This is the worst kind of non-violence.

This is the worst kind of non-violence. This is similar to the case of one who refrains from swearing back since he is dumb. Non-violence by design In this case non-violence is adopted in preference to violence on the basis of priorities. In this case one is able to resort to violence, unlike the one in the second kind above, but non- violence is not his 'second nature' as in the first case. Here non-violence is preferred over violence since it serves as a strategy to achieve his ob jectives.

It may be argued that the second category should not be called non- violence as it is not applicable! For example, can we say that an infant baby who is unable to respond back if hit is a case of non-violence? The answer would be that this is not what it is meant by the second category. What is meant is the capacity for violence, where th e use of violence would bring about the downfall of one's aims. For example swearing at someone who had slapped him or slapping someone who had shot him.

Just as non-violence is defined in three categories, violence is also classified in three categories, according to the law of pairs. And given that the probability that nonentity is one, therefore there cannot be several nonentities versus many existences, absolute existence is opposed by absolute nihility. As for external existences, they are opposed by specific nihility. Therefore the existence of X is opposed by the non-existence of X, but not opposed by absolute nihility.

Just as absolute existence is opposed by absolute nihility and not the non- existence of X. Either of the two absolutes have respective entities; just as they (the absolutes) oppose one another, their entities do too. Needless to say, two opposing entities should be equal in every aspect except in existence and non-existence. Therefore the existence of X is not opposed by the non-existence of Y. This is a philosophical debate that is beyond the scope of this writing.

The purpose of this debate is that it is imperative for the Islamic movement and government to be characterised by non-violence of the first category, i.e. non-violence by nature. This is because in addition to reaching the pleasant goal that will be characterised by continual existence, non-violence is a virtue that comforts the soul too. And what a difference there is between one who does something or refrains from something willingly and one who does so reluctantly.