Islam : The Peace Religion

Thanks to some developments across the globe for last few years, theuniversal values of great religion, Islam, have come in fordenunciation. By invoking the actions of a few individual Muslims totypify the character and conduct of millions of adherents of thisdivine faith, efforts have been made to equate Islam with bigotry andobscurantism. This is most unfortunate at a time when the need forinter-faith dialogue and harmony cannot be over-emphasized in order tobridge the gulf between Islam and West. The proponents of ´clashof civilizations´ and their counterparts in the Islamic worldare bent upon creating differences aimed at spreading confusion andmisunderstanding about the teachings of Islam. In view of thesecircumstances, it is all the more necessary to bring the message ofIslam in correct perspective to serve the cause of coexistence Islamso emphatically lays its stress on.Let me state at the outset categorically and unambiguously that themessage of Islam is peace, tranquility and unity. If one concentrateson the meanings of word ´Islam´, it appears that this wordtakes its origin from saluma (safety) or silm (peace). Etymologicallyand literally the word ´Islam´ means ´peace,tranquility and harmony´. The word ´Imaan´ can betranslated into or more clearly it means ´faith´. Everyreligion is based on faith. Faith is known as Imaan in Islamicterminology. Imaan has its own root-word and that is amn. Amn againmeans ´peace, tranquility and harmony´. The differencebetween Islam and Imaan can be explained in the sense that there is afaith to be believed in and there is practical order to be practised.The faith is known as Imaan and the practical order is known as Islam.In Islam, the word Imaan is used in two dimensions. Firstly Imaanmeans to be in peace or to live in peace. Secondly, the other meaningis to live for peace and to be peaceful to others. According to Islama man who does not maintain peace for mankind, cannot be regarded as agenuine Muslim or even a believer. The believer is the man who livesonly peacefully for mankind. When he lives for the sake of others,only then he would be blessed by Divine peace from Allah Almighty. TheHoly Prophet (saw) was sent not only for the Arabs or a specific tribeor territory but his raising was for the whole of mankind. As declaredby the Holy Qur´an:"O men! I am sent to you all as the Apostle of Allah." (7:158)In the tradition of the Holy Prophet (saw), it has been mentioned:"I have been raised (as messenger) for the whole creation."Here lies the main point. Since the raising of the Holy Prophet (saw)was for the whole mankind, his message of peace is also for the wholemankind. The Holy Qur´an gives the idea of peace and welfare formankind on the basis of unity of mankind. The Holy Quran says:"O mankind! Reverence your Guardian-Lord, Who created you from asingle person." (4:1)The verse has two layers of interpretation namely historicalinterpretation and scientific interpretation. From the point of viewof historical interpretation, the whole mankind has been created froma single father, Adam (as). He is the origin of the whole mankind.Everybody has been created from the same single unit. From theperspective of scientific interpretation, the verse shows that thewhole mankind has been created from a single cell of life and that iszygote.According to the historical and scientific approach, the origin ofhuman life comes into the category of single unity. This unity(historically and scientifically) of the creation of mankind indicatesthat our destination is also the attainment of unity. We should workfor uplift and unity of mankind. This uplift of mankind, its welfareand betterment is absolutely impossible without harmony,reconciliation and unity.In his last sermon delivered to the believers, the Holy Prophet (saw)eliminated the unjust order imposed upon the mankind. That unjustorder at that time was based on human degradation, social injustice,economic exploitation and political suppression. The Prophet of Islam(saw) inaugurated a new world order based upon four concepts namelyrespect for humanity, social equality, economic justice and politicalfreedom.The concept of human welfare is the basic target and we need to pooltogether all our resources for its attainment at personal, social andglobal levels. Any type of process of reform has to start from thepersonal level in Islamic scheme of things. Islam instructs andeducates us that welfare should be achieved at every level by creatinga balance and harmony between mundane and spiritual aspects of life.Human personality is a compact whole consisting of many parts, whichare epitomized in the form of division of life between secular andspiritual aspects. Biological dimension of life is manifested insocial, cultural, socio-cultural, psychological aspects and there is aneed to take these factors into view too at the personal domain.Efforts should also be made for the achievement of human welfare atthe social level; the level of collective environment of our society.We have to work for the elimination of economic exploitation so thathuman welfare is achieved socially. We have to fight against politicaloppression and for educational uplift. We have to campaign foreconomic, social, cultural and spiritual welfare. This is not possiblewithout eradication of hatred. There is no place for hatred incommunities. Ideas and philosophies can be different but we need tolook at the singularity of origin in spite of differences andplurality of ideas. Allah Almighty has created balance betweensingularity and plurality. It is this diversity, which brings aboutperfection, balance, tolerance and moderation in society. Historicallyspeaking, people belonging to various religions have lived in Islamicsocieties as equal partners in the business of state and this aspectof multiculturalism figures quite prominently in Islamic societies.From Islamic point of view, peace and human welfare at the globallevel owes itself to the acknowledgement of the following principles:Firstly the right of survival and existence should be acceptedequally. This right should be given to each and every country, stateand society without any difference and superiority. The Holy Prophet(saw) rightly declared this fact:"An Arab is not superior to a non-Arab and non-Arab is notsuperior to an Arab. Neither a black anyway better than a red nor ared is better than a black. The criterion for the superiority is onlythe element of piety."Superiority does not lie in colours but in character, in conduct andin moral values. Whether one is living a human life or wild life,superiority rests in character only. So we need to work for peacefulcoexistence, which is possible only when we recognize the right ofothers to live. Our motto should be "to live and let otherslive".The principle of non-interference is the basis upon which the edificeof global peace and welfare can be erected. If nations and societiesrespect the sanctities of national sovereignties of others and do notindulge in any type of adventurism, global peace stands ensured.Islam does not approve of extremism of any kind. It is a religion ofbalance and moderation. So in true Islamic society, extremism isdiscouraged at every level because it has the potential of spoilingpeace, calmness and order at every level of society.Since Islamic state believes in equal rights, so it does not believein any act of coercion. Islamic state disapproves hegemony. It has itsfaith in equality. Everyone has rights - some by birth and some givenby state.Islam is against terrorism and condemns all of its forms andmanifestations. Terrorism negates all such values which Islamespouses. So by definition, Islamic state is a peaceful state whererights of all are secured constitutionally irrespective of one´scaste, creed, colour, race and religion. Islam holds that all membersof Islamic society whether rulers or the ruled are equal in the eyesof law.Given the enormous challenges posed to the peace of world, it is hightime we made sincere efforts for peaceful coexistence among nationsand religions. It is through joint struggle that we can defeat allsuch elements who want to create misunderstandings and confusions. Weare all children of Adam (as) and have many similarities to shareamong us. Let our succeeding generations not say that we did not proveequal to the challenges.

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