News:

Ramadan Mubarak!

I pray that we get the full blessings of Ramadan and may Allah (SWT) grant us more blessings in the year to come.
Amin Summa Amin.

Ramadan Kareem,

Main Menu

Islam is a Peace Offering to the World

Started by bamalli, May 09, 2013, 10:34:25 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

bamalli

Islam is the religion of peace, which means Muslims have been commanded to spread peace on earth. This was the Prophet's first command to the Muslims when he arrived in Medina.

Abdullah ibn Salam said: When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came to Medina, the people rushed towards him and it was said, "The Messenger of Allah has come!" I came along with the people to see him, and when I looked at the face of the Messenger of Allah, I realized that his face was not the face of a liar. The first thing he said was:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَفْشُوا السَّلَامَ وَأَطْعِمُوا الطَّعَامَ وَصَلُّوا بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِسَلَامٍ

O people, spread peace, feed the hungry, and pray at night when people are sleeping and you will enter Paradise in peace.

Source: Sunan Ibn Majah 1334, Grade: Sahih

Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

اعْبُدُوا الرَّحْمَنَ وَأَفْشُوا السَّلَامَ

Worship the Most Merciful and spread peace.

Source: Sunan Ibn Majah 3694, Grade: Sahih

Abu Umamah reported:

أَمَرَنَا نَبِيُّنَا صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ نُفْشِيَ السَّلَامَ

Our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded us to spread peace.

Source: Sunan Ibn Majah 3693, Grade: Hasan

The command to spread peace applies to people we know as well as people we do not know.

Allah said:

هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْمُكْرَمِينَ إِذْ دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا سَلَامًا ۖ قَالَ سَلَامٌ قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ

Has there reached you the story of the honored guests of Abraham? When they entered upon him and said: We greet you with peace, so he answered: I greet you with peace, a people unknown.

Surah Adh-Dhariyat 51:24-25

Abdullah ibn Umar reported: A man asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, "Which Islam is best?" He said:

تُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ وَتَقْرَأُ السَّلاَمَ عَلَى مَنْ عَرَفْتَ وَمَنْ لَمْ تَعْرِفْ

To feed the hungry and to greet with peace those you know and those you do not know.

Source: Sahih Bukhari 28, Grade: Sahih

The meaning of spreading peace to "those you do not know" is to spread peace to the world in general.

Ammar ibn Yasir, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

ثَلَاثٌ مَنْ جَمَعَهُنَّ فَقَدْ جَمَعَ الْإِيمَانَ الْإِنْصَافُ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ وَبَذْلُ السَّلَامِ لِلْعَالَمِ وَالْإِنْفَاقُ مِنْ الْإِقْتَارِ

Whoever has three qualities together will have gathered the faith: equity with yourself, offering peace to the world, and spending from small amounts.

Source: Sahih Bukhari 28, Grade: Sahih

Consequently, Muslims have been commanded to spread peace and practice patience even with those who insult them.

Allah said:

وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلَامًا

The servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say words of peace.

Surah Al-Furqan 25:63

And Allah said:

وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا اللَّغْوَ أَعْرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَقَالُوا لَنَا أَعْمَالُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَالُكُمْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ لَا نَبْتَغِي الْجَاهِلِينَ

When they hear ill speech, they turn away from it and say: For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. Peace be upon you, for we seek not way of ignorance.

Surah Al-Qasas 28:55

Furthermore, Muslims have been commanded to accept the peace offering of a hostile enemy, even if they suspect the enemy is only trying to trick them.

Allah said:

وَإِن جَنَحُوا لِلسَّلْمِ فَاجْنَحْ لَهَا وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

If they incline to peace, then incline to it also and rely upon Allah. Verily, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing.

Surah Al-Anfal 8:61

Ibn Kathir comments on this verse, saying:

وَقَوْلُهُ وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَيْ صَالِحْهُمْ وَتَوَكَّلَ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَافِيكَ وَنَاصِرُكَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا يُرِيدُونَ بِالصُّلْحِ خَدِيعَةً

This means trust in Allah, for Allah will suffice you and support you if they only intend by their peace offering to deceive you.

Source: Tafseer Ibn Kathir, verse 8:61

And Allah said:

فَإِنِ اعْتَزَلُوكُمْ فَلَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ وَأَلْقَوْا إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَمَ فَمَا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ سَبِيلًا

So if they remove themselves from you and do not fight you and offer you peace, then Allah has not made for you a cause for fighting against them.

Surah An-Nisa 4:90

Likewise, the Muslims have been commanded to end all conflicts in peace whenever possible and never to desire a fight with the enemy.

Ali ibn Abu Talib reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّهُ سَيَكُونُ بَعْدِي اخْتِلَافٌ أَوْ أَمْرٌ فَإِنْ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تَكُونَ السِّلْمَ فَافْعَل

Verily, after me there will be conflicts or affairs, so if you are able to end them in peace, then do so.

Source: Musnad Ahmad 697, Grade: Sahih

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

‏لاَ تَمَنَّوْا لِقَاءَ الْعَدُوِّ فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُوهُمْ فَاصْبِرُوا

Do not wish to meet the enemy, but if you meet them, then be steadfast.

Source: Sahih Bukhari 2863, Grade: Sahih

For this reason, the Prophet taught Muslims to pray for peace at the end of every prayer.

Aisha reported: Whenever the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would invoke peace while sitting in prayer, he did not sit but long enough to say:

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلَامُ تَبَارَكْتَ ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ

O Allah, you are Peace and from you is peace. Blessed are you, O Majestic and Generous.

Source: Sahih Muslim 592, Grade: Sahih

In conclusion, Islam is the religion of peace and an offer of peace to the world. Muslims have been commanded to spread peace on earth, to invoke peace in their prayers, and to end all conflicts in peace.