Islam is a religion of peace. The Arabic root of Islam is 'silm' which means peace. Islam aims to build a peaceful society at all cost for that is the bedrock on which all human progress rests. It is because higher human objectives cannot be achieved in the absence of peaceful circumstances. The spiritual as well as moral progress of the individual is possible only in peaceful atmosphere. Hence the atmosphere of peace is essential for the building of good society.
Reconciliation is Best
According to a verse in the Quran, 'reconciliation is the best' (4:128). In the present world, problems inevitably arise between different groups, for no human situation is ever absolutely ideal. Everyone at some point in their life is faced with injustice and the misappropriation of what belongs to them by right. In these situations, only such individuals can establish peace as can rise above all considerations and disdain all pretexts to engage in violent retaliation. Therefore a peaceful man is the truly courageous. Those who are lacking in courage will continue to fight, and will thus never allow the history of the world to be re-written in terms of blessed peace.
Unilateral Maintenance of Peace
Islam enjoins the unilateral method for maintaining peace as exemplified by an event in the early period of Islam. This is known as the Treaty of Hudaybiya (Sulh Hudaybiya). On this occasion the Prophet of Islam brought matters to a successful conclusion by unilaterally accepting the conditions of his opponents. In this peace treaty, the Prophet had not apparently received justice. What was in effect a 10-year no-war pact, gave the Prophet an opportunity to work uninterruptedly on a constructive program which would otherwise have been impossible. By means of this peaceful non-political program the Prophet and his companions were able to consolidate themselves so thoroughly that they had no need to wage war: their opponents were left with no option but to surrender. Islam, therefore, gives unilateralism as the method of maintaining peace in society.
To bring about an atmosphere of peace within the society Islam has given many other commandments. For instance, the Prophet of Islam observed: 'A believer is one from whom people feel secure as regards their lives and property' (At-Tirmizi). According to another hadith: 'By God, he is not a believer from whose nuisance his neighbour is not safe' (Bukhari)
Islam aims at making all individuals peace-loving to the ultimate extent. That is why Muslims are enjoined to greet one another by saying 'Assalam-o-Alaikum', that is, peace be upon you. According to another saying of the Prophet, 'The best Islam is to greet everyone you come across, whether or not you are acquainted with the person.' (Fathul-Bari 1/103).
The frequent reiteration of this phrase 'peace be upon you' is in actual fact an external manifestation of the desire for peace within. Islam wishes to inculcate this feeling within every individual that he should become a true lover of peace, to the point that this feeling starts welling up in his heart, finding expression whenever he meets a person. Islam, in essence, is truly a religion of peace.
