Islam advocates freedom, peace and mutual agreement and rebukes aggression. Islam in itself means a religion of peace. Like all other religions, Islam promotes peace, love and harmony among the people. The relations of Muslims with others are based primarily on peace, mutual respect and trust. The theme in the Quran is peace as long as no oppression or injustice can be resolved by peace. Allah calls all people to live by the moral values He sets so that compassion, mercy, peace, and love can be experienced all over the world. Allah says:

وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَسِيبًا

“When you are greeted with a greeting, then greet in return with something better or at least return it. Verily, Allah is an accountant over all things.” (Surat al-Nisa 4:86)

Islam teaches peace and harmony above all. Violence and brutal killings have no place in Islam. It is either the misconception about Islam that is prevailing in today’s world that Islam sponsors terrorism or the vested interest of evil forces who wish to malign the image of Islam. Islam stands for peace between man and his Creator, man and his fellow beings and between different religions and communities. Peace is the greeting of one Muslim to another, Allah says:

فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُم بُيُوتًا فَسَلِّمُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُمْ تَحِيَّةً مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ مُبَارَكَةً طَيِّبَةً

“When you enter houses, offer greetings of peace upon each other, a greeting from Allah, blessed and good.” (Surat al-Nur 24:59)

In Islam, good morals, love, and respect for God and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are expected from believers. Islam does not preach hatred or condone acts of violence. Unfortunately, the message of Islam has been distorted by the enemies of Islam. Peace is the primary duty of Islam and its adherents must come to show to the world that we are for peace and settlement not for violence and destruction.

The True Peaceful Face of Islam is as follows:

1. Peace is tolerant of other religions and regards
2. Peace has accountability and ultimate Justice
3. Peace teaches one should not harm others
4. Peace allows a person to truly God’s love
5. Peace teaches us about good and bad
6. Peace provides equal opportunity
7. Peace encourages God’s mercy
8. Peace is the future of the world
9. Peace is the future of the world
10. Peace bends to mutual caring
11. Peace makes our lives better
12. Peace is a true way of life
13. Peace will help go to Heaven 
14. Peace rules being a good Muslim 
15. Peace provides equal opportunity
16. Peace understands the majesty of Allah
17. Peace itself is an inherently inner peace 
18. Peace understands the reality of this life
19. Peace gives a person a clear perspective
20. Peace emphasizes both evidence and faith
21. Peace teaches that God is the Most Justice
22. Peace has the right to life is an absolute value
23. Peace emancipates the mind from superstitions 

Muslims are strictly instructed to follow Allah Almighty’s book of the law. The regard for peace, righteousness, and justice is to be maintained by the Muslims above all else. Therefore, it is crucially important for an individual to believe in Allah with his own will and aspiration, and observe HIS commands through personal meticulous gratification. We have been commanded to spread peace on earth, to invoke peace in our prayers, and to end all conflicts in peace. Allah says:

سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُم بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ

“Peace (be) upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent (is) the final attainment (of) the Home.” (Surah Ar-Ra`d 13:24)

A true Muslim should seek to bring others close to him, not drive them away. Islam offers all the beauty found in these religions and none of the drawbacks. Islam is tolerant of other faiths and regards them as religiously legitimate. God creates in humans the mind to understand, the soul and conscience to be good and righteous, and the feelings and sentiments to be kind and humane. If we try to count His favours upon us, we cannot, because they are countless. Allah says:

وَإِن جَنَحُوا لِلسَّلْمِ فَاجْنَحْ لَهَا وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

“And if they incline to peace, then you (also) incline to it and put (your) trust in Allah. Indeed, He (is) All-Hearer, All-Knower.” (Surah Al-Anfal 8:61)

The Quran emphasizes peace and reconciliation as basic to all social and international relations. A true Muslim should seek to bring others close to him, not drive them away. Islam declares a person to be born with a clean slate. The human being was not born evil but rather he was created good and equipped by nature to fulfil his duties. Islam counsels us to follow a better path when people insult us by not responding to them in the same manner, but rather to respond to their evil with good.

The Quran teaches us to be peaceful with people unless they are oppressors:

• “Only the saying, “Peace! Peace.” (Al-Waqia, 26)
• “Enter ye here in peace and security.” (Al-Hijr, 46)
• “Peace.” A word from a Lord Most Merciful.” (Ya-Sin 36:58)
• “Allah only accepts from the people of taqwa.” (Quran, 5:27)
• “Then We will save the ones who had taqwa.” (Quran, 19:72)
• “Truly, in remembering God do hearts find rest.” (Quran 13:28)
• “O peaceful soul, come and enter my paradise.” (Quran 89:28)
• “The reward of goodness is nothing but goodness. ” (Quran 55:61)
• “It states that God abhors any disturbance of the peace.” (Quran 2:205)
• “There is no compulsion where the religion is concerned.” (Quran: 2;256)
• “And Allah calls to (the) Home (of) the Peace and guides whom He wills to (the) straight path.” (Surah Yunus 10:25)
• Islam forbids the killing of innocent people, irrespective of the causes, religious, political or social beliefs. (Quran 6 151)

The root of the word Islam refers to “making peace, being in a mutually peaceful environment, greetings, rescue, safety, being secure, finding peace, reaching salvation and well-being or being far from danger, attaining goodness, comfort, and favour, keeping away from troubles and disasters, submitting the self and obeying, respect, being far from wrong. Islam is a religion of peace, according to the Quran, Islam teaches love and compassion for every human being, no matter their faith. Every teaching of Islam is based on the principles of peace and avoidance. Muslims should avoid war, even in a defensive situation.

Islam creates a sense of peace with one’s creator and one’s self:

• Islam is a religion of peace: Islam is a religion of peace in the complete sense of the word.
• Pursuing the straight path: Being truthful and honest in all circumstances embracing a moderate way of life that encourages good relations with everyone.
• Mercy and forgiveness: Divine compassion and Prophetic mercy assign special importance to forgiveness and tolerance.
• Trustworthiness: Every Prophet is introduced in the Quran with the attribute of trustworthiness.
• Love and respect for God: Love, mercy and compassion are to be shown, not only to people but also to every creature in nature.
• Peace, reform, and virtuous deeds: Islah means one’s reach of peace and serenity while leaving conflicts and deviations; in other words,
• The purpose of Islam: A true Muslim follows the straight path.
• Social peace: Good deeds are actions that are beneficial for people and society, as well as actions that are taken to establish peace and serenity

Islam is primarily a religion of peace and brotherhood. It teaches that the whole creation is the family of Allah and therefore, the best in this family is one who loves other creatures the most. Every religion in the world teaches peace and harmony. No faith believes in spreading hate among fellow human beings. A  Muslim is one from whose hand and tongue people are safe. May Allah guide us in maintaining peace in our lives, blossom peace and kindness in the hearts of the troubled and help us live this life according to the virtues of our religion InshAllah.