Peace is one of the major things in Islam and everything is done in the name of Almighty Allah to reach to reach peace. The notion that Islam is peace is explained by the following Quranic verse: “Whereby God guides whoever strives after His good pleasure to the ways of peace (salaam) and He leads them by His leave out of all kinds of darkness into light, and guides them to a straight path.” Therefore, belief in God is seen as the pathway to peace. Ibn Abbaas explains this verse as God guiding those who seek His pleasure onto paths of peace, which is the religion of Islam; peace is understood to mean Islam. Ibn Abaas further points out that peace is actually God (al-Salaam) so seeking God’s pleasure leads one to God (al-Salaam). That is, according to Ibn ʻAbbas’ tafsir, peace means Islam and peace means God so the word peace (salaam) is interchangeable with the religion of Islam and God. Furthermore, in this verse, “Islamic guidance is depicted as the light that leads from darkness to the paths of peace.” Al-Salaam (Source of Peace) is one of the names of God that has been well documented in the Quran and Hadith. Al-Salaam is mentioned in the following Quranic verse: “God is He, other than Who there is no deity; the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace, the Guardian of Faith, the Preserver of Safety…” Based on this verse, peace comes from God, since God is the source of peace. When a person mirrors or manifests the Divine name al-Salaam, it means that one would feel a sense of peace and tranquility in their life. When explaining this Quranic verse, a linguistic tafsir scholar from the classical period, the word salaam is also the key word in the Islamic greeting, Assalamu Alaykum (peace be with you). Prophet Muhammad (SAW) encouraged the use of this greeting in various Hadith. In one Hadith, he states, “Offer food generously to others, initiate the greeting of salaam (peace) to those whom you know and those whom you do not know.” In response to this instruction by Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Muslims exchange this greeting when commencing any type of communication. By offering peace to others, the greeting “helps to relieve hearts of all forms of enmity and grudges and rancor people may keep within them, replacing it with good will, mutual respect, tranquility, security and happiness.” There is also an invocation that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) encouraged Muslims to recite after each of the five daily prayers. The invocation focuses on the name of God, al-Salaam: “O God, you are peace and from you is peace. Blessed are you, the Majestic and Generous.”
As is evident from the presence of the word salaam in the Quran and Hadith, there is an important place in Islam for the concept of inner peace. Not only is it linked to belief, but God is seen as an embodiment of peace and therefore the source of peace.
The invocation reaffirms the notion that God is peace and He is the source of peace. Therefore, Muslims are reminded five times a day that they should seek peace and they should seek it from God. Furthermore, in the prescribed five daily prayers, the final stage of the prayer ends with a greeting of peace where the worshipper turns their head to the right and says “Peace and mercy of God be with you” followed by turning the head to the left and repeating the same phrase. This is based on the practice of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as documented by the Hadith: Amr ibn Sa’d related that his father said, “I saw the Prophet making the salaam on his right side and on his left side…” This well-documented and well-established practice is performed by Muslims at the end of each prayer, five times a day, and every day. The greeting is intended to give peace and mercy to human beings and angels who may be joining them in prayer.” Therefore, the notion of spreading peace and encouraging others to attain inner peace is the direct outcome of a Hadith that inspires such acts. As is evident from the presence of the word salaam in the Quran and Hadith, there is an important place in Islam for the concept of inner peace. Not only is it linked to belief, but God is seen as an embodiment of peace and therefore the source of peace.
