The religion of Islam, described by God in the Quran stands for peace and tolerance. Islam does not condone or encourage terrorism. Islam has not only forbidden terror and violence but also abhors even the slightest imposition of any idea on another human being. The Quran refers to Paradise as the “abode of peace”. Thus peace is a goal that Muslims are required to strive for, in their communities. Allah says:
وَإِنْ أَحَدٌ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ اسْتَجَارَكَ فَأَجِرْهُ حَتَّىٰ يَسْمَعَ كَلَامَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ أَبْلِغْهُ مَأْمَنَهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَعْلَمُونَ
“If anyone of the idolaters seeks your protection, then grant him the protection that he may hear the words of Allah. Then deliver him to his place of safety. That is because they are people who do not know.” (Surat al-Tawbah 9:6)
Islam considers all life forms as sacred. However, the sanctity of human life is accorded a special place. The first and the foremost basic right of a human being is the right to live. The value of human life is so great, that the Quran equates the taking of even one human life unjustly with the killing of all humanity. Allah says:
لا يَنهاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذينَ لَم يُقاتِلوكُم فِي الدّينِ وَلَم يُخرِجوكُم مِن دِيارِكُم أَن تَبَرّوهُم وَتُقسِطوا إِلَيهِم ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ المُقسِطينَ
“Allah does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes. Allah loves those who are just.” (Surah Al-Mumtahanah 60:8)
Islam is the religion of peace not just for Muslims but for all mankind. Religion Islam is the complete code of life in which a man can find the solution to every problem that he faces in his life. Islam teaches a balance between fear and hope, protecting one from both complacency and despair. Allah says:
مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَٰلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنَّهُ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَلَقَدْ جَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فِي الْأَرْضِ لَمُسْرِفُونَ
“…Whosoever kills an innocent human being, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind…” (Surah Al-Maidah 5:32)
Terrorism and violence are not supported by Islam. Civilian murder and threats are forbidden in the religion. Islam is meant to bring peace to society and its members are instructed to be peaceful members of society. Acts of terrorism that are declared in the name of Islam are not a true representation of the religion.
Islam is the religion of peace, which means Muslims have been commanded to spread peace on earth:
- Islam teaches never to kill the enemy if they seek peace
- Islam emancipates the mind from superstitions
- Islam Commitment means striving for peace
- Islam teaches one should not harm others
- Islam emphasizes both evidence and faith
- Islam allows a person to truly God’s love
- Islam free to no longer slaves to fashion
- Islam itself is an inherently inner peace
- Islam teaches us about good and bad
- Islam considers to rights of others
- Islamic rules being a good Muslim
- Islam is to develop a peaceful society
- Islam teaches that ultimately be judged
- Islam prescribes universal brotherhood
- Islam gives a person a clear perspective
- Islam teaches that God is the Most Justice
- Islam is a kind of fruit in peace and security
- Islam has the right to life is an absolute value
- Killing (murder) is regarded as the second major sin
- Killing one is equivalent to killing the entire humanity
The Holy Book for Muslims “The Quran” contains the revelations that the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) received by God. It’s ‘enough’ to read this book to realize that Muslims are encouraged to peace, forgiveness, and equality. There are so many verses in the book encouraging the believers to be respectful towards others, generous with poor people, equal to women and also to people who have faith in another religion. Allah says:
قُل لَّا يَسْتَوِي الْخَبِيثُ وَالطَّيِّبُ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكَ كَثْرَةُ الْخَبِيثِ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يَا أُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
Say, “Not (are) equal the evil and the good even if impresses you abundance (of) the evil. So consciously revere Allah, O men (of) understanding, so that you may (be) successful.” (Surah Al-Maidah 5:100)
Muslims are encouraged to always find a peaceful resolution to problems, while what is used to justify the terrorist attacks-“the jihad” -represents a totally different concept, far from terrorism, and it has a very long list of specific rules. The Quran goes to the extent of saying that killing one person is equivalent to killing the entire Humanity and saving one is as though one has saved the entire humanity.
Jihad al-nafs (jihad against one’s self) is of four kinds:
- Striving to learn the teachings of Islam without which one cannot attain success and happiness in this world or in the Hereafter; if this is missing then one is doomed to misery in this world and in the Hereafter.
- Striving to make oneself act in accordance with what one has learned. Simply knowing without acting, even though it may not cause any harm, is not going to bring any benefit.
- Striving to call others to Islam, teaching those who do not know about it. Otherwise one will be one of those who conceal that which Allaah has revealed of guidance and teaching, and it will not benefit him or save him from the punishment of Allaah.
- Striving to bear patiently the difficulties involved in calling people to Allaah and the insults of people; bearing all that for the sake of Allaah.
Jihad against the Shaytaan is of two types:
- Warding off the doubts that he stirs up to undermine faith.
- Striving against him to ward off the corrupt desires that he provokes.
وَقَاتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ
“Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress. Verily, Allah does not love transgressors.” (Surat Al-Baqarah 2:190)
The prevalence of media bias and ignorance regarding Islam can be countered by understanding Islam through its proper teachings. That means referring to the Quran, through the proper understanding of these teachings, one will discover Islam to be completely against any form of extremism. Allah says:
وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَن تُؤْمِنَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَيَجْعَلُ الرِّجْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ
“No soul may have faith except by Allah’s leave, and He lays defilement on those who do not apply reason.” (Surah Yunus 10:100)
“Whatever a person’s beliefs or lifestyle, Islam teaches that all lives are blessed. Terrorism has no language, religion, or ethnicity.” We should spread peace to portray the real image of the religion Islam. The moral teaching offered to humanity by Islam is one that will bring peace, happiness, and justice to the world. Allah says:
وَإِن جَنَحُوا لِلسَّلْمِ فَاجْنَحْ لَهَا وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
“And if they incline to peace, then incline to it and trust in God; surely He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.” (Surah Al-Anfal 8:61)
“Islamic terrorists!” “Muslim fundamentalists!” “Extremists!” “Radical Islamists!” These are just some labels that have been wrongly applied to Muslims and certain Muslim groups in recent years. The media’s portrayal of Islam often misleads those whose knowledge of the religion is limited, to make negative assumptions about this very peaceful and tolerant way of life. Allah says:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ الظُّلُمَاتِ وَالنُّورَ ۖ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ يَعْدِلُونَ
“All praise is due to Allah, who created the heavens and the earth and made darkness and light. Yet those who disbelieve claim equals (ya’dilun) with their Lord.” (Surat Al-Anam 6:1)
The act of inciting terror in the hearts of defenceless civilians, the wholesale destruction of buildings and properties, the bombing and maiming of innocent men, women, and children are all forbidden and detestable acts according to Islam and the Muslims. This is regardless of any type of terrorism, including western state-sponsored terrorism which has killed, injured and displaced infinitely more people than all other types of terrorism. Allah says:
وَإِن جَنَحُوا لِلسَّلْمِ فَاجْنَحْ لَهَا وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
“If they incline to peace, then incline to it also and rely upon Allah. Verily, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.” (Surat al-Anfāl 8:61)
If an individual Muslim were to commit an act of terrorism, this person would be guilty of violating the laws of the very religion they claim to follow – Islam. Would it be fair to condemn all Muslims as a result, when the religion itself is against such acts? Muslims follow a religion of submission to God, peace, mercy, and forgiveness. The vast majority have nothing to do with the violent events some – notably the media – have associated with Muslims. Islam is not a religion of extremism.
