The words Islam and peace are derived from the same Arabic root, meaning peace. Islam means submission of heart, soul and body to a system based on justice and welfare. And a Muslim is someone who submits to the will of Allah, Rabbal Alamin or Creator of the Worlds.
Allah’s names as mentioned in the Holy Quran include Salam. Verse number 23 of Surah A-Hashr reads: “He is Allah, besides Whom none is to be worshipped, the Sovereign, the Holiest, the Bestower of peace, the Giver of security, the Protector, the Esteemed, the Exalted, the Majestic. Glory is to Allah from what they associate (with Him).”
With this in mind, most of Muslims name their children as Abdul Salam, an appellation we cannot found among non-Muslims. When one Muslim meets another, he says Assalam-o-Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakaatuh (Peace, Allah’s mercy and blessings be on you.)
While praying, the Muslims offer similar greeting to God’s Apostle. “O, Prophet, Allah’s mercy and blessings be on you.” They also express an identical feeling for fellow Muslims: “Peace be on us and Allah’s pious people.” Eventually, they end their prayers on a similar note.
Immediately after the prayers, Muslims say: (O, God! You are Peace and Peace is from You.) One gate each to Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid Al-Nabawi in Madina is known as Babul Salam (Gate to Peace.” In the Hereafter, Muslims will live in an abode called Darul Salam. In Surah Al Anaam, Allah says: “For them is the home of safety with their Lord, and He is their Protector, this is the fruit of their doings.”
While appearing before the Creator on the Day of Judgment, Muslims will greet their Lord. Verse number 10 of Surah Younas reads: “Their prayer therein shall be: Sanctity to You, O Allah, and the opening word at the time of their greeting is 'peace' and the end of their prayer is 'all praise be to Allah, Who is the Lord of worlds.”
Words peace and salam have been mentioned in 133 verses of the Quran, while the term harb (war) has been cited only six times. One can safely say peace among top priorities in Islam. The Quran clearly states that guidance to peace and light (knowledge) is a key objective of Islam.
Verses 15 and 16 say: “O, people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Now has come to you Our Messenger (Muhammad) explaining to you much of that which you used to hide from the Scripture and passing over (leaving out without explaining) much. Indeed, there has come to you from Allah a light (Prophet Muhammad) and a plain Book (Quran).
“Wherewith Allah guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out of darkness by His Will unto light and guides them to a Straight Way.”
Foundations of peace in Islam
1. Human beings, having different linguistic, tribal and regional backgrounds are brothers, children of same parents. God says in verse number one of Surah Nisa: “O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa, Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship)...”
2. The Quran repeatedly addresses human beings as Adam’s offspring. Thus reads Ayah No. 26 of Surah Al A’raf: “O, children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts, etc.) and as an adornment, and the raiment of righteousness, that is better…” The next ayah states: “O children of Adam! Let not Shaitan (Satan) deceive you, as he got your parents (Adam and Hawwa) out of Paradise, stripping them of their clothes to show them their private parts. Verily, he and Qabiluhu (his soldiers from the jinns or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them. Verily, We made the Shayatin (devils) Auliya' (protectors and helpers) for those who believe not.”
3. Love & Cooperation
Doing good to mankind is the basis for a faith which is acceptable to Allah and a standard of distinction among the people. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says: “None of you can be a perfect Muslim as long as he doesn’t like for his brother what he likes for himself.” In another Hadith, he says: “All creatures are made by Allah. And Allah likes best those who works for the wellbeing of his creatures.”
Kindness toward all living things is among the noble deeds getting man to Heaven. The Messenger of Allah says: “A man once saw a dog going round and round a well, lolling its tongue because of thirst. He drew some water for it using his shoe and quenched its thirst. In return for this action, Allah took him to the Paradise.”
Muhammad’s companions asked if they would be blessed for showing compassion to animals. In reply, the Prophet said taking pity on every living thing has its reward.
On another occasion, he said: “You can’t enter the Paradise as long as you don’t embrace Islam. And your faith remains incomplete as long as you don’t love one another. Shouldn’t I teach you something that makes you love one another? Trade greetings (Salam) amongst yourselves.”
4. Forgiveness and favour in return for ill-will are an integral part of good manners. In these areas, Muslims compete to earn Allah’s pleasure and Heaven. “The repayment of a bad action is one equivalent to it. But whoever pardons and makes reconciliation, his reward lies with God. He does not love the unjust,” reads Ayah 40 Surah Ash Shura.
In verses 34-35 of Surah Fussilat, Allah explains: “Good and evil are not equal. Repel evil with good, and the person who was your enemy becomes like an intimate friend…But none will attain it except those who persevere, and none will attain it except the very fortunate.”
Islam has declared illegal whatever fuels enmity and hatred among people. A Muslim has no justification for committing such acts as backbiting, suspicion, insult or slight. Allah says in the Holy Quran (Surah Hujurat): “O, you who believe! No people shall ridicule other people, for they may be better than them. Nor shall any women ridicule other women, for they may be better than them. Nor shall you slander one another, nor shall you insult one another with names. Evil is the return to wickedness after having attained faith. Whoever does not repent is the wrongdoer…O, you who believe! Avoid most suspicion, some suspicion is sinful. And do not spy on one another, nor backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would detest it. So remain mindful of God. God is Most Relenting, Most Merciful.”
As for principles and common goals, Heavenly religions have the same teachings. Prophets are brothers, preaching Allah’s message to His people. God says in Surah Al-Imran: “Muhammad is no more than a messenger. Messengers have passed on before him. If he dies or gets killed, will you turn on your heels? He who turns on his heels will not harm God in any way. And God will reward the appreciative.”
Ayah 84 of the same Surah reads: “Say we believe in God, and in what was revealed to us; and in what was revealed to Hazrat Ibrahim, Ismael, Ishaq and Yaqub, and the Patriarchs; and in what was given to Moses, and Jesus, and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit."
