Irrationality in societies is the main hindrance in the way of wisdom and in way to the God. The God's men can never be quarrelsome and obstinate. They are passive rather than aggressive. Obstinacy, irrationality, and pride of power had been causes of most wars in the history of mankind. One of the concerned groups is sure to have one of these vices. In many cases both the groups had no right reason to be on war. War is almost impossible among two or more just groups. If both the groups were/are on the right cause, why war?. For the believers, they can relinquish from their own deservings but can never encroach upon others. If they do so, then they are so called believers.


Behold obstinacy and irrationality in the religions cherished by people. In uncivilized societies (there are also uncivilized people in the civilized societies), if one says, there isn’t any God; they may mind it but will not take it seriously. But if one says there wasn’t that particular prophet they grow so furious that thy can do anything. They don’t consider that how there can be a prophet, if there isn’t any God. They can tolerate one abusing the God but if one gives remarks about their cherished personalities a bit lower than their expectations, there is much anger and in some cases, there are extreme consequences. Then they claim their action is very much holy. Has the God anything to do with such holiness?


A human approach in all matters and to all events of past and present is necessary for a true believer of the God. A believer has the God gifted eye (approach) to see all matters on pure humanitarian grounds.


I think (according to my knowledge of history) none of the parties in crusades were fighting holy war. These were also the wars among groups. None fought for sake of the God. I don’t find any act of holiness in the fightings between Pakistan and India, Palestine and Israel, or mujahideens and Russians in Afghanistan. My heart is grieved over the gruesome cruelties committed at the time of partition of India in 1947, on both sides of the border but none of the groups acknowledges his cruelties. I hate Adolf Hitler because he was a cruel person. He committed cruelties against mankind including Jews. I hate Hajaj bin Yousof, not only because he sent his forces in Sind (India),
or in Spain, but because he was a cruel man and was against humanity. Most of the wars fought by the Muslim conquerors were not holy and were not at all for the God's sake.


There is a time to take the wars of past among the groups as events of history and not as a base for erecting animosity or malice. When in power a group which has been very unjust to another group, seeks justice when overcome or subdued by the other group, but most often are denied, but the believers of the God don’t seek harsh revenge when they are in power. They are merciful and if they are not, they are not the believers.


The self defense is everybody’s right and war fought for this purpose is just if not holy. The war fought to protect innocent people, to stop the cruelties, to provide justice is holy. And if fought having in mind that the God likes it is most noble action one can do. The name of jihad has been so much abused that I shall not like to call this action jihad. The wickedness is wickedness and the cruelty is cruelty and being humans, we all know what these words mean. But the biased groups change the definitions, when they come to know, who committed it and against whom were committed. The God hates killing and cruelties, not making any difference, by whom were/are committed and against whom were/are committed. He is the God of universe, the God of humanity. He doesn’t like the atrocities of one group against the other no matter which groups are these. I wish for everyone his own liberties; I wish love amongst mankind based on equality and justice.

My mother brought for me a history book,
She says, it is interesting to read and is very useful,
It contains many events of thousand years ago,
Real stories about people of the world and wars also.


I read! What interesting people are in the ages old?
I enjoy their interesting ways of living and life,
They celebrate festivals, make loves, sing and dance,
But oh mom they now appear with spears and swords,
Oh mom, they kill and pierce, they are so brutal,
I shall not read and I don’t like this all.

Mother says, “It is so old, take it like a fiction and continue”,


This is the story of two brothers their daughters and their sons,
Happily they live, not allowing others to overcome,
The brotherhood keeps them united against all foes,
They grow in numbers and attain millions score,
Oh mom, they are now each others enemy and swords drawn,
Oh mom, so much blood, blood they share and I can't read on.

Mother says, “It happened thousand years ago and you need not worry”.


In this chapter some good and wise nations live,
Working, trading and reaping the crops they sow,
Eating, wearing and living as they like,
How to stand for prayers is the only dispute they have,
Oh mom, dispute, quarrel, scuffle, fight and war,
Oh mom, merciless, terrifying how can I read this all.

Mother says, “History can't be without wars and be not so sensitive my child”.


Here the nations unite to protect their sacred creeds,
Both groups tempt those who have the religious pride,
With shining swords they decide, who owns the holy sight,
The hopping horses and human blood will get them the paradise,
Oh mom, see the zealots fight to kill or be killed,
Both kill for the noble cause so who is on the God's side?


Here the pride of nations, not of religions scowls with much glare,
Big forces, big nations and for small they don’t care,
Much big armories, much big armies, in millions they count,
In millions they die, in millions they kill so they are great,
Great disasters, great explosions, oh mom too much great,
Ah mom, terrible, horrible, tell me where the God lives.

Mother says, “Be not divided and disturbed, here I tell you the simple truth.”


“My dear child, the God doesn’t want humans to fight and quarrel,
He doesn’t prefer any religion, race, nation or any group,
He hates pride in humans which makes them each others foe,
He is merciful equally to all humans and wants them to be so,
The devil, enemy of mankind and the God, tries to make this world dreadful,
And his followers assist him by being selfish, cruel and revengeful.”

akbar wrote (his final stanza of a wonderful work):

Thank you, my friend. --Steve--

__________________
That which the Lord hath ordained as the sovereign remedy and mightiest instrument for the healing of all the world is the union of all its peoples in one universal Cause, one common Faith
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 255)

To unite in the name of any religion,

To unite in the name of any nation,

To unite in the name of any region,

To unite in the name of co-operation,

Many claim it as in the name of God,

Definitely not, it is definitely not,

All it is, but for any selfish cause,

To unite to prosper, or for any mistaken path.

unite to struggle for the justice's sake,

To highten the love and lowering the hate,

Praise the God who blessed us with values great,

To defeat the evil and every good is humane.

Friend bahai 9 I am not well aware about your faith and can not name mine. It is still nameless and perhaps would remain so though I am appairently and by birth a Muslim.