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Islam: A Religion of Peace and Security6 min read

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Islam A Religion of Peace and Security 1

Islam: A Religion of Peace and Security

Before the advent of Islam, the world was engulfed in darkness. Injustice and oppression were rampant everywhere, and there was no sign of peace and security. Humanity had been divided into pieces—sometimes on the basis of race, sometimes language and culture, and sometimes under the guise of nationality and ethnicity. These divisions clashed so severely that humanity cried out in pain. If you study the history of that time, you will realise that the entire world was filled with unrest and turmoil, whether it was backward regions or developed and civilised societies. Whether it was Rome or Persia, or India and Iran, whether it was the lush lands of Persia or the deserts of Arabia, the whole world was engulfed in flames. Before Islam, many religious leaders and advocates of moral systems sang songs of peace and love in their own ways. They tried to extinguish this fire with their moral sermons and teachings, yielding some positive results, but they could not completely quell this global volcano of unrest.

For the first time, Islam systematically taught the world the principles of peace and love and presented a sustainable code of ethics, which was named “Islam,” meaning “the religion of eternal peace and tranquillity.” No other religion has this unique distinction. Islam laid the foundations of a new chapter of peace and security, and with full intellectual and moral strength, sought to expand it. The modern world’s tendency toward peace and security, and the quest for a haven of tranquillity by various groups, is largely a product of Islamic teachings.

Islamic Guidelines for Peace and Tranquility

When the fabric of peace in a society unravels, human life is the first to suffer. Before Islam, human life had no value, but Islam bestowed such dignity and respect upon human life that the killing of one person was equated to the killing of all humanity. The Holy Quran states:

مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَٰلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ أَنَّهُۥ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًۢا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًۭا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَآ أَحْيَا ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًۭا ۚ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنْهُم بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لَمُسْرِفُونَ ٣٢

For this reason, We decreed for the children of Isrā’īl that whoever kills a person not in retaliation for a person killed, nor (as a punishment) for spreading disorder on the earth, is as if he has killed the whole of humankind, and whoever saves the life of a person is as if he has saved the life of the whole of humankind. Certainly, Our messengers have come to them with clear signs. Then, after all that, many of them are there to commit excesses on the earth. (5:32)

This universal and comprehensive concept of the sanctity of human life had not been presented by any religion or movement before Islam.

Based on this universal concept, the Quran declares the believers as the most deserving of peace. It says:

وَكَيْفَ أَخَافُ مَآ أَشْرَكْتُمْ وَلَا تَخَافُونَ أَنَّكُمْ أَشْرَكْتُم بِٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِۦ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَـٰنًۭا ۚ فَأَىُّ ٱلْفَرِيقَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِٱلْأَمْنِ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ٨١

How can I fear that which you associate with Him, while you do not fear (the evil fate of) your having associated with Allah something for which He did not send down to you any authority? Now, which of the two parties has more right to be in peace? (Tell me) if you know. (6:81)

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوٓا۟ إِيمَـٰنَهُم بِظُلْمٍ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمُ ٱلْأَمْنُ وَهُم مُّهْتَدُونَ ٨٢

Those who have believed and have not mixed their faith with injustice are the ones who deserve peace, and it is they who are on the right path. (6:82)

Islam and the Reform of Society

Islam does not only condemn murder and bloodshed but also strongly dislikes acts of sedition, terrorism, and spreading false rumors, considering them barbaric and aggressive acts.

The Holy Quran commands:

وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَـٰحِهَا وَٱدْعُوهُ خَوْفًۭا وَطَمَعًا ۚ إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ٥٦

Do not make mischief on the earth after it has been set in order. Supplicate Him in fear and hope. Surely, the mercy of Allah is close to those who are good in their deeds. (7:56)

وَٱبْتَغِ فِيمَآ ءَاتَىٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ ۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَأَحْسِن كَمَآ أَحْسَنَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَلَا تَبْغِ ٱلْفَسَادَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ ٧٧

And seek the (betterment of) the Ultimate Abode with what Allah has given to you, and do not neglect your share from this world, and do good as Allah did good to you, and do not seek to make mischief in the land. Surely, Allah does not like the mischief-makers.” (28:77)

There are many similar verses in the Quran.

Peace is a great blessing. The Quran mentions it as a divine gift:

فَلْيَعْبُدُوا۟ رَبَّ هَـٰذَا ٱلْبَيْتِ ٣

they must worship the Lord of this House, (106:3)

ٱلَّذِىٓ أَطْعَمَهُم مِّن جُوعٍۢ وَءَامَنَهُم مِّنْ خَوْفٍۭ ٤

who gave them food against hunger, and gave them security against fear. (106:4)

The importance of peace in Islam can be gauged from the fact that the birthplace of the Prophet (ﷺ), the sanctuary of Mecca, has been declared a haven of peace. The Holy Quran states:

ومن دخله كان آمنا
“Whoever enters it shall be safe” (Aal-i-Imran 3:97).

In Hadiths about peace:-

There are also numerous instructions in the Hadiths about maintaining peace and security on Earth. For example, the Prophet (ﷺ) described the mark of a true believer as someone who causes no harm to others. Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

المسلم من سلم المسلمون من لسانہ ویدہ والموٴمن من آمنہ الناس علی دمائہم واموالہم

“A Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand Muslims are safe, and a believer is one from whom people’s lives and properties are secure” (Tirmidhi: Hadith No. 2627).

In another instance, the Prophet (ﷺ) warned against oppression and narrow-mindedness:

اتقوا الظلم فان الظلم ظلمات یوم القیامة واتقوا الشح فان الشح اہلک من کان قبلکم حملہم ان سفکوا دمائہم واستحلوا محارہم

“Beware of oppression, for oppression will be darkness on the Day of Resurrection. And beware of miserliness, for it destroyed those who came before you, leading them to bloodshed and making them lawful what was unlawful for them” (Muslim: Hadith No. 257).

Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

حَدَّثَنَا عَاصِمُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي شُرَيْحٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏”‏ وَاللَّهِ لاَ يُؤْمِنُ، وَاللَّهِ لاَ يُؤْمِنُ، وَاللَّهِ لاَ يُؤْمِنُ ‏”‏‏.‏ قِيلَ وَمَنْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏”‏ الَّذِي لاَ يَأْمَنُ جَارُهُ بَوَايِقَهُ ‏”‏‏.‏ تَابَعَهُ شَبَابَةُ وَأَسَدُ بْنُ مُوسَى‏.‏ وَقَالَ حُمَيْدُ بْنُ الأَسْوَدِ وَعُثْمَانُ بْنُ عُمَرَ وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ وَشُعَيْبُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، عَنِ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ،‏.‏

Narrated Abu Shuraih: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe!” It was said, “Who is that, O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)?” He said, “That person whose neighbor does not feel safe from his evil.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)

Jarir bin Abdullah narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ وَهْبٍ، وَأَبِي، ظَبْيَانَ عَنْ جَرِيرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ لاَ يَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ مَنْ لاَ يَرْحَمُ النَّاسَ ‏”‏‏.‏

Narrated Jarir bin `Abdullah: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to mankind. (Sahih al-Bukhari)

In another instance, the Prophet (ﷺ) stated:

“The best of you are those from whom people expect good and are safe from their harm, and the worst of you are those from whom people expect no good and are not safe from their harm.”

The Prophet (ﷺ) also condemned bigotry and narrow-mindedness, saying:

“He is not one of us who calls for tribalism, or who fights for tribalism” (Abu Dawood: 1521).

The Prophet (ﷺ) further said:

“Whoever kills a non-Muslim under a treaty will not smell the fragrance of Paradise” (Musnad Ahmad: Hadith No. 20464).

Numerous other Hadiths emphasise avoiding oppression, living peacefully, fulfilling others’ rights, refraining from causing unrest.There is strong emphasis on generosity and tolerance towards ordinary people (regardless of their religion or nationality) and on showing respect for the religious traditions and figures of all religions and nations.

 

اسلام امن و سلامتی کا مذہب

JazakAllahu Khairan for reading. If you have found this information beneficial, please share it with your loved ones and friends. May Allah reward you abundantly for your efforts.

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Umme Muhammad

I am an Islamic Scholar. I have expertise in Ahadith, Fiqh, Logics, and the Arabic language. I have a specialty in Translation, Tafseer, Arabic Language, and Ahadith learning. To get started with me, Book Now one-to-one Session, or let us know what do you like in the contact form.

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