Pearls of Wisdom

Friday, 22 September 2006
By Shams Ahsan
The Saudi Gazette

AS I prepare to embark on my five-week trip to the US on a fellowship, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a book with a handwritten note by the parents of Daniel Pearl, the journalist who was killed by terrorists in Pakistan.

“With your help, we can make it a better world. I believe Shams means ‘sun’ in Arabic, may bring light wherever you go,” wrote Ruth and Judea Pearl.
I was really touched by these lines. They know that I am Muslim. They know that their son was brutally murdered by those who call themselves Muslims. But they hold no grievances, because they look at the wider picture of humanity. They are compassionate because they know that those who murdered a citizen of the world – that’s how they described Daniel Pearl – were terrorists. And terrorists have no country or religion. Terrorism is a disease.

Violence is no answer to violence. Anger only begets anger. If everyone starts brandishing the sword, the world will turn into a battlefield. Humanity will become instinct.

But then God has given us these qualities of forgiveness and compassion which can make the world a peaceful place. Today one billion people follow Islam, because it spread the message of peace, equality, understanding, brotherhood and harmony. It was not spread through the sword.

Prophet Muhammad won the hearts of the people with love. He said, “A true believer is one with whom others feel secure – one who returns love for hatred.”

Many of us lack these qualities. But those who imbibe these traits are at peace with themselves and the world, for they have nothing but love to share.

Generalization is yet another judgmental error many of us tend to make. The Western world stereotypes Muslims by generalizing the actions of a few. Muslims generalize the Western world as their enemies. But this is far from reality.

In this backdrop, the note of the Pearls came as a pleasant surprise. Another one, which took me by surprise, was the offer by my American hosts to make special arrangements for me during Ramadan.

I have not even started my journey, and many of the stereotypes are already breaking.

Respond to Shams Ahsan: sahsan@saudigazette.com.sa

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