Islam and Peace

[Dr. Ali Afifi]

Islam is uncompromisingly a law of peace and a religion of mercy. Only he who is ignorant of its teachings, hostile to its system, or is arrogant enough not to accept clear evidence, will dispute this fact.

The word Islam is itself derived from the word peace (i.e. salaam). And Muslim is the best description of those who believe in this religion:

‘It is the religion of your father Abraham. It is He (Allah) Who has named you Muslims both before and in this (the Qur’an), that the Messenger be a witness over you and you be a witness over mankind!’

(Surat-al-Hajj (22), ayah 78)

Even the greetings between Muslims is "May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you."

Furthermore the revelation of the Qur’an brought with it the angels of peace and the night in which it was revealed became a night of peace:

‘Verily! We have sent it (this Qur’an) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree). And what will make you know what the night of decree is. The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousandmonths. Therein descend the angels and the Ruh (Jibreel) by Allah’s Permission withall Decree, Peace! until the appearance of dawn.’

(Surat-al-Qadr (97), ayahs 1-5)

The servant greets his Lord with no better greeting than the greeting of peace:

‘Their greeting on the day they shall meet Him will be: Peace. And He will prepare for them a generous reward.’

(Surat-al-Ahzaab (33), ayah 44)

The Angels will welcome the righteous into paradise with peace:

‘And the angels shall enter unto them from every gate (saying): "Peace be unto you for that you have
persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!"’

(Surat-ar-Ra’d (13), 23-24)

Paradise is itself a place of peace:

‘For them will be the home of peace (paradise) with their Lord. And He will be their Helper and Protector because of what they used to do.’

(Surat-al-An’aam (6), ayah 127)

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Allah calls to the home of peace and guides whom He wills to a Straight path.’

(Surat-Yunus (10), ayah 25)

Allah, the High, the Blessed, has named Himself "Peace":

‘He is Allah other than Whom there is none (that has the right to be worshipped) the King, the Holy, the Peace...’

(Surat-al-Hashr (59), ayah 23)

Of course the Muslim would not hesitate to answer this call to peace, and will never reject it.

‘But if they incline to peace, you also incline to it, and put your trust in Allah. Verily, he is theAll-Hearer, the All-Knower.’

(Surat-al-Anfal (8), ayah 62)

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And say not to he who seeks to make peace with you, "you are not a believer". Seeking the perishable goods of the worldly life. There are many more profits with Allah.’

(Surat-an-Nisaa’ (4), ayah 94)

No religious law or social system has encouraged the establishment of peace in the same way that Islam has done, for Islam has ordered the practice of this great virtue through respect and self-restraint even at the most testing of times such as Hajj (pilgrimage). During this sacred time, a pilgrim is strictly prohibited from cutting his nails, shortening his hair, destroying a tree, killing an animal or harming anyone in any way, even if he shall find the killer of his father he is not permitted to hurt him at all:

‘So whosoever intends to perform Hajj then he should not have sexual relations (with his/her wife/husband), nor commit sin, nor dispute unjustly during Hajj’

(Surat-al-Baqarah (2), ayah 197)

These prohibitions establish peace within and between the Muslims.

The Preference of Peace, Wherever Possible and its Encouragement

A Muslim only fights when forced to, and after exhausting all peaceful means of reconciliation. If any opportunity of peace arises, then Islam makes it compulsory for the Muslims to take it. A Muslim is also required to extinguish the flame of war whenever and wherever he can. The Qur’an says:

‘But if they incline to peace, you also incline to it, and (put your) trust in Allah. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.’

(Surat-al-Anfal (8), ayah 61)

Islam was the most comprehensive legislative system that had taken steps in the path of establishing peace. Islam drew for stability the most genuine guarantees, if adopted by the countries of the world, and followed by the rulers, leaders and politicians the world would then rest and save the agonies of war. Among these regulations and guarantees:

1- The sanctity of the meanings of brotherhood and the overcoming of the spirit of racism and rigidity; on this.

2- The training of the souls on the spirit of forgiveness. Virtues like the absolute necessity for trustworthiness, and the prohibition of subversion and the dishonouring of treaties and agreements.

3- The restriction of the idea of war into the smallest possible boundaries, forbidding transgression in all its manifestations, and the dominance of the principles of justice, compassion, and the respect of law and order even at the time of war itself. In this respect Islam has the high ground. Allah says in the Holy Qur’an:

‘O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah and be just witnesses and let not the enmity and hatred of
others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety, and
fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Well-acquainted with what you do.’

(Al-Maa’idah (5), ayah 8)

4- Arms control, and again Islam has superseded all contemporary measures in this regard when the All-Mighty said:

‘And if two parties of the believers fall into fighting , then make peace between them both, but if one of them rebels against the other, then fight you (all) against that which rebels till it
complies with the command of Allah; then if it complies, then make reconciliation between them justly, and be equitable. Verily! Allah loves those who are equitable.’

(Surat-al-Hujuraat (49), ayah 9)

Where do the leaders of this age stand in realisation of these steps?

What is the position of the leaders, politicians, scholars, lawyers and philosophers of this age in relation to these measures. And what have they done to restore peace on earth after the world has, in less than a quarter of century, witnessed two devastating world wars that have destroyed the green and the dry? After the first of which the ‘League of Nations’ was established to install peace but, it was destined to die before it was born due to its inability to solve even one case of disagreement between the nations that joined it and signed its treaties; it was only a moment of time before these countries and nations started preparing for war yet again to fulfill their political and imperialistic desires. It was said that the reason for its failure was the lack of a military sanction for the wrong-doer.

Subsequent to the last war the ‘United Nations’ was founded and the Security Council was established. However differences and disagreements are still intensifying and gaining momentum. Neither the U.N. nor the security council, till now, have been able to resolve one dispute or untangle a disagreement. I fear, that nothing will remain except a Third World War.

So why does the bewildered humanity not return to its creator and learn the lessons of peace, intellectually, theoretically and practically from Islam? ‘Say praise be to Allah and peace be upon His chosen servants. Is God not far more supreme than that with which they associate ?’.