Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 302
302 fice their all in defence of their country would sober and deter an invading nation. (2) National prejudices are so strong that the people of every country are ready to lend their support to the aggressive policies of their government, merely because it is their government, without reference to the merits of the policies. This encourages a government to enter lightly upon war, confident that whether action is right or wrong it would have the support of its own people. If the principle laid down by Islam were followed, viz. , that the best help a man can render his brother is to prevent him from committing an act of oppression, a large number of wars and acts of aggression would be avoided. It is not true patriotism to support one’s gov- ernment even in unjustifiable aggression; it consists rather in saving it from a course which is unjust. In short, treachery on the one hand, and national prejudices on the other, are the chief causes of war and these must be remedied before peace can be hoped for. The world must realize that patriotism and love of humanity are not compatible with each other. The Holy Prophet sa has expressed this principle in a short sentence when he said, 'You must help your brother whether he is the oppressor or is oppressed—the op- pressor, by preventing him from committing acts of oppression, and the oppressed, by rescuing him from oppression. ' When a man tries to prevent his own people or government from acting unjustly, his conduct cannot be described as unpatriotic. On the contrary, he is actuated by true patriotism, inasmuch as he tries to