Reconciliation An Islamic Text

Based Persepective

An Islamic Text Based Persepective
Yusuf Morales
Ateneo de Zamboanga
A year..
Painful memories
Angst
Lost lives
Destroyed lives and properties

It is this moment
Foster reconciliation, healing and
understanding
Rewarded by Divine grace.
Textual sources
"So have Taqwa (fear and obedience) of Allah and
reconcile the differences between yourselves."[Al-Qur'an
8:1]
"Indeed the Believers are but brothers. Therefore reconcile
the differences between your brothers, and fear Allah so
that you may receive mercy." [Al-Qur'an 49:10]
"When two parties of the Believers fight each other, then
make reconciliation between them." [Al-Qur'an 49:9]
Most of their discussions do not contain any good, except
of the one who enjoins charity or goodness or peace-
making among people; whoever does that to seek the
pleasure of Allah We shall soon give him a great reward
(Surah Nisa: 114)
Reconciliation therefore
Highly valued in Islamic teachings
Ends hostility and grudges


The Prophet Muhammad
(salawatullahi alayhi) mentions..
In a narration that is attributed to the Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) it is said: The gates of Paradise will be opened on
Mondays and on Thursdays, and every servant [of God]
who associates nothing with God will be forgiven, except
for the man who has a grudge against his brother. [About
them] it will be said: Delay these two until they are
reconciled; delay these two until they are reconciled.
(Hadith Qudsi 20, Sunan Abu Dawood part 2 page 217)
Allah's Messenger peace be upon him said: "Shall I not
inform you of something that is greater in degree than
(optional) fasting, charity and prayer?" They said: Indeed
inform us. So he said: "It is reconciling the people. For
indeed causing corruption between them is the shaver!"
(Sunan Abu Dawood part 2 page 217)
Unfortunately
Today if we reflect among ourselves, we find
that our social behaviour goes much against
the above Hadith. When a man fights his
kith and kin over a trivial matter, belligerent
people would come in and worsen the
situation.
Reconciliation during the Prophets
(salawatullahi alayhi) lifetime
Constitution of Madinah
Treaty of Hudaybiyah
The Battle of Khaibar
In todays modern world
We need to bring these aspects of the
prophets life into our focus and emulate
these glaring examples of reconciliation in
our daily practical life. If we do it, our society
will be safe from plenty of evils. The
pressing need of the time is to reconcile in
the religious matters so that the Islamic
message of peace could be understood by
people in the world.
However..
Why is there fierce fighting and killing in
Muslim countries around the world
nowadays?
Because.
Many Muslims have turned a blind eye to the
pluralist and inclusive nature of Islam. They have
totally become dependent on exclusivist extremist
ideologues, regardless of the fact that such
ideologies are antithetical to the nature of Islam.
Islam basically seeks to establish peace and
reconciliation in place of war. It is such extremist-
minded Muslims who bring this religion into
disrepute by imposing a very conservative, literal
and exclusivist presentation of it. If the Muslims
start introspecting and reconciling, there will be no
fighting and no civil war in the Muslim world.
As such
we should have no problem reconciling with
people for economic benefits, when it comes
to matters of religion, we are not willing to
do the same duty with love and peace.
When it is evident from the holy Quran and
Hadith that there should be reconciliation,
mutual harmony and peace in all aspects of
life.
As we know.
Religion is synonymous with goodwill for
others. We should remember that there is
no use of religion without peace and
reconciliation.

Do we need a
reconciliation process?
Straight answer?
Yes!
Having a reconciliation process in
Zamboanga City

It is amelting pot of cultures, peoples and
beliefs
We have experience all to well the contours
of conflict
Martial Law
Climaco and Alih
Cabatangan
September 2014 seige
And the subconscious wounds are there
What has these incidents led us into
Social and cultural discrimination
Paradigm of social hate
This has made itself felt on the Christians,
Muslims and the Indigenous Communities
As such
a need for the creation of a reconciliation
process for Zamboanga City, whether this
may be a government or a third party
mechanism which may allow semblance of
transitional and restorative justice to operate
and allow a sense of healing for the people
of Zamboanga City.
How do we heal all of these hurts
and pains?
Such pain has been felt on many levels,
intergenerational, socio-cultural, political as
well as economic isolation.
This requires that the process should be
first, inclusive and all-encompassing and
second, focusing on healing the hurts
rather than focusing on the pain
experienced, a sort of moving forward for
the people of Zamboanga.
Who do we involve?
communities and sectors, both culturally and demographically
speaking so as to ensure that reconciliation happens from within and
healing becomes an innate part of that process.
All community leaders, irrespective of their socio-cultural affiliations
must move forward to embrace this, but primary leaders who should
move forward are the religious sector, who has the trust and
confidence of their communities. Community leaders that include those
who are traditional elders as well as political leaders can truly help in
this process.
The forming up of a third party reconciliation commission/body who will
come from different stakeholders and sectors who will be able to draw
up an inclusive program for healing and restoration, not of rights but of
respect and acceptance of each other as part of the culturally diverse
city of Zamboanga City.
For the record
IPMR Councilor Ishmael Musa has been
discussing this issue among fellow City
councilors
Has prepared a resolution for the
establishment of a Zamboanga
Reconciliation Commission
However,
Two of the many groups that oftentimes are
forgotten are first, the cultural workers, who in the
words of Kublai Milan, Mindanao Artist, who
primarily create art spaces that help in the
expression of healing of a community and who are
able to positively influence mindsets through their
art should always be an essential part of this
reconciliation process. And second the youth, who
are endlessly full of energyand can be invigorated
to heal the world with enthusiasm as well as lead
them towards full healing of the hurt that has
happened to Zamboanga.
We should always remember
Trust is not easy to gain in any situation,
most especially when there is much hate
and anger generated, this is where
peacebuilders should come in.
Peace indeed is the greater struggle that
we have to wage for ourselves deep within
ourselves