Islam is an answer to the demands of nature. Islam as it is, is in fact a counterpart of human nature. This is why Islam has been called a religion of nature in the Quran and Hadith.

A man once came to the Prophet Muhammad and asked him what he should do in a certain matter. The Prophet replied, 'Consult your heart about it'. By the heart the Prophet meant common sense. That is, what one's common sense tells one would likewise be the demand of Islam. What does human nature desire more than anything? It desires, above all, peace and love. Every human being wants to live in peace and to receive love from the people around him. Peace and love are the religion of human nature as well as the demand of Islam. The Quran tells us, "God calls to the home of peace".

One of the teachings of Islam is that when two or more people meet, they must greet one another with the words, Assalamu Alaikum (Peace be upon you). Similarly, salat, or prayer, five times daily is the highest form of worship in Islam. At the close of each prayer all worshippers have to turn their faces to either side and utter the words Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah (May peace and God's blessings be upon you). This is like a pledge given to people: "O people you are safe from me. Your life, your property, your honour is secure with me. "

A true and perfect man, from the religious point of view, is one who has reached that level of spiritual development where nothing but peace prevails.

This sums up the spirit of true religion, the goal of which is spiritual upliftment. It is the ultimate state of this spiritual upliftment which is referred to in the Quran as the 'soul at peace.' (89:27)

Thus a true and perfect man, from the religious point of view, is one who has reached that level of spiritual development where nothing but peace prevails. When a person has attained that peaceful state, others will receive from him nothing but peace. He may be likened to a flower which can send out only its fragrance to man, it being impossible for it to emit a foul smell.

An anecdote mentioned below brings out the spirit of religion. The story goes that once a Sufi saint was travelling along with his disciples.

During the journey he encamped near a large grove of trees upon which doves used to perch. During this halt one of the Sufi's disciples aimed at one of the doves, killed it, cooked it and ate it. Afterwards something strange happened. A flock of doves came to the tree under which the Sufi was resting and began hovering over it and making a noise.

The Sufi saint asked the leader of the birds what the matter was. The leader said, 'One of your disciples has killed one of us.' The saint questioned his disciple about it. The disciple said that he had done nothing wrong, as the birds were their food and what he had done was normal. The Sufi conveyed this message to the leader of the doves.

Peace and love are the religion of human nature as well as the demand of Islam.

The latter replied: 'Perhaps you have failed to understand our point. Actually what we are complaining about is that all of you came here in the garb of Sufis yet acted as hunters. Had you come here in hunter's garb, we would certainly have remained on the alert. When we saw you in the guise of Sufis, we thought that we were safe with you and remained perched on the top of the tree without being properly vigilant.'

This anecdote illustrates well the reality of a true religious person or spiritual person. One who has reached the stage of spiritual upliftment, and has found the true essence of religion no longer has the will or the capacity to do harm. He gives life not death, to others. He benefits others, doing no injury to anyone. In short, he lives among the people like flowers and not like thorns. He has nothing but love in his heart to bestow upon others.

A believer who worships God can feel himself becoming imbued with a special kind of peace and in turn he will live as a peaceful person in society. He will be a well wisher to everyone and will consider all as his fellow beings.