The Relationship between Islam and “Peace” (Salaam)
Perhaps the best way to begin a discussion of the
relationship between Islam and peace and security is to deal with a statement
that is heard often these days: “Islam means peace.” If the one making
this statement means 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
demonstrates that there is going to be a relationship between the two. It
is vitally important to understand what that relationship is and how that
relationship occurs.
The word “Islam” is the verbal noun of the verb aslama.
This verb is defined as, “He resigned or submitted himself.” When used
with respect to God, it means, “He became submissive to God.”[1] Thus,
Islam is about an individual recognizing who his Lord is and recognizing that
his attitude toward his Lord and Creator should be one of submission and
worship.
This understanding of what the word Islam means is
vital for understanding the relationship between Islam and peace. Islam,
the submission to God, is what leads to true peace. True peace—both
internally and externally—can only be the result of the correct implementation
of Islam. Of course, what is meant here is not simply peace as in “an
absence of a state of war.” Peace means much more than that. One
can be free of war yet still suffer from anxiety or despair and lack peace.
Here, it is referring to a complete sense of peace. Islam brings about a
complete tranquility and peace of mind that is the result of realizing that one
is believing and acting in accord with the guidance of one’s Creator.
This internal peace can then spread to the family, the community, the society
and the world as a whole.[2] It is a special form of tranquility that can only
be produced by the proper belief in God. Hence, God says:
“Indeed,
there has come to you from God a Light and a clear Book wherewith God guides
all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out
of darkness by His Will unto light and guides them to a Straight Way” (Quran
5:15-16)
In fact, God is calling humans to the abode of eternal
peace:
“God
calls to the home of peace (Paradise) and guides whom He wills to a Straight
Path” (Quran 10:25)
For those who follow this path, their ultimate reward
will be the abode of peace:
“For
them will be the home of peace (Paradise) with their Lord” (Quran 6:127)
In sum, it is not correct to say, “Islam means peace,”
but certainly true peace comes only via Islam.
How Islam Brings About Peace
True and complete peace can only be had when the
individuals themselves achieve internal peace. This results from Islam or
the true submission to God alone. This is the only way of life consistent
with the nature of human beings. In fact, this is what can be called the
“true life.” Thus, God says:
“O you
who believe! Answer God (by obeying Him) and (His) Messenger when he
calls you to that which will give you life…” (Quran 8:24)
Knowing God is what can bring about true contentment
in the soul. If the individual does not know his Creator, his soul will
always be yearning for something that is missing in his life. He will
always be agitated and confused. If and when he seeks things other than
God—even things which he believes is his “god”—he will eventually end up in
despair when he realizes that all of the things that he seeks after are not the
one Being that his heart is yearning for.
Ibn Taimiyyah wrote:
You
must know that a human’s[3] need for God¾ that he worship Him and not
associate any partner with Him¾ is a need concerning which there is no
comparison that one can make an analogy to. In some matters, it resembles
the need of the body for food and drink. However, there are many
differences between the two.
The
reality of a human being is in his heart and soul. These cannot be
prosperous except through [their relation] with God, concerning whom there is
no other god. There is[, for example,] no tranquility in this world
except in His remembrance. Verily, man is proceeding toward his Lord and
he shall meet Him. He must definitely meet Him. There is no true
goodness for him except in meeting Him.[4] If the human experiences
any pleasure or happiness other than in God, that joy and happiness will not
endure. It will move from one nature to another or from one person to
another. The person will enjoy it at one time or only some of the
time. In fact, sometimes the thing he enjoys and gets pleasure from does
not bring him pleasure or enjoyment. Sometimes it even hurts him when it
comes to him. And he is even more harmed by that. But his God is
definitely always with him under every circumstance and at all times.
Wherever he is, He is with him [by His knowledge and aid]…
If
someone worships anything other than God¾ even if he loves it and attains
some love in this world and some form of pleasure from that¾ [that false
worship] will destroy the person in a way greater than the harmful displeasure
that comes to a person who ate poison…
You
must know that if anyone loves something other than for the sake of God, then
that beloved thing will definitely be a cause of harm and punishment… If
somebody loves something other than for the sake of God, that thing will harm
him whether it is with him or he is without it…[5]
All of the wealth and the goods of this world will not
be able to bring the human such true internal contentment. Abu Hurairah
narrated that the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him,
said:
“True richness is not via much property and belongings
but true richness is in self-contentment.”[6]
Another hadith states:
“True richness is the richness of the heart.
True poverty is the poverty of the heart.”[7]
Once an individual is at peace with himself and free
of any internal agitations, he can then enter into truly peaceful relations
with others. He will have no reason to feel resentment towards the rest
of the world—those whom he may blame for his lack of internal peace. In
fact, since his goal is that of the Hereafter, he has no reason even to feel
envy or rage towards others concerning what they have received in this
world—while envy and rage strike at the very root of peaceful relations towards
others.
His freedom of internal agitation should definitely,
therefore, affect how he interacts with those around him. This starts
with those closest to him in his family and extends to his neighbors and others
in the community, eventually extending to all of humankind as a whole.
Thus, Islam establishes an entire social structure in which people interact
with others, based on relationships, rights and obligations, in ways that bring
about a peaceful coexistence. Children recognize the rights of their
parents upon them while parents recognize their roles towards their
children. Husbands and wives come together not as competitors but as
partners cooperating to produce a home filled with peace and love.
Indeed, God points to this relationship that He has created as a great sign:
“And among His Signs is this, that He created for you
wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put
between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a
people who reflect.” (Quran 30:21)
Thus, God has laid down stringent laws that protect
the sanctity of the home, such as the laws concerning adultery, fornication and
slander. The reason is that the home is truly the foundation for the
society as a whole. If there is no peace in the home, one can hardly
expect that people will exit their home in a troubled state and be peaceful,
fulfilling members of society.
Since the guidance of Islam covers not only what is
traditionally known as “law” but also ethical behavior and conduct, Islam
provides detailed guidance for the manner in which members of a society should
interact with one another. There is a great emphasis on mutual respect,
with each member of society realizing that he is part of a larger unity
entailing rights and obligations. This mutual feeling produces a society
that is filled with peace, wherein each individual looks after the welfare and
needs of the other members of society.
Thus, when Islam is enacted, the individual finds
peace all around him, from within himself and throughout the entire
society. In fact, even world peace can only truly come about when there
is justice. In recent years, more and more people have realized this fact
and emphasize, “There is No Peace Without Justice.” (Justice is often a slogan
used when going to war but it is usually not more than that, a slogan.) But
there can be no true justice or peace until people raise themselves above
national or ethnic economic or political interests. There can be no true
justice or peace as long as people still believe that they can go to war
against others simply for their own economic interests, such as, for example,
in order to exploit the natural resources that are on somebody else’s
land. True justice can only occur when people dedicate themselves to God,
applying His guidance while removing their egos and desires from their
decisions.
In the Hereafter, of course, it will only be through
believing in God and following His guidance that one will achieve eternal
peace. Again, God makes it very clear that this is what He is actually
calling the humans to:
“God
calls to the home of peace (Paradise) and guides whom He wills to a Straight
Path.” (Quran 10:25)
Before leaving this question of peace, there is a very
important question but maybe its complete discussion is beyond the scope of
this article: Can someone have true internal peace when the life he is living
in this life does not give him any clue to how he will fare in the Hereafter,
or if there is a complete disconnect between the two or if there even seems to be
some contradiction between the two. For example, capitalism, socialism
and democracy all promise to provide something in this world yet, in reality,
they can provide nothing to the individual with respect to the Hereafter.
Hence, they leave a void in the individual’s life that will prevent him from
ever finding true peace. The result is that the individual may try to
dichotomize his life: being secular with respect to this world while having
some form of spiritual belief concerning the Hereafter. But how can he
even know if his secular pursuits are compatible with what his spiritual
teachings are telling him will happen in the Hereafter. Does he have to
make himself schizophrenic? Even worse, what if the spiritual teachings
he believes actually point to the fact that his worldly life is wrong, such as
when his spiritual teachings tell him that the flesh and this world are evil
and so forth. How can individuals of this nature ever find true peace in
themselves?
How Islam Brings About Security
Security can be considered a corollary to the issue of
peace. The factors that bring about peace contribute to the establishment
of security.
However, probably the first thing that comes to
people’s mind when they think of security has to do with laws. Laws are
definitely important for security as they lay down the parameters of acceptable
behavior. In fact, Islam is a religion that not only provides general
principles for life but also provides detailed laws. These laws further
bring about peace and security. Peace and security will undoubtedly be
the goal of any society. However, God is the only one who has the
knowledge of this creation to be able to determine laws that can bring about
peace and security. As for humans, they are always guessing. One
can point to the example of the death penalty (capital punishment). The
death penalty is arguably one of the greatest deterrents for major
crimes. However, the European Union has completely banned it. In
the United States, the masses keep swaying back and forth, never quite sure as
to whether it is a good thing or not. In reality, they will never be able
to be certain. This is because they will never be able to put humans in a
laboratory experiment and determine whether the death penalty is more positive
than negative. Hence, they will always be guessing. Even the
European Union that is completely against it is actually completely against it
based on nothing but conjecture. On the other hand, one of the main goals
of Islamic law is the preservation and continuance of life. As part of
that goal, the law of retribution and the death penalty are part of Islamic
law. These laws are not meant simply for the sake of punishment.
Such laws are actually meant to protect life, as God says:
“And
there is (a saving of) life for you in the Law of Equality in punishment, O men
of understanding, that you may become the pious” (Quran 2:179)
This statement is coming from the only one who could
possibly make such a statement and who alone knows the reality. Thus, by
turning away from God’s guidance, humans will always be groping and it does
not, therefore, seem likely that they will ever be able to advise a complete
social system on their own that could truly produce peace and security.
Thus, Islam, the religion of the Creator, is the only way of life that can
ensure security.
In reality, though, laws alone cannot bring about
peace and security. This leads to another very important factor that sets
Islam apart from all human attempts at peace and security. The first and
most important factor that contributes to security has to do not with laws but
with what is in the hearts of the people. The ultimate goal of Islamic
law is to establish, strengthen and support the faith in individuals and in the
community as a whole. As discussed above, this faith brings peace into
the heart, which immediately curtails violent feelings towards others.
Furthermore, part of this faith is the implanting of taqwa (God-consciousness)
into the hearts of the individuals. As noted above, this faith and taqwa brings
him peace but it also restrains his actions. He must behave only within a
set of general principles and one of the goals of those principles is the
establishment of peace and security. If he is disgruntled, for example,
he understands that he does not have the right to go to his workplace and start
shooting at everyone in sight, as has happened on more than one occasion 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 the person’s entire outlook on life which again results in security
and peace. This faith and taqwaprovides a purpose to one’s
life and an understanding of being a noble creator with a goal in life.
This life is not meaningless. It is not the result of some random
combining of matter. Similarly, humans are not simply descendant from
other animals. This understanding in itself has a profound effect on the
individuals’ actions. This author has had personal experience working in
prisons in the United States. Upon asking numerous inmates why they
committed their crimes, the response was invariably, “Why not?” The only
question to them was whether they could get away with an act and not get
caught. There was no question of any responsibility towards a Creator or
any sense of purpose in this life. Indeed, one cannot argue much against
their way of thinking if one is foolish enough to believe that this existence
is purposeless and by mere chance.
Not only, though, is there a restraint on one’s
actions via faith and taqwa but there is developed a
corresponding desire to do what is good. On this point, one can take the
famous example of the prohibition of alcohol in the United States enacted in
1919. This law was passed as a result of widespread drunkenness as well
as increases in crime and violence. Even though people could see the
wisdom of the law and believed in the law—and that is why the law was actually
passed—many of them did not have anything in their hearts that would lead them
to obey the law. When there is belief in God’s laws and taqwa, the
situation is very different. There develops a hatred in the heart for the
act that is banned. The believer recognizes that the act in itself is
evil and, even worse, it is displeasing to his Lord. Thus, the believer
restrains himself to the best of his ability from such illegal acts. And,
since the enactment of God’s laws results in security, this end result is met.
What further contributes to the implementation of
God’s laws that ensure security is that stress that Islam puts on the spirit of
community. In recent years in the United States, as a reaction to the
lack of peace and security, many communities developed what is known as
“neighborhood watches.” This is where the neighbors look after one
another and keep an eye on things. The goal is not simply to spot
breaches of peace and security but to make the people realize that they are
part of a community and that they should be concerned with what is happening to
the others in their neighborhood. Of course, what they develop cannot
compare to the kind of community spirit and brotherhood that is developed
within Islam. The reality is that some people are weak and they can be
easily swayed by desires or by other evil people. They need people that
they can lean on to keep them on the Straight Path and help them overcome their
weaknesses. Thus, the spirit of brotherhood in Islam is permeated by the
obligation to look after one another, encourage one another to do good and
prevent one another from doing evil. Thus, God says:
“The
believers, men and women, are auliyaa (helpers, supporters,
friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoining what is good and eradicate
what is evil…” (Quran 9:71)
The Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be
upon him, said:
“The believer with respect to another believer is like
a building, one portion strengthening the other.”[8]
This relationship between the individual members of
society, like the spirit behind the Neighborhood Watch programs, further brings
about peace and security for the individuals of society.
Islam takes care of both this life and the
Hereafter. In fact, it ties the two together. One can argue that it
is only through this intimate relationship that true peace and security are
going to be achieved. Guidance must come from God—and can only come from
God—to know what are the beliefs, laws and steps that will provide peace and
security. Via Islam, the individual can find internal peace. That
can allow him to be at peace with others. At the same time, he has the
steps and laws he needs to ensure peace and security for the society at large.
[1] E. W. 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 was abd (servant or slave); however, its inference is every human being.
[4] This is because the soul, by its ingrained nature, yearns for its meeting with its Creator.
[5] Ibn Taimiya, Majmoo, vol. 1, pp. 24-29.
[6] Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
[7] Recorded by ibn Hibbaan. According to al-Albaani, it is authentic. See al-Albaani, Saheeh al-Jaami al-Sagheer, #7816.
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