ISLAM
THE ONLY WAY TO WORLD PEACE AND ETERNAL PEACE
By
Dr.
Norlain Khadija Dindang Mababaya
Islam is the Only
Religion and Way of Life for Peace from Allah (The God). Non-Muslims, in general,
have misconceptions about Prophet Muhammad صلي الله عليه وسلم (Allah’s
peace be upon him) and Islam. For years the prejudice against
Islam (the so-called Islamophobia) has resulted in discrimination, hatred, violence
and crimes against Muslims. Many non-Muslims, with their negative attitudes against
Islam, and even vilification of Allah’s Messenger صلي الله عليه وسلم have failed to understand and appreciate
the beauty, rationality, practicality, completeness and excellence of Islamic teachings.
For those who misunderstood the true divine mission of Prophet Muhammad صلي الله عليه وسلم branding him as “the Founder of the World’s Most Intolerant
Religion” or those who associate Islam with terrorism, let them know the truth
- that is the Prophet صلي
الله عليه وسلم is not the “Founder of Islam” because Islam
is the religion of Allah (The God) which He sent to His messengers and perfected (Qur’an, Chapter 5: Verse 3) through Prophet Muhammad
صلي الله عليه وسلم the Seal of all
the Prophets (Qur’an, Chapter 33: Verse 40).
For those who do not
believe and worship Allah, know that Allah
is an Arabic word that comes from two words: “Al” (meaning “The”) and Ilah (meaning
“God”)? Allah, therefore means “The God”.
Allah is one of the 99 Beautiful Names and Attributes of God, the Creator. He is
the only One whose name means “The God”.
He is the One Who is being worshiped at least five times a day by all Muslims
in the world. He is being worshiped 24 hours in the Holy Mosque in Makkah by all
races and nations worldwide who come for Umrah
or the minor Pilgrimage, which can be done at all times. He is the Only
One Who claims to be the Creator and the One Who commands every one to worship
no one but Him:
“That is Allah, your Rabb
(Only God, Cherisher and Sustainer)! There is no god but He, the Creator of all
things: so, worship Him (Alone) and He has power to dispose of all affairs.” (Qur’an 6:102-103)
Islam is derived from
two root-words: one is salam, meaning peace
and the other silm, meaning submission or obedience. By definition, Islam
itself is peace as it means the peaceful and complete submission to the
Will of Allah, and obedience to His Law, the Shari’ah (Islamic Law). Islam is the
Deen (Religion and Way of Life) for Peace
from Allah who is the Source of Peace. As the true and perfect Deen (Religion and
way of life) from the Only True God, Islam, therefore, is a peaceful religion. One of the beautiful
names and attributes of Allah is As-Salam
which means the Peace (That is the Source
of Peace or the One Who gives peace). We read in the Holy Qur’an:
"He is Allah, besides Whom
there is no (other) deity; knowing the unseen and the visible. He is the Mercy-giving,
the Merciful! He is Allah, besides Whom there is no (other) deity, the Sovereign,
the Holy, the Peace (the Source or
Giver of Peace), the Secure, the Preserver,
the Powerful,the Irresistible, the Grandiose: Glory be to Allah ahead of anything
they may associate (with Him)! He is Allah, the Creator, the Maker, the Shaper,
His are the Finest Names. Everything in Heaven and Earth celebrates Him. He is the
Powerful, the Wise. (Qur’an, Chapter 59: Verses 22 to 24.)
A Muslim is one who peacefully
(willfully and sincerely) submits to the Will of Allah. In other words, he or she
is one who obeys Allah’s Law, the Shari’ah, which is based on the Qur’an (the Divine
Book of Allah) and the Sunnah (Tradition or Practice of Allah’s Messenger, Prophet
Muhammad صلي
الله عليه وسلم and
the right deductions from these two revealed sources of guidance.
Both the Qur’an and the
Sunnah, which includes the Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم ’s authentic Ahadeeth
(Teachings and Sayings) serve as the two authentic and divine scriptures of Allah
for the guidance of all mankind. Islam guides and trains Muslims to establish and
promote peace with their Creator, with
themselves, with their families, relatives, neighbors, friends and fellow human
beings in and outside the community or society where they belong who go for peace. In fact, even when they read the
Qur’an, Allah commands them to have peace.
Likewise, whenever they mention and hear the name of the Prophet Muhammad صلي الله عليه وسلم Allah
enjoins them to send greetings of peace to
His صلي
الله عليه وسلم . Allah
the Almighty says:
“When the Qur’an is read, listen to
it with attention, and hold your peace: that you may receive Mercy.” (Qur’an, Chapter
7: Verse 204)
“Verily, Allah sends blessings upon the Prophet,
and His angels ask Allah to bless him. O you who have believed, ask Allah to send
blessings upon him, and (you) greet him with peace.” (Qur’an, Chapter 33: Verse 56)
In
their daily lives, Muslims as taught by the Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم conclude
their prayers at least five times a day with the words of peace saying: السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته “May the peace and mercy of Allah be upon you”. We read in the following authentic Hadeeth how
Muslims send salam (peace) greeting to
their fellow Muslims every time they perform salah (prayer):
Abdulah bin Mas’ud رضي الله عنه
(May
Allah be pleased with him) narrated, “We used to say the greeting, name and greet
each other in the prayer. Allah’s صلي الله عليه وسلم heard
it and said: “Say ‘All the compliments are for Allah and all the prayers and all
the good things (are for Allah). Peace be on you, O Prophet, and Allah’s mercy and
blessings (are on you). And peace be on us and on the good (pious) worshipers of
Allah. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad
is His slave and Messenger.) So, when you have said this, then you have surely sent
the greetings to every good (pious) worshipper of Allah, whether he be in the Heaven
or on the Earth.” (Bukhari 2, Hadeeth 294)
When the Muslims meet
their fellow Muslims, they greet them with the invocation of peace sayingالسلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته “May
the peace and mercy of Allah be upon
you”. This greeting of peace, invoking Allah
for peace is no doubt far virtuous than the greetings in the West like “Hi!”, “Hello!”,
“Good morning!”, or “Good afternoon!”, etc. Muslims’ greeting of peace expresses supplication for peace and mercy from Allah, Who Alone is
the Source and Giver of Peace.
Muslims who receive the
greeting of peace are expected to respond with the same greeting of peace or even better. This is a divine
commandment from Allah the Source of Peace. He says in His Book:
“When a (courteous) greeting is offered
you, meet it with a greeting (of peace)
still more courteous, or (at least) of equal courtesy. Allah takes a careful account
of all things.” (Qur’an, Chapter 4: Verse
86)
Muslims who know Islam
learn to promote peace. They learn to extend and answer greetings of peace to their
fellow Muslims as the Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم taught the importance
and virtue of the Islamic greeting as shown in the following authentic Ahadeeth:
Abdullah ibn Amr رضي الله عنه
narrated
that a man asked the Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم “Whose Islam is good or
what sort of deeds (or what qualities) of Islam are good.” The Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم replied,
“To feed (others) and to greet (with peace)
those whom you know and those whom you do not know.” (Bukhari, Vol. 1, Hadeeth 11)
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه
narrated
that the Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم said,
“The young should greet the old, the passerby should greet (with peace) the sitting one, and the small group
of persons should greet the large group of persons.” (Bukhari, Vol. 8, Hadeeth 250)
Narrated Muawiya ibn Suwaid رضي الله عنه: “I heard Al-Bara ibn`Azib saying, ‘The Prophet
صلي
الله عليه وسلم ordered
us to do seven things and prohibited us from doing seven other things.” Then Al-Bara
mentioned the following: ‘1. to pay a visit to the sick (inquiring about his health),
2. to follow funeral processions, 3. to say to a sneezer, “May Allah be merciful
to you” (if he says, “Praise be to Allah!”), 4. to return greetings (of peace),
5. to help the oppressed, 6. to accept invitations, (and) 7. to help others to fulfill
their oaths.’” (Bukhari, Vol. 3, Hadeeth 625)
Abu Ayub Al-Ansari رضي الله عنه
narrated
that Allah’s Messenger صلي الله عليه وسلم said,
“It is not lawful for a man to desert his brother (Muslim) for more than three nights.
(It is unlawful for them that) when they meet, one of them turns away his face from
the other, and the other turns his face from the former, and the better of the two
will be the one who greets (greeting of peace)
to the other first.” (Bukhari, Vol. 8, Hadeeth 100)
Anas رضي الله عنه
narrated
that whenever the Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم asked permission to enter,
he knocked the door thrice with greeting (of peace) and whenever he spoke a sentence (said a thing) he used to repeat
it thrice. (Bukhari Vol. 1, Hadeeth 94 and Vol. 8, Hadeeth 261)
Sincere and practicing
Muslims strive to follow the Islamic teachings of promoting peace as it is part
of righteousness. They believe that by being peaceful they become among those
who are righteous who deserve Allah’s rewards. Allah the Most Merciful will grant
them His Mercy and attain eternal success in the Hereafter and enjoy everlasting
peace. They believe in Allah’s supreme
rewards for those who believe and do righteous deeds. Allah the Almighty says:
“This is the Way of your Rabb (only
God and Sustainer), leading straight. We have detailed the Signs for those who receive
admonition. For them will be a Home of Peace
with their Rabb (only God and Sustainer). He will be their Friend, because they
practiced (righteousness).” (Qur’an, Chapter 6: Verses 126 to127)
“But Allah does call to the Home
of Peace: He does guide whom He pleases
to a Way that is straight. To those who do right is a goodly (reward) -- Yea, more
(than in measure)! No darkness or shame shall cover their faces! They are Companions
of the Garden; they will abide therein (for aye)!” (Qur’an, Chapter 10: Verses 25 to 26)
Those who fulfill the Covenant of
Allah and do not break the covenant; those who join together those things which
Allah has commanded to be joined, hold their Rabb (only God and Sustainer) in awe,
and fear the terrible reckoning; those who patiently persevere, seeking the countenance
of their Rabb (only God and Sustainer); establish regular prayers; spend, out of
the gifts) We have bestowed for their sustenance, secretly and openly; and turn
off Evil with good: for such there is the final attainment of the (Eternal) Home
Gardens of perpetual bliss: they shall enter there, as well as the righteous among
their fathers, their spouses, and their offspring: and angels shall enter unto them
from every gate (with the salutation): `Peace
unto you for that you persevered in patience! Now how excellent is the final Home!’
(Qur’an, Chapter 13: Verses 20 to 24)
“The righteous will be amid Gardens
and fountains of clear-flowing water. (Their greeting will be): `Enter you here
in Peace and Security.’ And We shall
remove from their departure any lurking sense of injury: (they will be) brothers
(joyfully) facing each other on raised couches.” (Qur’an, Chapter15: Verses 45 to 47)
“Except those who repent and believe,
and work righteousness: for these will enter the Garden and will not be wronged
in the least Gardens of Eternity, those which (Allah) Most Gracious has promised
to His servants in the Unseen: for His promise must (necessarily) come to pass.
They will not there hear any vain discourse, but only salutations of Peace: And they will have therein their
sustenance, morning and evening. Such is the Garden which We give as an inheritance
to those of Our Servants who guard against evil.” (Qur’an, Chapter 19: Verses 60
to 63)
“Verily the Companions of the Garden
shall that Day have joy in all that they do; they and their associates will be in
pleasant shade, reclining on raised couches; (every) fruit will be there for them;
they shall have whatever they call for; `Peace!’
-- a Word (of salutation) from a Rabb (only
God and Sustainer) Most Merciful.” (Qur’an, Chapter 36: Verses 55 to 58)
"As to the Righteous (they will be) in a position
of Security, among Gardens and Springs; dressed in fine silk and rich brocade, they
will face each other; moreover, We shall wed them to maidens with beautiful, big,
and lustrous eyes. There can they call for every kind of fruit in peace and security; nor will they there
taste Death, except the first Death; and He will preserve them from the Chastisement
of the Blazing Fire as a Bounty from your Rabb (only God and Sustainer)! That will
be the supreme achievement!" (Qur’an, Chapter 44: Verses 51 to 55.)
“And the Garden will be brought
nigh to the Righteous, -- no more a thing
distant. (A voice will say:) `This is what was promised for you for every penitent
heedful one, who feared the Most Gracious unseen, and brought a heart turned in
devotion (to Him): Enter you therein in Peace
and Security; this is a Day of Eternal Life!’ There will be for them therein all
that they wish and there is more with us.” (Qur’an, Chapter 50: Verses 31 to 35.)
In line with
the above very inspiring Qur’anic verses, the Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم , further encouraged Muslims to learn to spread
the Salam (greeting of peace) and make
it their day-to-day practice because they know that by doing so they earn rewards
that entitle them to enter Paradise in peace. Here are some quoted teachings of
peace from Allah’s Prophet صلي الله عليه وسل:
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Allah’s Messenger صلي الله عليه وسلم said: “You shall not enter paradise so
long as you do not affirm belief (in all those things which are the articles of
faith) and you will not believe as long as you do not love one another. Should I
not direct you to a thing which, if you do, will foster love amongst you: (give
currency to (the practice of paying salutation to one another by sayingالسلام
عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you.”
(Muslim, Hadeeth 96)
Abu Yusuf Abdullah ibn Salam رضي الله عنه narrated that he heard the Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم said: “O people! Spread the Salam (peace greetings), feed (the poor and needy),
behave kindly to your blood relations, offer prayer when others are asleep, and
(thus) enter Paradise in peace.” (Tirmidhi
849)
To promote peace, Islam teaches fair treatment,
respect and justice in dealing with the people of the book (the Jews and the
Chritians). It prohibits Muslims from
disputing and fighting with them. Allah the Almighty says:
“This day are (all) things good and
pure made lawful unto you. the food of the people of the Book (the Jews and the
Christians) is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them. (Lawful unto you
n marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers, but chaste women
among the People of the Book, revealed before your time, when you give them
their due dowers, and desire chastity, not lewdness, taking them as lovers. If
any one rejects faith, fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be
in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good). (Qur’an 5: 5)
“And dispute not with the People of the
Book, except in the best way; unless it be with those of them who do wrong but
say, “We believe in the Revelation which has come down to us and in that which
came down to you; our God and your God is One; and it is to Him we submit (in
Islam).’”(Qur’an 29: 46)
“Allah forbids you not, with regard to
those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from
dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loves those who are just. Allah
only forbids you, with regard to those who fight you for (your) Faith, and
drive you out of your homes, and support (others) in driving you out, from
turning to them (for friendship and protection). It is such as turn to them) in
these circumstances), that do wrong.” (Qur’an 60: 8-9)
Likewise,
killing innocent people is never allowed. It is more of saving lives not
killing. Read how beautiful and serene Allah’s injunctions in the Qur’an:
“…If
anyone kills a person, it would be as if
he has killed the whole people, and if anyone
saves a life, it would be as if he has saved the whole people.” (Qur’an,
5:32)
Allah
the Most Merciful has prohibited the taking of life, which He has made sacred,
except by way of justice and law (Qur’an 6: 151). A believer should never kill
a believer; but (if it so happens) by mistake, then, compensation is due
(Qur’an 4: 92). If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell
(Qur’an 4: 93).
To promote
peace and avoid any dispute, Islam enjoins mankind to observe the law of
equality and justice as shown in the following Qur’anic injunctions and
prophetic hadeeth:
“In
the Law of Equality there is (saving of) life to you, O you men of
understanding that you may restrain yourselves.” (Qur’an 2: 179)
“Allah does command you to render back
your Trusts to those to whom they are due; and when you judge between people
that you judge with justice. Verily how excellent is the teaching, which He
gives you! For Allah is He Who hears and sees all things.” (Qur’an 4: 58)
“O you who believe! Stand out firmly
for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your
parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can
best protect both. For not the lusts (of your departure), lest you swerve, and
if you distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is
well-acquainted with all that you do.” (Qur’an 4: 135)
“O you who believe! Stand out firmly
for justice, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to
you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to
piety. And fear Allah for Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do.”
(Qur’an 5: 8)
“Allah commands justice, the doing of
good, and giving to kith and kin, and He forbids all indecent deed, and evil
and rebellion, He instructs you that you may receive admonition.” (Qur’an 16:
90)
Anas Bin Malik رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم said: “The prescribed Law of Allah is
the equality in punishment (i.e. Qisas).” (Bukhari, Vol. 6 Hadeeth 26)
Very clearly both
the Qur’an and the Sunnah stress the importance of peace. Peace in Islam serves
as one of the important keys to our peaceful entrance in Paradise. Therefore, we
need to establish peace with Allah by
submitting ourselves to Him in Islam. We need to establish peace within ourselves, our family members, relatives, neighbors, friends,
the society or community where we belong and the rest of mankind in the international
body-politic as a whole by knowing and applying the fundamental teachings of Islam
and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad صلي الله عليه وسلم . Islam is a religion based on divine teachings,
which we need to learn, apply and share to others in order to promote universal
peace and enjoy everlasting peace in the eternal life hereafter. It
is the only religion that Allah has chosen and perfected for us. It is the only
religion that is acceptable to Him and hence, the only religion and way to peace both in this world and in the
everlasting life hereafter. Allah the Almighty clearly says:
“...This day have I perfected your religion for you,
completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”
(Qur’an 5: 3)
“If anyone desires a religion other than Islam
(submission to Allah), never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter
he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good).” (Qur’an
3: 85)
Think and
reflect peacefully on the clear and
enlightening teachings of Islam about peace.
Is there a god other than Allah (The God) whose name (one of the
beautiful names) is As-Salam (The Peace)?
Is there any religion other than Islam that comes from the word salam (peace)? Is there any religion other
than Islam that enjoins its followers to greet each other with the greeting of peace? Is there any religion other than
Islam that ends its daily prayers with the greeting of peace? Is there any religion other than Islam that teaches all
virtuous teachings of justice and righteousness and forbids all evil deeds in
order to establish peace with Allah
and promote peace with His creations
who go for peace? Is there any
religion that promises all peaceful and
righteous believers with everlasting peace?
In short, Is there any religion and way of life that teaches about peace better than Islam? What does your
religion say about peace in this
world and in the eternal world? For your eternal peace, join the millions of non-Muslims worldwide who peacefully reverted to Islam -- the
Religion and Way of Life that enjoins mankind to promote peace with Allah and all His creations who go for peace. Verily, Islam is the peaceful religion from Allah (The God
who is the Peace, the Source and the
Giver of Peace) is the only way to
world peace and eternal peace.
*****
