Islam & Peace - Principle of Conversion

In a certain verse of the Qur’an, true believers are stated to be willing to forgive when they are angered, or, to put it in another way, they convert their anger into forgiveness. This is an important part of the teachings of Islam, and it has been described in the Qur’an in different ways. For instance, at one place, it is stated that ‘good and evil are not equal.’

If we reflect upon the whole complex system according to which our world functions, we shall come to the conclusion that it is essentially one of conversion. Through the conversion of matter, energy is created. Through the conversion of soil’s nutrients, trees are grown. The cow eats grass and the grass is converted by it into milk. Indeed, all kinds of progress depend upon this principle of conversion in the universe.

Man likewise is subject to these very processes, the lives of individuals as well as the cohesion of society being dependent upon this universal principle. In the case of true believers, the conversion is of anger into forgiveness. This is achieved by extinguishing the fire of revenge within themselves. Their hatred is then converted into love. In short, on all occasions when one reacts negatively to the misdeeds to one’s fellow-men, one must make every endeavor to take this negative reaction and convert it into positive action.

This principle was exemplified in many ways throughout the life of the Prophet Muhammad. For instance, he had good reason to regard the Meccans as objects of his vengeance, for they had stubbornly opposed his message, forced him to leave the city and subsequently had waged was with the Muslims without there having been any provocation on the part of himself or his companions. But when Mecca was conquered, he did not treat them as war criminals which is, in effect, what they were, but, instead, forgave them unconditionally and unilaterally. The Prophet did not wreak his revenge on a single one of them.