Peace as an inalienable Human Right

A Statement from Shaykh Abdallah Bin Bayyah on Peace as inalienable Human Right;

• Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed. [UNESCO Constitution Preamble]
   
• Rather than seek justification for oppression and wars of ignorance incited by inflammatory media, we seek grounds for peace and wellbeing.
   
• As scholars, our duty is to wage war upon war in order to bring peace upon peace. If our intentions are pure, this effort is the best form of worship and the greatest service to our religion.
   
• Religious authorities have a particularly significant responsibility. None can stand by as a spectator while the staggering human and humanitarian costs continue to rise. Instead, we must respond to this explosion of violence like firefighters who strive to extinguish a fire instead of asking who started it.
   
• Peace is a right that precedes all others. Everyone has the right to live free from violence and to settle or roam freely. No one can deny another this right or cause it to be denied.
   
• To stop the destruction you are invited to think deeply, to share insights, and to take action. First, we will consider peace as a right and an objective that precedes all others. We will consider the grave dangers of neglecting peace under misguided pretexts such as sectarian and doctrinal divisions, mutual accusations of apostasy, misleading fatwas that legitimize bloodshed and the seizure of rights, or democracies and dictatorships that have led Muslim societies into darkness.

Presentation at the CFR. We all know the CFR has questionable links, but listen first and then judge later. The cart goes before the horse?

Further points from this statement;

Throughout history, Muslims made many treaties and agreements to avert war. Islam established internal peace through the Constitution of Medina and external peace by signing more than a thousand treaties and agreements with Europe throughout the Middle Ages. Islam also abolished the practice of blood vengeance from pre-Islamic times and established that only rulers had the right to seek revenge or proclaim jihād. 

We do not subscribe to Hegel’s belief that conflict is the driving force in society, that a constant struggle for control is inevitable, and that destruction is a prerequisite for construction.

Islamic values and the fiqh of peace are based on reconciliation and forgiveness, not antagonism.

The original purpose of the Sharī‘ah was to serve peace, but ignorant and distorted interpretations of the Sharī‘ah are now used to serve violence. Also, Sharī‘ah rulings belong to specific historical and societal contexts, which must be taken into consideration when applying historical rulings to modern realities.

It would be impossible for you to agree on everything, and so we call for mutual respect when differences arise. We ask you to acknowledge the value of diversity and the guarantee of freedom and rights to all without trying to enforce one’s views onto others, as Allah has guaranteed each of us the right to think and believe independently.

From Wikipedia on the Constitution of Medina;

Rights of non-Muslims. The non-Muslims had the following rights on the condition they “follow” the Muslims:

1. The security of God is equal for all groups
2. Non-Muslim members will have the same political and cultural rights as Muslims. They will have autonomy and freedom of religion.
3. Non-Muslims will take up arms against the enemy of the nation and share the cost of war. There is to be no treachery between the two.
4. Non-Muslims will not be obliged to take part in religious wars of the Muslims.

The voice of the Sheikh is one of the few voices in the wilderness begging and pleading the Muslims to actually practice their religion and not follow the voices of demons. His voice is searching for an audience. 

A wise scholar who promotes the concepts of Peace as an inalienable Right of all Mankind – males, females, and children. Blessed are the PeaceMakers. All tyrants and wrongdoers will be brought to account one day that is also undeniable. Peace.

Sources:

• http://peacems.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Pursuite-of-Peace-Morocco-Red-Cover.pdf
• http://peacems.com/?page_id=42&lang=en
• http://biblehub.com/matthew/5-9.htm
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgBwGmfXi5E
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU_u07DTdk4
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Medina
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5OVO5idRl0
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=107KAhzU6jY