Islam is a religion of peace, brotherhood and harmony. It strives to achieve a complete state of stability and satisfaction. Islam denounces enmity, hatred, dislike and discord. As the history and advent of our beautiful religion evolved, some unscrupulous elements elbowed in their ways into our religion. They began to tarnish the image of Islam. Today, the whole world carries a misconception that Islam and Jihad mean violence and war. In reality, it is a complete flipside.
The first verse of the Holy Qur’an begins with the attributes of Allah—the most Merciful and the Most Compassionate. This mercy and compassion is spread across 114 instances in the holy book. In Surah Yunus, Allah says, ”I call to the home of peace” [10:25]. Quran is inked with the messages of peace and non-violence. This holy book of Muslims is an ordinance for them. Any person who doesn’t pursue can not be called a true devotee. Likewise, anyone who does a deed contrary to the teachings of the Quran and the Prophet (peace be upon him), doesn’t represent Islam. Let’s understand it with an example. If an untrained driver steers a brand new car and smashes it against a wall because of his unskilled driving, whom should we blame? The driver or the car? We shall blame the driver and not the car. In the same way, if a misguided Muslim does improper, it doesn’t mean that Islam is wrong. Allah wants us to live like the planets, stars and other heavenly bodies. ”Move in one’s aisle and do not intrude”, Allah advises in Surah Al Imran [3:83]. So, Islam believes in the concept of harmony and freedom. The Sharia laws are based on the Quranic teachings and the Sunnah (teachings and practices) of the Prophet (pbuh). While we briefly discussed the peace-lessons of the Quran, let’s see what Muhammad (pbuh) said about it. Once upon a time, a man asked Prophet (pbuh) what a piece of master advice would be. Our beloved Prophet (pbuh) replied:” Do not be angry.” The Quran also has supervised the same. In Surah Fussilat, Allah says ”Do not intend to fight with your foe.” ”If you deal with your enemy positively and repay good for evil” the verse continues ”the enemy would turn into a friend” [41:34]. Therefore, peace is a remedy, an antidote that cures hatred and haste. Why does Islam lay such a great emphasis over peace?
The world is busy in conveying wrong understandings to Islamic concepts and creating a phobia about Islam and our phraseology. Jihad is a struggle. But, it is being painted with the colours of violence. Jihad is not violence. Let’s leave this misconception today and understand Islam in an ideally positive manner. Let us render correct essences to our messages.
It is because all development, progress, concord and connect comes in a peaceful environment. In the absence of peace, there is disaster, discord and discomfort. There won’t be any harmony. Prosperity and progress needs peace. Islam denounces war. The concept of Jihad—that stands infamous as a concept attributed to violence—means an entirely different element. Jihad means struggle, an amicable struggle, a struggle for the right. In Islamic teachings, it is nowhere mentioned that Jihad means to combat. In the 25th chapter of the Quran, Al Furqan, Allah states, ”And make Jihad on them (those on the mistaken path), with the help of the Quran” [25:2]. It refers to struggle and explanation. It refers to making them comprehend what is right and what is wrong. Here again, the world is busy in conveying wrong understandings to Islamic concepts and creating a phobia about Islam and our phraseology. Jihad is a struggle. But, it is being painted with the colours of violence. Jihad is not violence. Let’s leave this misconception today and understand Islam in an ideally positive manner. Let us render correct essences to our messages. [email protected]