Today, many non-Muslims regard Islam as a religion that promotes terrorism and war. A common misconception is being spread by the west that Islam is a religion of Violence. They forget Islam is the latest version of the same message already sent by God through various other Messengers including Hadrat Moses and Jesus. The series of prophets and messengers coming from God throughout the ages is to call the people again towards their innate identity of love and friendship. Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be upon Him) was sent finally to convey God’s message to the whole world. It is, “To convey the message of Islam to all people, to deliver it freely, to ensure the freedom of religious beliefs, and to establish justice on earth within the system of Islam.”
Islam was sent to whole mankind through the last Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be upon Him). Islam teaches us non-violence. God wants a Muslim to live in a safe and peaceful environment and to make efforts for the spread and continuity of peace. Islam is in fact a religion that promotes peace and understanding among people of all faiths, and it strongly prohibits all forms of violence and aggression against all people regardless of their faith or race. Evidence of these ideals can be found in the Holy Qur’an, which is the word of God revealed to the messenger of God, Mohammad (Peace Be upon Him). It can also be found in the Hadith, the sayings of Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him), and in his teachings to Muslims. In Islam, the right to life is an absolute value. The Holy Qur’an tells us that God does not love disorder (2:205).
“the taking of one innocent life is like taking all of Mankind… and the saving of one life is like saving all of Mankind” – Holy Qur’an, 5:33.
These are the verses from Holy Qur’an. These verses project the universe as a model of peace and harmony. These verses teach us right track of what Islam directs. Allah Almighty says in Holy Qur’an “whoever kills a single innocent it is as if he has killed the whole mankind and whoever saves a single human it is as he has saved the whole of humanity. By teaching that Islam promotes the sense of brotherhood and equality in human society–all are equally related to God in the same way. According to the Holy Qur’an all people are children of Adam. Satan (Shaytan) is considered the enemy of humanity, causing enmity among all people. Religious tolerance is an essential principle of Islam and Muslims are ordered to have good relations with people of all religions and be kind and courteous to everyone.
God has given us free will to choose our own belief system. I am a strong believer in freedom of religion, and condemn no-one for believing something other than what I myself believe. Muslims are expected to invite non-Muslims of the truth of Islam with words of wisdom, sound arguments and a pleasant manner. Tolerance is the basic teaching of Islam. There is no teaching of Holy Qur’an directing that Muslims should kill others just because they are not Muslim. The Holy Qur’an emphasizes peace and reconciliation as basic to all social and even international relations. In the Holy Qur’an and the Hadith, there are many such references that go to prove that Islam is a religion of peace, love and human brotherhood. The Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) commanded us to maintain social solidarity and cooperation, to open our hearts to our fellows, and to help one another at all times. He said, “Do not cut relations between each other! Do not turn your backs on each other! Do not grow hatred between each other! O God’s servants! Become brothers and sisters!”
Since Islam means living in a peaceful environment that emerges as a result of submission to God, the Qur’an asks that all humanity should embrace silm. Islam not only talks about Peace but also guides us how to bring Peace in the world. “Islām” is the word which means peaceful, willing submission – submission to the code of conduct ordained by God. The Holy Qur’an, avers that, ‘reconciliation is best’ (4:128), and judging by the consequences, the way of peace is far better than that of confrontation. By the law of Nature, God has decreed that success will be met with only on a reconciliatory path, and not on a confrontational or a violent course of action.
Muslims need to work together with other groups that oppose oppression, bloodshed, corruption and perversion. It is true that jihad is one of the most important teachings of Islam. But jihad is not synonymous with war. Jihad does not mean killing innocent Humans. Some people portray the picture of Islam as a religion of violence by using the word Jihad. They say that Jihad in Islam is a holy war. But there is no concept of holy war in Islam. Islam clearly prohibits all kinds and forms of aggression and violence against anyone, except in self-defense. Jihad has nothing to do with war or violence; it actually means a struggle, a peaceful struggle. ‘And make Jihad on them, with the help of the Quran’ (25:52), says the Quran. Nowhere does it say, ‘with the help of the sword’. Islam prohibits oppression, revenge or injustice to the people of the enemy in case of victory against them. Nor must there be control over the sources of the wealth of the nation or people, or even establishment of colonial regimes. Justice and freedom must be established. Tolerance towards cultures and peoples is to be respected at all times. In order to be able portray a fair image of Islam; we have to consider its divinely inspired purposes, which yield, as a result, a just worldly order. By applying preventive measures to ensure security of wealth, life, mind, religion, and reproduction, Islam aims to build a society in peace, serenity, friendship, collaboration, altruism, justice, and virtue.
