Peace is a fragile commodity as nations and individuals find it tough to keep it from falling into pieces. New fights, conflicts and misunderstandings keep cropping up at homes, offices, communities and on the international front. Peace is always under attack as people and nations never cease chasing political and material interests instead of common welfare and stability. As Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, said, “Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means”.
Though the world has benefitted from stability and peace, it often slides into disorder and conflict for flimsy reasons. Perhaps, people don’t believe in what Mother Teresa said: “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” They ignore the fact that human beings have been created to complement and serve one another. Despite their origins, languages, beliefs, colours, people need each other. In fact, this is the reason why people have different interests, thoughts and capabilities.
Mother Teresa said: “Peace begins with a smile”. Possibly, people undervalue the importance of a smile, which they could share anytime. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) stated, “Your smile for your brother is charity”. Stressing on ways of spreading love and peace among people, the Prophet said, “You will not enter paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you about something, which if you do it, you will love one another? Spread salaam (greetings) among yourselves”.
This is just a simple way of ensuring peace among humans as a smile speaks all languages. With a smile on the face, one can break the ice, greet and talk with others. Thus, a smile marks a way of showing understanding as Albert Einstein advised that peace cannot be kept by force, it can only be achieved by understanding.
Speaking in this context, I’m referring to a personal experience of being among an official Omani media delegation to Palestine a decade ago. We witnessed fluctuating days in the life of the Palestinian community with moments of conflicts, fights and peace on different days and in cities in Palestine. Further, we had the privilege to visit Jerusalem and pray at the Holy Mosque, Al Aqsa.
Al Aqsa has a very special place in the hearts of the entire Muslim community worldwide due to its unique and rich history as a place of worship that is so closely linked with the lives of many Prophets. It stands at the heart of Jerusalem's old city, being the third holiest mosques in Islam, after the holy mosques in Mecca and Madina in Saudi Arabia. When built in the 8th century AD, it was representing the first qibla (Praying direction) in Islam. It is home to two holy places, the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque.
Another rewarding experience was visiting the Nativity Church in Bethlehem, where the Prophet Jesus was born. It was such a remarkable religious landmark attracting Muslims and Christians together. Hence, it brings a sort of peace among them to an extent that people from both religions are queuing up to see different attractions and corners of the church. The delegation had one more memorable visit to Al Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron (Al Khalil City). It is believed to be home of the remains of Prophet Abraham, his wife Sarah, their son Isaac and grandson Jacob, and their wives Rebecca and Leah.
Being in Palestine for around 10 days allowed us to have firsthand experience to observe peaceful coexistence between peoples of different beliefs. Though such unstable peace brings frequent tensions, constant fights and social violence due to the fight for Jerusalem, which marks the history of Earth and Heaven as attributed by Benjamin Disraeli, a British novelist a prime minister.
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