Islam is a Peace Religion, not Teaches Extremism
By: Ali Farkhan Tsani, Editor of the Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
Allah says in the Quran:
وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَـٰكَ إِلَّا رَحۡمَةً۬ لِّلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ
“And We have sent you (O Muhammad Shallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) not but as a mercy for the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists)”. (Al-Anbiya [21]: 107).
And Allah said:
ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْمَرْحَمَةِ
“Then he was among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to mercy.” (Al-Balad [90]: 17).
Islam is salaam (peace). In Islam Peace is the standard, it is the principle. Islam invites to the subul as-salaam (pathway of peace); peace of mind, peace of conscience, peace in the family and society, peace with one’s Creator and His creation.
One of the attributes of the Divine is As-Salaam (The Source of Peace) and Muslim greeting universally, upon meeting and departing, is as-salaamu ‘alaykum or “peace be unto you”.
Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
الرَّاحِمُونَ يَرْحَمُهُمْ الرَّحْمَنُ ارْحَمُوا مَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَرْحَمْكُمْ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ
“Those who are merciful will be shown mercy by the Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth and the One above the heavens will have mercy upon you.” (Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi).
Abu Salih reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would address the people saying:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّمَا أَنَا رَحْمَةٌ مُهْدَاةٌ
“O people, I am only a mercy and a guide”. (Source: Sunan Ad-Darimi).
Therefore, we should do our best to be merciful to the entire creation, to the Muslims and non-Muslims, to our families and relatives, to friends and strangers, even to the animals.
Islam Not Extremism
Allah says:
قَتَلَ نَفۡسَۢا بِغَيۡرِ نَفۡسٍ أَوۡ فَسَادٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَڪَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعً۬ا وَمَنۡ أَحۡيَاهَا فَڪَأَنَّمَآ أَحۡيَا ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعً۬اۚ
“…Whosoever kills an innocent human being, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind…” (Al-Maidah [5]: 32).
Whoever kills a person not in retaliation for a person killed, nor (as a punishment) for spreading disorder on the earth, is as if he has killed the whole of humankind, and whoever saves the life of a person is as if he has saved the life of the whole of humankind. (P4/R03)
Sources: mirajnews, islamicity, islamicpamphlets.
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
