Islam's Response to Contemporary Issues — Page 113
Social Peace 113 To kill desires is no answer, according to Islam, to solve the riddle of life. Among many measures suggested to create social peace is the admonition that man should discipline and curtail his desires and keep them in check. Otherwise, it would be impossible for any man to achieve peace through the satiation of desire. As stated earlier, desires always run faster than one can pursue them. Small as these measures may appear, they are potentially very effective and important. For instance, the Holy Quran states: Strain not thy eyes after what We have bestowed on some classes of them to enjoy for a short time—the splendour of the present world—that We may try them thereby. And the provision of thy Lord is better and more lasting. 38 The Holy Quran prohibits thinking ill of others, or to be nosy and inquisitive or to backbite: O ye who believe! avoid much suspicion; for suspicion in some cases is a sin. And spy not on one another, neither backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Certainly you would loathe it. And fear Allah, surely, Allah is oft-returning with compassion and is Merciful. 39