Peaceful Social Life

In social life, often one is hurt by others. In spite of this one should have good feelings for others and have a heart free of enmity for others.

The Prophet of Islam once observed: “Do not bear malice towards others, do not be jealous of, or feel enmity for one another. O servants of God! Live like brothers; it is not lawful for a Muslim to stay away from his brother for more than three days.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6065)

How should we lead our lives in human society? A natural example has been set by God in the immediate life we lead. Take the example of brothers and sisters. In every home, there are brothers and sisters. By the very force of nature, the brother is the well-wisher of his sister. He loves his sister and is concerned with her problems. He cares for her needs just as if they were his own. That is what makes every home a cradle of peace. The way a person lives in his home is exactly the way he should live in society. Everyone’s home is a natural model which tells us how to live in society and if a person lives in society just as he lives in his own home, the whole of society will become one of peace and well-wishing.

What is this natural model? It is that everyone is the well-wisher of others. Everyone is free of malice for others. People are happy with the progress others make. If anyone makes progress in society, others should not be jealous of him. Every man and woman should have good feelings for others. Their hearts should be free of enmity for others. In social life, it often happens that one is hurt by others. On such an occasion, the one who has been hurt ought to forgive the one who has hurt him.

If sometimes some issue escalates and they keep their distance from one another, they may do so for only three days. After three days, it is incumbent upon them to cool their anger and start meeting with one another again in a normal way.