1. 1

2. Islamic Concept of Peace
Unit 1.2
 Peace
 ‘Peace is a Word Spoken by a Merciful God!’
(Quran 36:58)
From a religious or spiritual perspective peacebuilding
makes explicit the connection between ‘inner’ and
‘outer’ peace.
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3. Islamic Concept of Peace
 If you go through the Quran you will find that from most
verses, either directly or indirectly there emanates the sprit
of peace. There is a verse, which says ‘And God calls to the
home of peace.’ (10:25) This means that the destination of
Islam is peace. All the teachings of Islam are oriented
towards the goal of peace.
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4. Islamic Concept of Peace
 If you make a detailed study of the Quran you will
discover many verses, which deal with the objects and
events of the universe, as signs of nature. These verses
project the universe as a model of peace and harmony.
There are innumerable astronomical bodies in space.
All are in motion, but all follow their own orbits
without the slightest deviation. Holding up this
phenomenon as an ideal, the Quran asks us to follow
the same course of peace, that is, to move in one’s own
orbit and not trespass (3:83). Thus peaceful living is
the religion for both: man and the universe.
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5. Islamic Concept of Peace
 “Do good to others as God has done good to you, and do
not seek corruption, and mischief in the land, for God
does not love those who cause corruption and make
mischief.” (Quran, Surah Al-Qasas, 28:77).
 “Peace is better” (Quran, 4:128)
 “And if they incline toward peace, then you too incline
toward it, and put your trust in Allah. Indeed, He is the
All-hearing, the All-knowing.” (Surah Al-Anfal, 8: 61)
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6. Islamic Concept of Peace
 “…And settlement is best…” (Quran: 4:128).
 The Quran calls its way “… The ways of peace …”
(Quran: 5:16).
 “And if they incline toward peace, then you too incline
toward it, and put your trust in Allah. Indeed, He is the
All-hearing, the All-knowing.” (Surah Al-Anfal, 8: 61)
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7. Islamic Concept of Peace
 It describes reconciliation as the best policy (4:128),
and states that God hates any disturbance of peace
(2:205).
 Similarly, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has observed:
“God grants to gentleness (Rifq) what He does not
grant to violence (’Unf).” (Sunan Abu Dawud 4/255)
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8. Islamic Concept of Peace
 Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace
and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever believes in
Allah and the Last Day, let him speak goodness or
remain silent. Whoever believes in Allah and the Last
Day, let him honor his neighbor. Whoever believes in
Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his guest.”
(Sahiḥ al-Bukhārī 6136, Sahiḥ Muslim 47).
 One of the ninety-nine names of Allah is salam which
means peace.
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9. Islamic Concept of Peace
 It’s clear our actions towards our fellow human beings
can help maintain peace. It is critical we practice
kindness, treat others with respect, speak gently,
avoiding anger and violence – traits displayed by our
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
 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.
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10. Islamic Concept of Peace
 It’s clear our actions towards our fellow human beings
can help maintain peace. It is critical we practice
kindness, treat others with respect, speak gently,
avoiding anger and violence – traits displayed by our
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
 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.
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11. Islamic Concept of Peace
 The teachings of Islam invite people to live a
peaceful life based on theism, justice and purity.
 Therefore, peace in Islam is an eternal constitution. Even
the nature of war in Islam is a defensive one, not an
offensive one, because the principle of Islam is peace and
coexistence, not conflict, violence and war.
 There is a common misconception that Islam is a religion
of Violence. There is no basis for this in Islam. Islam is a
religion of peace.
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12. Islamic Concept of Peace
 The very first verse of the Quran reads: In the name of
God, the Most Merciful, the most Compassionate. This
verse, which is repeated in the Quran 114 times, clearly
shows that the God of Islam is the God of Mercy and
Compassion, and the book of Islam too is the book of
mercy. The people of Islam must also possess the
quality of mercy and compassion; otherwise they
could not be true believers.
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13. Islamic Concept of Peace
 Now I would like to present examples from the
traditions of the Prophet. Once a man came to the
Prophet and asked, “O Prophet, give me a master
advice which will enable me to manage all the affairs of
my life.” The Prophet told him: “Don’t be angry.”
 That is to say, stick to positive behaviour in all
situations.
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14. Islamic Concept of Peace
 In fact, in normal conditions man is governed by his
own nature. And nature always takes the course of
peace. When people are provoked their nature is
upset, and they are derailed into negativity. So the
Prophet advised people never to take a negative course
of action, and to keep to peaceful and positive
behaviour in all situations, even in the face of
provocation.
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15. Islamic Concept of Peace
 According to another tradition, the Prophet of Islam
once observed: Don’t wish for confrontation with your
enemy; instead always ask for peace from God.
 This means that even when they have enemies. Muslims are
not allowed to take the course of confrontation. They must
rather seek the way of avoidance. The Quran further states
that if you deal with your enemy positively and return good
for evil, he will become your closest friend (41:34). These
references from the Quran and Sunnah make it clear that
peace is the greatest concern of Islam. The Islamic method
is a peaceful method. Islamic activism is a peaceful activism
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16. Islamic Concept of Peace
 Why does Islam lay such a great emphasis on
peace?
 Because all the good things which Islam wants to see
in human life can be brought about only in peaceful
environment. For instance, such constructive activities
like spiritual uplift, character building, educational
activity, social welfare, worship and prayer — and
above all dawah work, can be performed only in
peaceful conditions. No peace, no progress; no peace,
no development.
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17. Islamic Concept of Peace
 Peace in Islam is not required for the sake of peace. It is
required for the sake of God that is for the sake of a
great purpose. It is because no Islamic activity can be
carried out except in peaceful conditions.
 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 not concept of holy
war in Islam. 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.
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18. Islamic Concept of Peace
 Jihad is an act to be performed by the power of
ideology rather than the power of the sword; it is only
another name for peaceful activism along Islamic
lines. The Quran says that on the day of the
Judgement, God will say: ‘O peaceful soul, come and
enter my paradise’ (89:28). And only those who have
followed the path of peace in this world will be allowed
an entrance into God’s Paradise.
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19. Islamic Concept of Peace
 According to another tradition, the Prophet of Islam
once observed: Don’t wish for confrontation with your
enemy; instead always ask for peace from God.
 The Quran says that on the day of the Judgement, God
will say: ‘O peaceful soul, come and enter my paradise’
(89:28). And only those who have followed the path of
peace in this world will be allowed an entrance into
God’s Paradise.
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