The peace has
been repeated one hundred and thirteen times in the
holy Qur,aan at the start of each Sorah (verse) or
chapter. It is crystal clear from this that how
peace is prescribed and promoted in Islam. The holy
Qur,aan presents the universe as a model which is
characterized with harmony and integration in its
all domains. The beauty of universe has been
analogized with scales and its balance. According to
the Holy Qur,aan one of the characteristics of Allah
almighty is “ Al-Salam” which means peace. The best
society in the sight of Allah is “Darsul Salam” the
house of peace. If the Chitrali society is seen in
this perspective, there is no exaggeration to say
that there is peace and tranquility up to a great
extend. But the question arises that how far its
people will be able to retain its current position
in the face of the rising threads and risks is
remained to be seen. The answer to this that in
reality in the eyes of Islam peace does not only
means absence of war. Rather it means exploitation
of the available resources and opportunities and
pooling them in the right directions with right
purposes and aim so that future could be constructed
with more wisdom and moderation. The holy Qur,aa
supports the efforts for reconciliation and truth.
It says “reconciliation is the best action” (4:128).
The biggest aspect of the world order of the holy
prophet too was peace and development. Before this
the human society was suffering from enmities,
ignorance, war and violence. He presented the first
charter of human rights, peace and development in
his last sermon at Makkah which clearly
differentiated truth from untruth and right from
wrong in the light of divine laws. He called for a
society which was based on moderation, tolerance,
freedom and universal brotherhood and free from
exploitation and injustice in all kinds and forms.
The concept of peace and development which Islam
presents is based on piety. It allows the
utilization of the available resources with
moderation and justice and to the maximum benefit of
all individuals (stakeholders) in the process of
development. Allam Iqbal highlights the importance
of individuals by saying that destinies of nations
are in the hands of its individuals and every
individual is the key to the ultimate progress and
development of its nation. The concept of
sustainable development is not new to Islam in its
context. For the first time the word construction
and development was used in the holy Qur,aan in its
true meaning. That is to say, “cultivate the land” (Sorah
Hoodh V: 6). It further says that it is He who
created you and gave populated you on earth. Allah
gave all the resources in the custody of human being
and ordered to use it for the better purpose and
with justice. Here the concept of sustainable
development is self explanatory in the light of
Qur,aan that it should be free from exploitation and
used for the benefit of all with any discrimination.
At the same time Allah says that these resources in
reality are given as a trust from Him regarding
which the human beings will be asked on the Day of
Judgment. In Another place the holy Quran says
“everything which is in the heavens and earth
belongs to Him” (Al-Baqara, V: 280).
The concept of sustainable development in Islam
declares human beings to be the author and ultimate
beneficiary of it in its true sense. Qur,aan also
testifies this by saying that “we have venerated the
children of Adam. We supported them with canoes to
walk on seas and also in the land we gave them clean
food to eat and made them distinct and respectful as
compare to other creatures on earth” (Al-Isra, V:
70). This shows that human is not only the user but
producer too. To achieve this, humans has been
blessed with many abilities to produce for him as
well as for others. According to this sustainable
development is a multi-dimensional activity. It is
to maintain a balance in the usage in the present
and production of the resources for the future.
Infact the modern concept of sustainable development
is derived from the Islam teachings that “it is a
process of development which focuses of the
utilization of available of resources in such a way
that the capacities of future generation should be
able to benefit from it too in the best possible
manner”.
Islam stresses in its teachings on adopting a
balanced approach in all its aspects of development
with regard to social, economic and environmental
sustainability. This can result in collective good
of all without any discrimination. This will also
help in the eradication of poverty, promotion of
social justice, healthy environment for all and
useful use of natural and human resources for the
people of this region in the present and for the
days to come. On this basis of this discussion the
following principles are presented as essential
ingredients of the process of peace and sustainable
development:
• The process of sustainable development should be
based on comprehensive planning and coordination
under all conditions which should create a balance
between the international or national plans for
development and the territorial needs of the region.
• Maximum and just use of the resources should be
ensured in the light Islamic code of guidance and
teachings to deter any exploitation or preempt any
misuse of the available resources.
• To provide a support and guidance for the future
generations to utilize the resources in an
economical way with moderation so that the
quantitative and qualitative aspects of human
development could be ensured in the best possible
manner.
To conclude it is an undeniable truth that the
ideals of peace, development, morality and
perfection, economic rest and social discipline
which the holy prophet taught and practiced are the
hallmarks of Islamic society which the whole world
has utterly failed to not only produce a parallel of
it in all forms and shapes. Despite of the
astounding so called development of the present day
world human thought has not only desperately
succumbed to its abortive efforts to bring peace and
development nor has any civilization reached to the
heights of character which the holy prophet showed
through out his pious life.
Iqbal A. Shahnavi,
Islamabad.
09 April 09.
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