Of Non-Violence :
Which culture of peace for the 21st century?
The divine look of adepts of non-violence
Non-violence
conceived and practised by figures whose names have been retained by
history, refers
to
the divine which has always manifested itself through a Messenger.
For
a better understanding of the action of theses followers of non-violence,
it is very significant to understand the role of the human being and what
conception these great men have of relation in their struggle for God’s
truth. In fact, there is but one relation, the relation with the Divine
One. This relation with the Divine One is characterized by two ways. To
be more explicit, we shall start with the original relation.
At the origins of relation
Relation with the angels
Upon learning this, the angels replied, focusing
on one aspect of Adam's nature :
« He will shed blood and spread corruption
on Earth
while
we glorify You and praise You»
This reaction stemmed from the fact that, in the creation of Adam, they
did not see the hand of God. Thus, they had based themselves on a difference
by reference to themselves to establish a relation with Adam and at the
same time to underline more or less, an error of the Lord. When their Lord
made them discover the divine element in His creation, they came back repentant
towards Him and acknowledged the divine reality of Adam.
Relation with Iblis
Iblis refused to execute the order of the Lord, calling upon the argument
of the inferiority of Adam's nature, made of earth compared to his own,
made of fire. The fact of seeing Adam only as « earthly nature » compared
to him as « nature of fire » and the non-respect of this difference wanted
by the Lord, projected him to the height of all vices, pride. It is this
vice which generates all forms of injustices (be they social, cultural,
cultual or economic) in relation with others. Indeed, Iblis' reply indicates
that, in his eyes, the other did not have the aptitude to contain a divine
reality.
Thus
any relation in life is seen at these two levels :
Or
one recognizes this noble distinction only in one category of human beings
On
the basis of this, one can easily understand how religion, throughout history,
has contributed to all genocides by perpetuating them directly or by encouraging
them against those who do not share the same beliefs.
Characteristics of men of peace
All this struggle of men of peace has been to save humankind from this outlook (*prejudice) and this form of relation which denies the other one the divine manifestation in his being. These men have neither enemies nor friends. They have fought neither for a country, nor for a race or a culture. They have fought for all humanity, without any exclusion.
To
follow their steps is first and foremost to live and to make others live
this fundamental truth, namely that there exists only one relation which
is the relation with the Divine One. So, for them, there was only one authority,
the authority of God. God alone is Almighty, God alone is Wealthy, God alone
is All-Knowing. He exercises not a single form of injustice.
the
relation with the Divine.
There
is but one authority,
It
is God's authority.
Spiritual foundations of peace
Love
The
man of peace is aware of the origin of humanity, born from the divine desire
founded on love. Each human being is an expression of this love.
Freedom
It is the recognition of this singularity and the particularity of each person, group or race. It is also the recognition that each one is his own teaching support to know God's truth. The Lord Himself says « By the soul, And the proportion and order given to it; And its inspiration, as to its wrong, and its right » (Quran 91:7-8).
Choice
Choice does not consist in preferring one thing among a multitude of others. The choice consists in determining oneself in relation to these things which exclude themselves mutually and where one provokes the disappearance of the other, like peace versus violence or love versus hatred.
This denotes a pair of opposites.
It is to be noted that violence is always a reaction vis a vis peace.
For example, in the center of this problematic relation, it can be seen that fear seizes a person who, feeling the danger of disappearing, reacts in making use of force to overcome the other, crushing the latter completely. This is sheer violence which wants to kill peace. Let us note however that death cannot put an end either to the action or to the thought of the victim of violence. On the contrary, death immortalizes his action because he has made the choice of God's truth.
Having made this choice, all his action is orientated around these two axes.
The
environmental axis :
He
does not make any difference among differences. On the contrary , he makes
harmony out of it to realize divine unicity.
The
Being :
Being
first to be able to Do and to Do to be able to Have. This Have is one of
Peace, that makes of the individual a creator of solidarity, of peace and
sharing.
Service
The whole of humanity constitutes a family ruled and cared for by the Lord. The most cherished by God is the one who makes himself most useful to this family.
Spiritual foundations of violence
Exacerbation of differences
All the differences, be it of language, religion, race, culture or country, are taken into account and exacerbated in order to establish a scale of values. From this scale of values, a model of reference for all will be drawn, to which all the rest will have to identify and assimilate themselves.
Control over economy
A total control of the economy on the basis of this scale of values is required in order to make real this world of difference which gives rights to a certain category of people and denies them to others. The reproduction of this model brings about the setting up of a caste of privileged people who dominate the others on the basis of the economic power which draws its origin on the accentuation of differences manifested, in the scale of values.
To Have in order to Do and to Do in order to Be
In fact, all the life of beings, according to this model of references, will turn around three axes: To Have in order to Do and to Do in order to Be. This model is fundamentally based on violence. To Have has absolute control for one cannot do and thus exist and be because one has. On the other hand, peace rests rigorously on the opposite model. Herein lies the pair of opposites.
Hence the physical law of Action-Reaction is seen where the man of peace is in the state of action whereas the man of violence is in the state of reaction. All the combat between the man of peace and the man of violence will revolve around this process. In accordance with the original nature of the being, which is Love, the man of Peace aspires only to serve, for his Lord is the first Servant of Humanity and it is by serving that he becomes One with Him.
One man was able to embody the culture of peace and
to live the principle of non violence by raising very high the torch of
God's truth in the love of beings and all creatures without any distinction:
Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba, the slave of God and the Servant of the Prophet (PBUH).
Sheikh
Ahmadou Bamba
Slave
of God, Servant of the Prophet
Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba, source of inspiration
Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba recognized but one authority and but one truth, that of his Lord. He adhered strictly to this authority and truth. His reference in thought and in act was the Prophet Sayidinna Mohammad (PBUH) and the model was based on service rendered to the whole of humanity. This is in accordance with the Lord's saying that Mohammad (PBUH) has been sent as Mercy for the whole of Humanity.
The whole process of the establishment of the colonial administration was
effected under heavy military constraint. The colonizer knew only the
language of force and imposed itself only by using this force. This culture
of physical and moral violence was therefore its favourite and usual way of
operating. Since the Sheikh recognized only God's authority, the colonial
administration considered this declaration as an offence and sought to drive
him to use its strategy - the use of force, violence to bring about
annihilation. In conformity with a culture and practice of peace embedded in
his very being, Sheikh did not react to provocations and humiliations.
During his transfer to Dakar, soon after his trial in 1895, which marked a
long period of exile triggered by the relentless attitude of the Governor of
the colony, it happened that one night he was detained in inhuman conditions
in a dark, narrow cell. It was strewn with metal bars and pointed
spearheads, which prevented him from either lying down or sitting. This made
him write :
« Each time I recall this night, this Governor and the ignominy (of the conditions of this detention), I felt like having recourse to arms, but Al-Mahi, the Eraser (of sins and pains), the Prophet (PBUH) forbade me ». Extract from Jaza'u Shakur
Non violence is therefore the basis
of active dynamic and merciful faith of the Sheikh and this extract truly
confirms that God and His Messenger, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), were the
sources of inspiration for all the action he undertook.
God and Muhammad suffice me,
I have no need of minor kings and auxiliairies
The Non-violence of Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba
Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba, Figure of Divine Non-violence
The Prophetic action of Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba