Violence… An Alien Phenomenon in Kuwaiti Society

Throughout its long history, Kuwaiti society has never known violence as a deeply rooted social behavior. From its very beginnings, it was built upon cooperation, compassion, and solidarity, anchored in a moral and spiritual framework that made peace the essence of relations among its people.

Yet the rapid transformations witnessed across the world in recent decades, accompanied by wide exposure to diverse cultures, have introduced foreign patterns of conduct into our communities—foremost among them the rising manifestations of violence in its various forms.

At its core, violence reflects a profound rupture in the value system that governs human behavior. And while Kuwait, by virtue of its faith, values, and social stability, has long maintained low levels of this phenomenon, recent indicators call for serious reflection. Today, violence appears in many guises: quarrels on the streets, disputes in schools, excessive outbursts in sports arenas, and tensions within households—all scenes alien to the authentic heritage upon which generations were raised and of which Kuwaitis have always been proud.

Faith remains the foremost safeguard against slipping into violence, reminding believers of God’s words: {And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth humbly, and when the ignorant address them, they say ‘Peace’ }[Al-Furqan 25: 63], and of the Prophet’s saying: “A Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand other Muslims are safe” (reported by Al-Bukhari). Such spiritual conduct calls for restraint of anger, preservation of dignity, and preference for peace over conflict. Hence, religious education in the home, school, and mosque has always been a cornerstone in fortifying society against deviations that may weaken its cohesion.

While it is natural for societies to be influenced by the changes of the age, the responsibility of confronting violence rests upon all: the family, as the first factory of values; the school, which must teach dialogue before instruction; the media, which shapes awareness; and the religious and social institutions entrusted with reform and guidance.

With its honorable human legacy and cohesive social fabric, Kuwait is capable of overcoming this phenomenon if efforts converge and institutions adopt a national project to restore the values of tolerance, self-restraint, and respect for the law.

Violence is a phenomenon that can be contained and uprooted through reason, awareness, and faith. As long as we hold fast to our will, identity, and values, Kuwait will remain as we have always known it: a haven of security, a land of mercy, and a society that refuses to harbor alien behaviors that neither resemble it nor represent its true spirit.