The theme of peace and justice is very important and also very
timely. As we know, science has shown great scope for the betterment
of the world, offering apparently unlimited hope for human progress.
Now mankind finds itself on the threshold of a new era. With
technological progress we are able to find a new world of
prosperity...a new and better world. But at the same time we see
violence and intolerance everywhere in the world.
This unhappy state of affairs seems to nullify all our scientific
progress. I think that religion has a great role to play in this
matter.
What is religion? Religion is simply a discipline of peace, an
ideology of peace. Someone has very aptly remarked that religion is
peace and peace is religion. Without peace there is no religion. And
also, without religion there is no peace. I hope that these
discussions and consultations produce something very substantial,
which will prove helpful in the building of a peaceful world. I hope
and pray that there will emerge some practical formula towards
peace. God willing, we shall be able to contribute something very
constructive for the betterment of humanity.
Now I would like to give a brief description of the major religions
of the world. Let's take Hinduism first, as it is the most ancient
religion. Everyone who has studied Hinduism will agree that Hinduism
in itself is a philosophy of peace. The basic concept of Hinduism is
that Truth is one and that different religions are only different
manifestations of the same truth. This concept was termed by a great
religious scholar Sarwa dharma sambhawa. So Hinduism is nothing but
a philosophy of peace. Some scholars like Arnold Toynbee have
pointed out that this concept of Hinduism generates a spirit of
mutual coexistence. It is a philosophy of live and let live. As the
great Hindu philosopher Vivekananda put it: "Follow one, hate none."
This kind of respect is just another name for peaceful living.
Now take the case of Buddhism and Jainism. These two religions are
very similar in their teachings. Both religions believe in non-
violence. They have gone to the extent of including the concept of
non-violence as an article of faith in their system. This concept
can be described in these words: "The killing of a sensation is sin
and to save a sensation is virtue." This means that according to
Buddhism and Jainism, violence is not simply bad conduct in the
moral sense, but a sin which is even greater than bad conduct.
Now take the case of Christianity. Christianity is also a religion
of peace. That is why Christianity has gained such great popularity.
And now it enjoys the status of the greatest religion numerically.
As you know, Jesus Christ said:
"I tell you not to resist an evil person. Whoever slaps you on your
right cheek, turn the other to him also."
It means that the Christian formula for peace is unilateral
accommodation. According to this saying of Jesus Christ, you
yourself have to adjust in the face of any controversy.
This concept of unilateral adjustment is neither cowardice nor
defeatism. It is a matter of great practical wisdom and I think, the
only possible formula for peace. Actually there is no alternative.
We have to adopt this formula of unilateral adjustment, otherwise
peace will forever remain a distant dream.
Now take the case of sufism and Sikkhism. Both these traditions are
very similar to each other. The Essence of both these traditions is
love, compassion and peace. A sufi poet has described this
beautifully in a Persian couplet which translates thus:
We do not know the stories of kings and generals. We know only the
stories of love, compassion and peace.
I will give here an example from Islamic history. One day, in
Madinah, the Prophet of Islam noticed a funeral procession passing
along the street. The Prophet stood up in deference. A companion of
the Prophet remarked at this: "O Prophet, you know it was the
funeral of a Jew, that is a non-Muslim." The Prophet
replied: "(alaisat nafsan) Was he not a human being?"
It shows that in the Prophet's vision everyone was a human being. He
saw everyone on an equal plane. Thus, according to Islam, everyone
deserves equal respect. Everyone is a creature of God. One can say,
therefore, that according to this brief description, the formula for
peace according to Hinduism is mutual coexistence. And the formula
for peace according to Buddhism and Jainism is non-violence, or no
violence. The Christian formula for peace is based on the concept of
unilateral adjustment, while the sufi formula for peace is love for
all. And the Islamic formula for peace is respect for all.
I would like to say something more about Islam, because Islam is the
most misunderstood religion today. You know Islam is always in the
news. Every day brings some fresh news in the media in which Islam
is portrayed as a religion of violence, a religion of intolerance.
So people are puzzled. They ask whether Islam is a different kind of
religion. Whether Islam is an exception among the religions. And
whether peace is not a concern of Islam. I have studied Islam from
its direct and original sources—the Qur'an, which is the sacred book
of Islam, the Sunnah, and those Arabic books which are considered to
be the classical literature of Islam. After this thorough study, I
am convinced of the fact that all those impressions are based on
sheer misunderstanding. Quite contrary to the general view, Islam is
a religion of peace in the complete sense of the word. Even the name
of Islam connotes peace. You know the root word of Islam is silm.
Silm in Arabic means peace. One of God's names is Salam, and Salam
means peace. The Qur'an mentions itself as barakah. The Prophet of
Islam is described as Rahamah. And barakah and rahamah are only
other names for peace. That is, peace is basic to Islam. Islamic
living is living in peace. All the teachings of Islam are oriented
towards peace.Now the question arises as to why this
misunderstanding exists. The answer is simple. People see that a
number of Muslims are engaged in violence around the world in the
name of Islam. It is this practice on the part of certain Muslims
that is responsible for the confusion and misunderstanding. But I
would emphasize that you must differentiate between Muslims and
Islam. Islam is an ideal. Islam is an ideology, while Muslims are
only those groups of people who claim to be followers of Islam. But
Muslims have to be judged by Islam, and not vice versa.To explain
this point I would like to give a parallel example of democracy.
There is democracy as a political ideology. And there are people who
claim to have adopted the democratic system. If anyone wants to know
what democracy is, he will study authentic literature on democracy.
He will not confuse democracy as an ideal with democracy as
practiced by a certain group of people. The same course has to be
followed when studying Islam. Islam and Muslims have to be seen as
distinct entity. Muslims have to be seen in the light of Islam and
not vice versa.
Anyone who studies Islam from its direct sources will be convinced
that Islam is a religion of peace in the complete sense of the word.
When you open the Qur'an, the very first verse reads:
In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.
This verse is repeated in the Qur'an 114 times. This clearly shows
that the God of Islam is the God of Mercy and Compassion, and the
book of Islam is the book of mercy. This tells us clearly that the
people of Islam must also possess the quality of mercy and
compassion.If you go through the Qur'an, you will find that most
verses of the Qur'an, directly or indirectly, express the spirit of
peace.For instance, there is a verse in the Qur'an: `And God calls
to the home of peace' (10:25). This means that the destination of
Islam is peace. All the teachings of Islam are oriented toward the
goal of peace.
If you make a detailed study of the Qur'an you will discover many
verses which deal with the objects and events of the universe, as
signs of nature. These verses project the universe as a model of
peace and harmony. For example, there is a verse in the Qur'an which
says the `sun and moon have no right to change their orbit,' (36:40)
and this is true also of all the planets and stars. There are
innumerable astronomical bodies in space. All are in motion, but all
follow their own orbits without the slightest deviation. The Qur'an
presents this universal phenomenon as a model for peaceful behavior.
Holding up this phenomenon as an ideal, the Qur'an asks us to follow
the same course of peace, that is, to move in one's own orbit and
not trespass on that of others (3:83). Thus peaceful living is the
religion for both man and the universe.
There is an interesting story in American history. When America
gained its freedom, an American went out to celebrate. Walking along
the road, he started waving his hands about enthusiastically. He
happened to hit the nose of a passerby. The passerby asked: `What's
this nonsense? Why did you hit my nose?' The man replied, `Today
America is free, I am free to walk as I wish, I am exercising my
freedom.' The passerby replied, `Your freedom ends where my nose
begins.'
There is nothing particularly American about this formula. It is, in
fact, a formula of nature. As Islam is a religion of nature, it is
also an Islamic formula. According to this everyone should work in
his own sphere without trespassing upon another's domain. And if all
people were to act like this, the outcome would no doubt be peace
and harmony.Now I would like to present some examples from the
traditions of the Prophet. Once a man came to the Prophet with this
request, `O Prophet, give me a masterly piece of advice which will
enable me to manage all the affairs of my life.' The Prophet
replied: `Don't be angry.'That is to say, stick to positive behavior
in all situations. In fact, in normal conditions man is governed by
his own nature. And nature always takes the course of peace. When
people are provoked, their nature is upset, and they are derailed
into negativity. So the Prophet advised people never to take a
negative course of action, and to keep to peaceful and positive
behavior in all situations, even in the face of provocation.
According to another tradition, the Prophet of Islam once observed:
`Don't wish for confrontation with your enemy, instead always ask
for peace from God.'
That is, even when they have enemies, Muslims are not allowed to
take the course of confrontation. They must rather seek the way of
avoidance. The Qur'an further states that if you deal with your
enemy positively and return good for evil, he will become your
closest friend (41:34). These references from the Qur'an and Sunnah
make it clear that peace is the greatest concern of Islam. The
Islamic method is a peaceful method. Islamic activism is a peaceful
activism. There is no doubt about it that Islam is a religion of
peace in the complete sense of the word.
Why does Islam lay such great stress on peace? The reason is
obvious: all the good things which Islam wants to see in human life
can be brought about only in a peaceful environment. For instance,
constructive activities such as spiritual uplift, character
building, educational activity, social welfare, worship and prayer—
all of these can be performed only in peaceful conditions. In fact,
no peace, no progress; no peace, no development.
Peace is thus the central point of Islamic living; in this world as
well as in the life hereafter. According to Islam, a peaceful life
is the ideal life in both worlds. Some people portray Islam as a
religion of violence by using the word Jihad. They say that Jihad in
Islam is a holy war. In fact, there is no concept of holy war in
Islam. Jihad has nothing to do with war or violence. Jihad actually
means struggle, that is, peaceful struggle. This is clear from this
verse of the Qur'an: `And make Jihad on them, with the help of the
Qur'an' (25:52). There is no verse in the Qur'an which says: And
make jihad on them with the help of the sword. This shows clearly
that Jihad is an act to be performed by the power of ideology rather
than the power of the sword. In fact, Islamic activism is a peaceful
activism. Thus Jihad is only another name for peaceful activism on
Islamic lines.
Let's take another example. There is a verse which
reads: `Reconciliation is the best.' We learn from this verse that,
according to the Qur'an, the best policy is one of reconciliation
(4:128). When there is a conflict between two individuals or two
groups, Muslims ought to follow the course of reconciliation. In
controversial matters, the policy of Islam is one of adjustment and
not of confrontation.According to the Qur'an, God has promised the
highest reward for those who practice patience. Why has the Qur'an
laid such great stress on patience, known as Sabr in Arabic? The
reason is that sabr, or patience, is the only bedrock for the
establishment of peace.As we all know, social life is full of
unpleasant situations. Everything depends on responses. In such
circumstances a negative response will result in breakdown, whereas
a positive response will lead toward peace. Hence patience is the
price that has to be paid for the achievement of peace.
In conclusion, I would like to refer to a very relevant verse from
the Qur'an. The Qur'an says that on the Day of Judgement God will
say:
`O peaceful soul, come and enter my paradise' (89:28).
Thus, according to the Qur'an, Paradise is a divine haven of peace.
It is only those who have proved to be Mr. Peace in this world will
be allowed to enter God's Paradise.
Maulana Wahiduddin KhanPresident,
The Islamic Centre1, Nizamuddin West Market, New Delhi-110 013
yeap islam means peace defo.......spreading the truth
and terrorism means spreading terror....how can peace and terrorism link?
All i hope is for my mums happiness.Shes my light.Shes my dunya.Her tears are my weakness.Her sadness breaks my heart.She is my mirror.A mirror that keeps me alive.Without her am nothing.shes my saaya.How can i leave her.I pray to Allah(swt) to keep me with her forever inshAllah.
`Don't wish for confrontation with your enemy, instead always ask
for peace from God.'
That is, even when they have enemies, Muslims are not allowed to
take the course of confrontation. They must rather seek the way of
avoidance. The Qur'an further states that if you deal with your
enemy positively and return good for evil, he will become your
closest friend (41:34). These references from the Qur'an and Sunnah
make it clear that peace is the greatest concern of Islam. The
Islamic method is a peaceful method. Islamic activism is a peaceful
activism. There is no doubt about it that Islam is a religion of
peace in the complete sense of the word.
Why does Islam lay such great stress on peace? The reason is
obvious: all the good things which Islam wants to see in human life
can be brought about only in a peaceful environment. For instance,
constructive activities such as spiritual uplift, character
building, educational activity, social welfare, worship and prayer—
all of these can be performed only in peaceful conditions. In fact,
no peace, no progress; no peace, no development.
Peace is thus the central point of Islamic living; in this world as
well as in the life hereafter. According to Islam, a peaceful life
is the ideal life in both worlds. Some people portray Islam as a
religion of violence by using the word Jihad. They say that Jihad in
Islam is a holy war. In fact, there is no concept of holy war in
Islam. Jihad has nothing to do with war or violence. Jihad actually
means struggle, that is, peaceful struggle. This is clear from this
verse of the Qur'an: `And make Jihad on them, with the help of the
Qur'an' (25:52). There is no verse in the Qur'an which says: And
make jihad on them with the help of the sword. This shows clearly
that Jihad is an act to be performed by the power of ideology rather
than the power of the sword. In fact, Islamic activism is a peaceful
activism. Thus Jihad is only another name for peaceful activism on
Islamic lines.
Let's take another example. There is a verse which
reads: `Reconciliation is the best.' We learn from this verse that,
according to the Qur'an, the best policy is one of reconciliation
(4:128). When there is a conflict between two individuals or two
groups, Muslims ought to follow the course of reconciliation. In
controversial matters, the policy of Islam is one of adjustment and
not of confrontation.According to the Qur'an, God has promised the
highest reward for those who practice patience. Why has the Qur'an
laid such great stress on patience, known as Sabr in Arabic? The
reason is that sabr, or patience, is the only bedrock for the
establishment of peace.As we all know, social life is full of
unpleasant situations. Everything depends on responses. In such
circumstances a negative response will result in breakdown, whereas
a positive response will lead toward peace. Hence patience is the
price that has to be paid for the achievement of peace.
Maulana Wahiduddin KhanPresident,
The Islamic Centre1, Nizamuddin West Market, New Delhi-110 013
SO ITS VERY CLEARISLAM = PEACEAND ITS THE MOST PEACEFUL
All of them worship out of fear of fire
and consider deliverance abundant good fortune
or so they may dwell in the gardens , and reach to the meadows of paradise and there drink from its rivers
of gardens or fire i have no opinion
I seek no exchange for my Dearest Love
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* I m NIDITA AMEEN, PROUD to be a perfect & proper sincere SLAVE of ALLAAH{swt} & a MUSLIMAH {inshaAllaah} *
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