Islam & Europe - Peace, Identity & Integration — Page 56
56 ISLAM & EUROPE: PEACE, IDENTITY & INTEGRATION As mentioned, this verse also makes it clear that once peace has been achieved, the victors should not seek to crush or humiliate the defeated party. The wisdom in this is clear to see. Peace will not last if a vanquished nation is demeaned in any way, rather frustrations and grievances are bound to emerge amongst its leaders and public. Conversely, trust and mutual respect will develop if the defeated nation is treated with compassion and justice. However, today we repeatedly see that in the name of establishing peace, cruelties and injustices are perpetrated by dominant powers causing restlessness and animosity to develop. It means that any peace deal or truce hangs by the most delicate of threads and is constantly at risk of breaking down. Such instability is of benefit to no one except terrorist and extremist groups, who prey on the frustrations of people and we have seen the consequences of this for many years. In both the East and the West, the blue skies of peace and prosperity have given way to heavy clouds of war and injustice. Across much of the world, nations are being torn apart by dissension, revenge-seeking and a desire to degrade others. This state of unrest will continue to increase, until and unless international relations are based upon justice and integrity and fulfilling the rights of others. As I observe the world today, I can only pray that mankind does not continue to repeat the mistakes of the past. Instead, let us learn from history, so we can build a better future for ourselves and for our coming generations.