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Good Morning.

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On this day in 1981, President Sadat of Egypt was assassinated whilst watching a military parade.Ìý His killers murdered him because he had made peace with Israel.Ìý Some 14 years later, a Jewish extremist assassinated Yitzhak Rabin, the then Prime Minister of Israel for signing the Oslo peace accord.Ìý Some commentators are of the view that this is one of those intractable conflicts that can never be resolved.Ìý However, I take the view that conflict and war are an aberration and not a perpetual state.Ìý It is at the moment of utter darkness and hopelessness that hope emerges.Ìý

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When we look at the biography of the Prophet we note that the Muslims of the nascent Islamic community were tortured, killed and forced to leave Mecca for Medina.Ìý Just as, sadly, we see within Islam even today, there were wars between the Meccans and the early Muslim community, with people killed on both sides - great bitterness and enmity divided them.Ìý However, it was through the courageous leadership of the Prophet that both sides made peace.Ìý Some of the Prophet’s closest companions had misgivings thinking that too many compromises had been made but despite this the Prophet was resolute in his commitment to peace.Ìý The state of peace enabled both sides to meet each other, develop friendships, trade and critically understanding between one another.Ìý The Qur’an states: ‘It may be that God will ordain love between you and those of them with whom ye are at enmity. God is Mighty, Forgiving, Merciful. [60:7].Ìý The Prophet said, ‘Fear God, and promote peace and reconciliation amongst yourselves, for surely God shall establish peace among the faithful on the Day of Resurrection.’

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May God bring peace wherever there is conflict and war. Amin.