(part 1 of 3): Peace with God
The Relationship Between Islam and “Peace” (Salaam)
Perhaps it is best to start a discussion of the relationship between Islam and Peace and Security with a statement which you hear a lot these days: „Islam means peace“. If the one who makes this statement thinks that the actual meaning of the word „Islam“ is „peace“, then this is definitely wrong. It is true that the word Islam and the Arabic word for peace (Salaam) both come from the same root. This shows that there is a connection between the two. It is vital to understand what this connection is and when it occurs.
The word „Islam“ is the verbal noun of the verb aslama. This verb is translated as „it surrenders or submits to itself“. When used in relation to God, it means „He has surrendered to God“. [1] Therefore Islam refers to whether an individual recognizes who is their master; and this cognition is that his behavior towards his Lord is that of devotion and worship.
Understanding what the word Islam means is vital to understanding the relationship between Islam and peace. Islam, the submission to God’s will, leads to true peace. True peace – both internally and externally – can only be the result of the correct implementation of Islam. Of course, peace here is not just about “an absence of war”. Peace means much more than that. One can also suffer from fear or hopelessness and lack of peace outside of a war. Here it refers to the full meaning of peace. Islam brings complete calm and peace of mind as a result of realizing that one believes and acts in harmony and in harmony with the Creator’s guidance. This inner peace can then affect the family, encroach on the community, society and the whole world. [2] It is a special form of rest that can only be achieved through proper belief in God. Therefore God says:
“Truly, a light from God and a clear book have come to you. With this, God guides those who seek His pleasure into the paths of peace, and with His permission He leads them from the darkness to the light and leads them in a straight path. ” (Qur’an 5: 15-16)
In fact, God calls people to stay at Eternal Peace:
„And God invites you to the House of Peace and guides whom He wants to the straight path.“ (Quran 10:25)
For those who follow this path, the ultimate reward will be the stay of peace:
“They will be given a house of peace with their Lord” (Quran 6: 127) In
short, it is not correct say „Islam means peace“ but rather true peace comes through Islam.
How Islam Brings Peace
True and complete peace can only be achieved if the individuals themselves receive inner peace. This is the result of Islam or true submission to the will of God alone. This is the only way of life that fits the nature of people. In fact, that’s what can be called real life. Therefore God says:
“O you who believe, listen to Allah and the Messenger when he calls you to do something that gives you life…” (Quran 8:24)
Knowing God is what brings true happiness to the soul. If the individual does not know his creator, his soul will always yearn for something that is missing in this life. He will always be restless and confused. If and when he looks for things other than God – even if they are things that he thinks are his ‚God‘ – he will surely end up hopeless if he finds that none of these things he is aiming for is about the being his heart longs for.
Ibn Taimiyyah wrote:
You have to know that man’s need [3] for God – that he worship Him and have no partners at his side – is a need to which there is no comparison, to which no analogy will be found. In some matters, it resembles the body’s need for food and drink. However, there are numerous differences between these two.
The reality of a human being is in his heart and soul. These cannot thrive except through [their connection] with God in relation to whom there is no other God. There is no rest in this world, for example, except in His memory. Verily, man will go to his master and he will meet him. He definitely has to meet him. [4] If a person experiences any pleasure or pleasure, then these are not permanent. It will move from one nature to another or from one person to the next. The person will enjoy it once or only part of the time. In reality, the thing that he enjoys and that gives him joy will bring no enjoyment and no joy. Sometimes she’ll even hurt him when she comes to him. And it harms him even more. But God is definitely always with him – under all circumstances and at all times. Wherever he is, He is with him [with His knowledge and help] …
If someone worships anything other than God – even if he loves it and achieves some love in this world and some kinds of pleasure – [this wrong worship] it will destroy the person in a worse way than the harmful displeasure that infests a person who has eaten poison …
you must know that if someone loves something different in God’s place, then that beloved will definitely be a cause of harm and punishment … Harm thing, whether she’s with him or not … [5]
All goods and all wealth in this world are unable to bring such true inner satisfaction to man. Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet, God’s blessings and peace were on him, said:
„True wealth is not much property and possession, but true wealth is complacency.“ [6]
Another hadith reads:
„True wealth is the wealth of the heart. True poverty is the poverty of the heart. ”[7]
Once an individual is at peace with himself and free from internal unrest, he can really build peaceful relationships with others. There will be no reason to have any resentment towards the rest of the world – just for those who might blame it for its lack of inner peace. Since his goal is indeed the hereafter, man has no reason to feel envy or anger at others for any of the things they have achieved in this world, while envy and anger shake the root of any peaceful relationship with others.
Footnotes:
[1] EW Lane, Arabic-English Lexicon (Cambridge, England: The Islamic Texts Society, 1984), vol.1, p. 1413.
[2] On this point one can read Sayyed Qutb, Islam and Universal Peace (Indianapolis, IN: American Trust Publications, 1977), passim.
[3] The word ibn Taimiya used is abd (servant or slave); however, it means every human being.
[4] This is because the soul longs to meet with its creator because of its inherent nature.
[5] Ibn Taimiya, Majmoo, Vol. 1, pp. 24-29.
[6] Reported to al-Bukhari and Muslim.
[7] Reported by ibn Hibbaan. According to al-Albaani, it is authentic. See al-Albaani, Saheeh al-Jaami al-Sagheer, # 7816.
(part 2 of 3): Society
His freedom of arousal will undoubtedly have an impact on how he treats others. It starts with those closest to him from his family, and then it extends to his neighbors and other members of his society, and finally to all of humanity. Therefore, Islam establishes a complete social structure in which people interact with each other based on relationships, rights and obligations, in a way that creates peaceful coexistence. Children take into account their parents‘ rights, while parents respect their roles towards children. Husband and wife do not come together as rivals, but work together to build a home full of peace and love.
“And among His signs is that He created wives for you from within yourself so that you would find peace with them; and He put affection and mercy between you. Here are truly signs of a people who think. ” (Quran 30:21)
Therefore, God has established strict laws that protect the integrity of the home, such as the laws regarding adultery, fornication, and defamation. The reason is that home is truly the foundation of society as a whole. When there is no peace at home, you can hardly expect people who leave their homes full of tension to be peaceful members of society.
Since the guidance of Islam encompasses not only what is traditionally known as the „law“, but also ethical behavior and behavior, Islam also provides guidance for the manners of how members of society should treat each other. There is a strong emphasis on mutual respect, every member of society is aware that it is part of a larger entity, which requires rights and obligations. This mutual feeling creates a society filled with peace, in which each individual respects the well-being and needs of the other members of society.
Therefore, when Islam is applied, the individual finds peace around himself and in society as a whole. Even world peace can only be achieved if there is justice. In recent years, more and more people have recognized this fact and emphasize: „There can be no peace without justice“ (Justice is often a slogan used when it comes to war, but usually it is not more than that: a slogan ). But there can be no true justice or true peace until people rise above national, economic, or political interests. There can be no true justice or peace as long as people still believe that they can just go to war against others simply because of their own economic interests, such as to exploit the natural resources of another country. True righteousness can only occur if people indulge in God, accept His guidance by leaving their ego and desires aside in their decisions.
In the hereafter one will of course only achieve eternal peace by believing in God and following His guidance. And again God makes it clear that this is what He calls people to do:
“And God invites you to the House of Peace and guides whoever He wants to the straight path.” (Quran 10:25)
Before we leave this question of peace, there is a very important question, but perhaps the full discussion of this question is beyond the scope of this article: can someone have true inner peace if their life in this life gives them no clue as to how it is will happen in the hereafter, or if there is a complete break in the connection between the two, or even if there appears to be a contradiction between them. For example, capitalism, socialism, and democracy all promise to deliver something in this world, but in reality, they cannot deliver anything to the beyond. Therefore, they leave a void in a person’s life that prevents them from ever finding true peace. As a result, the individual may try sharing his life: he is secular about this world while having some form of spiritual belief about the hereafter. But how can he know whether what he is pursuing in the secular realm matches what his spiritual teachings dictate to him, what will happen in the hereafter. Will he have to face schizophrenia? What’s worse, what if his spiritual teachings he believes in point to the fact that his worldly life is wrong, like when his spiritual teachings tell him that the flesh and this world are bad, etc. How can Will individuals of this kind ever find true peace within themselves? what he pursues in the secular realm fits what his spiritual teachings dictate to him, what will happen in the hereafter. Will he have to face schizophrenia? What’s worse, what if his spiritual teachings he believes in point to the fact that his worldly life is wrong, like when his spiritual teachings tell him that the flesh and this world are bad, etc. How can Will individuals of this kind ever find true peace within themselves? what he pursues in the secular realm fits what his spiritual teachings dictate to him, what will happen in the hereafter. Will he have to face schizophrenia? What’s worse, what if his spiritual teachings he believes in point to the fact that his worldly life is wrong, like when his spiritual teachings tell him that the flesh and this world are bad, etc. How can Will individuals of this kind ever find true peace within themselves?
How Islam Creates
Security Security can be seen as a consequence of peace. The factors that bring peace contribute to security.
What first comes to mind when people think of security has to do with laws. Laws are definitely important for safety because they set the parameters for acceptable behavior. Islam is indeed a religion that not only provides general principles for life, but that provides detailed laws. These laws also bring about peace and security. Peace and security will undoubtedly be the goal of any society. But God is the only one who really knows this creation in order to be able to determine laws that can bring peace and security. As for people, they just guess. One can point out, for example, the death penalty (capital punishment). The death penalty is one of the greatest deterrents to major crimes. The European Union has banished them entirely. In the United States, the masses are still swaying, never sure whether it is a good thing or not. In reality, they will never be safe. This is because they will never be able to put people in a laboratory to experiment and see if the death penalty is more positive than negative. Therefore, they will only ever guess. Even the European Union, which is completely opposed to it, actually has no basis other than pure speculation. On the other hand, one of the main goals of Islamic law is the preservation and survival of life. As part of this goal, the law of retaliation and the death penalty form part of Islamic law. These laws are not just for the sake of punishment. Such laws are supposed to protect life, as God says:
“In retaliation there is life for you, O you who are insightful! Maybe you will fear God. ” (Quran 2: 179)
This statement comes from the only one who can possibly make such a statement and who alone knows the reality. Therefore, if you turn away from God’s guidance, people will always be in the dark, and therefore they will most likely never succeed in establishing a complete social system that really creates peace and security. For this reason, Islam, the religion of the Creator, is the only way of life that can offer security.
(part 3 of 3): God consciousness
In reality, laws alone cannot bring peace and security. This leads to another important factor that highlights Islam above all human efforts for peace and security. The first and most important factor that contributes to safety has nothing to do with laws, but with what is in people’s hearts. The ultimate goal of Islamic law is to establish, strengthen, and support the beliefs of individuals and the community as a whole. As previously discussed, this belief brings peace to the heart that immediately overpowers violent feelings towards others. In addition, part of this belief is planting Taqwa (awareness of God) in the hearts of individuals. As noted above, this belief and taqwa bring peace, but they also hold back his actions. His behavior is determined by a set of general principles, and one of the aims of those principles is to ensure peace and security. If you’re in a bad mood, for example, it goes without saying that you don’t have the right to go to your job and start shooting at anyone who shows up, as has happened more than once in the United States in recent years happened. So there are limits to his behavior that ensure security and peace. that you don’t have the right to go to your job and start shooting at anyone who shows what has happened more than once in the United States in recent years. So there are limits to his behavior that ensure security and peace. that you don’t have the right to go to your job and start shooting at anyone who shows what has happened more than once in the United States in recent years. So there are limits to his behavior that ensure security and peace.
There is actually a very important point that underlines a person’s overall outlook on life, which in turn results in peace and security. This belief and taqwa give this life meaning and understanding of the existence of a noble creator and purpose in life. This life is not without meaning. It is not a combination of coincidences. Humans are not simply descended from other animals. This understanding alone has a fundamental effect on the actions of the individual. This writer had personal experience working in prisons in the United States. When asked why they committed their crimes, the answer without exception was, „Why not?“ The only question for them was whether they were caught or not. There was no question about accountability to a creator or any meaning in this life. You really can’t counter their way of thinking if you’re stupid enough to believe that this existence is meaningless and just a coincidence.
Not only is belief and taqwa preventing you from doing bad deeds, but you also develop a common desire to do good. At this point one can take the famous example of the ban on alcohol in the United States that was pronounced in 1919. This law was passed as a result of widespread intoxication and an increase in crime and violence. Although people recognized the wisdom behind the law and believed in the law – and this is why the law actually came into force – many of them had nothing in their hearts that would have led them to obey the law. If there is belief in the laws of God and Taqwa, the situation is very different. A hatred develops in the heart against this act, which is banished. The believer realizes that the deed itself is bad and, what is worse, it displeases his master. Therefore, the believer refrains from such prohibited things as best he can. And, since security is the result of applying God’s laws, this end result is achieved.
What also contributes to the application of God’s laws that ensure security is the emphasis that Islam places on the community spirit. In recent years, many communities in the United States have developed what is known as “neighborhood watches” in response to the lack of peace and security. Neighbors take care of each other and observe their surroundings. The goal is not simply to discover violations of peace and security, but to show people that they are part of a community and that they should be interested in what is happening to others in their neighborhood. Of course, what they develop cannot be compared to the community spirit and brotherhood that Islam develops. The reality is that some people are weak and they can easily be overwhelmed by their desires or by bad people. They need people to stick to to stay on the right path and to help them overcome their weaknesses. Therefore, the spirit of fraternity in Islam is steeped in the obligation to take care of others, recommend good things to one another, and prevent bad deeds. Therefore God says: to recommend the good to one another and to keep bad deeds from happening. Therefore God says: to recommend the good to one another and to keep bad deeds from happening. Therefore God says:
„And the believing men and the believing women are one of the other Aulija (friends of protection): They command good and forbid evil …“ (Quran 9:71)
The Prophet of God, God’s blessing and peace be upon him, said:
„Believers are like a building to one another: one part strengthens the other.“ [1]
This relationship between the individual members of society, like the spirit behind the „Neighborhood Watch“ programs, bring peace and security to the individuals of society.
Islam cares for both this life and the hereafter. In fact, he connects the two. One could argue that only through this close relationship can true peace and security be achieved. Guidance must come from God – and can only come from God – to know the faith, the laws, and the steps that will provide peace and security. Individuals can find inner peace through Islam. This can allow him to live in peace with others. At the same time, he has the steps and laws he needs to ensure peace and security for all of society.
Footnotes:
[1] Sahieh Al-Bukhari and Sahieh Muslim.
Source: https://www.islamland.com/deu/articles/frieden-und-sicherheit