The Gulf Crisis and New World Order — Page 32
First Friday Senno11 Aug 03, 1990 impoverished, they possessed the noble quality of righteousness ( foqwa), but the oil-wealth seems to have torched this noble trait. Thus, the Muslim governments that sprang up, were essentially materialistic. It was incumbent upon them to adhere to the trait of Taqwa (righteousness) and impress upon their citizens to follow the guidelines of Taqwa. Mutual relations between the Islamic countries should have been established on the basis of righteousness. Disputes should also have been decided by following the guidelines of righteousness. Unfortunately, this has not been done. THE QURANIC SOLUTION OF ANY C01'1o'FLICT The teaching of the Holy Quran is not only universally practical but the Quran has also touched upon every cause of conflict that can possibly arise, along with the suggestions for reaching an appropriate solution. For instance, the Holy Quran accepted this possibility that disputes between various Muslim countries might reach a point of one Muslim country attacking another Muslim country. Discussing this possibility, the Holy Quran states: That it is possible that some Muslim powers may be drawn into such a confrontation with other Muslim powers which might culminate in an all-out war. In such a situation, it is the joint responsibility of the entire Muslim nations to establish peace among them. And if one Muslim nation insists on a defiant posture against the other and does not stop its aggression, then the solution is that the entire world of Islam should unite and subdue the aggressor. When the aggressor is inclined to submit itself to the Divine commands based on justice, then the operation must stop forthwith and efforts be made to establish peace between the warring factions. It should be borne in mind, that in the effort of reconciliation, Taqwa (righteousness) and justice must always be kept in view. The Holy Quran admonishes once again that you must follow the principle of fairness, because God loves those who are impartial. 32