The Religion of Peace and Tolerance
Islam is a religion of peace and it always teaches the establishment of a peaceful society. The message of Islam is universal and eternal. Islam is not only a religion that guarantees the improvement and development of an individual’s personal and personal life. Nor is it a religion consisting of certain beliefs, rituals and customs. It is a complete way of life.
One of the characteristics of the Islamic way of life is that it is an orderly, disciplined and complete way of life. Its scope is not limited to the private life of man, but it covers all spheres of human existence. Islam guides people from all walks of life, social, material, moral, economic, political, legal, cultural, national and international.
Another unique feature of the Islamic way of life is that it strikes a balance between individualism and collectivism. It believes in the individuality of man and holds everyone personally responsible and accountable to God. It guarantees the fundamental rights of the individual and does not allow anyone to tamper with them. It does not subscribe to the view that man should lose his individuality in the collective social life or the state.
Islam awakens a sense of social responsibility in man, organizes human beings in a society and state and enjoins the individual and the entire social organism to subscribe to the social good of all. Prayer in Islam is offered in the congregation which inculcates social discipline among its followers.
A remarkable feature of the Islamic way of life is that it does not divide life into water-tight compartments of matter and spirit. It regards life as a unity. It stands not for life denial but for life fulfilment. Islam does not believe in asceticism. It does not admit any separation between moral and material. It enjoins man to devote all his energies to the reconstruction of life on healthy foundations.
It teaches him that moral and material powers must be welded together and that spiritual salvation can be achieved by using the material sources of the welfare of mankind and not by living a life of asceticism. In Islam, all men are equal, whatever their colour, language, race, or nationality. It addresses the conscience of humanity and banishes all false barriers of race, status and wealth. Islam is international in its outlook. It wants to unite humanity under one banner. It gives the message of life and hope and promises a glorious future.
Islam awakens in man a sense of social responsibility, organizes men into society and the state, and enjoins the individual and all social organs to commit themselves to the social good of all. In Islam, prayer is performed in the congregation which creates social discipline among its followers. A salient feature of the Islamic way of life is that it does not divide life into watertight compartments of matter and spirit.
It considers life as a unity. It does not mean denial of life but the fulfilment of life. Islam does not believe in monotheism. It does not recognize the moral and material distinction. It commands man to devote all his energies to rebuilding life on a healthy basis. It teaches him that moral and material powers must be interlinked and that spiritual salvation can be achieved by using material means for the welfare of mankind and not by leading an ascetic life.
All men are equal in Islam irrespective of their colour, language, race or nationality. It addresses the conscience of humanity and removes all false barriers of caste, status and wealth. Islam is international in its outlook. It wants to unite humanity under one banner. It conveys a message of life and hope and promises a glorious future.
Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance. It provides clear ideas and the best corrective rules for establishing social and political order. The great aim of Islam is to establish eternal peace in the world. Islam also gives very clear ideas about peaceful individual life. It teaches tolerance which makes personal life peaceful. Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) showed practical examples of peace and tolerance.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his Companions always showed peace and tolerance. Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) did not lose patience even in moments of trouble. An old woman used to throw garbage at our Prophet (peace be upon him) when he passed by the street below her house, but he never said anything to her. Once when she fell ill and could not put the whip on her, our Prophet (PBUH) visited her house.
She was very impressed by the good manners of our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and accepted Islam. It is the supreme example of peace and tolerance. It is the peace and tolerance of the Holy Prophet and his followers that Islam does not mean that we should accept all religions as the same.
This does not mean that we do not believe in the supremacy of Islam over all ideologies. Our Holy Quran speaks about the fundamental dignity of all human beings. Our Prophet (PBUH) emphasized the equality of all human beings, irrespective of their race, colour, language or ethnic background. Islam emphasizes the establishment of equality and justice and these cannot be established without peace and tolerance. Everything is said in the Holy Quran.
“To every people have we appointed rites and ceremonies which they must follow, let them not the dispute with you on that matter, but do invite (them) to your Lords for you are assuredly on the Right way.”
“If they wrangle with you, say: “Allah knows the best what it is you are doing.”
“Allah will judge between you on the Day of Judgement concerning the matters in which you differ.”
The Prophet (PBUH) always prayed for his enemies. After conquering Makkah, he forgave all his enemies and tried to create a peaceful environment there. Taught mutual respect. Islam also teaches mutual respect but also teaches to fight against the evils of society and to establish a state of peace after struggle, war and efforts. War is not necessary to win peace.
Peace can be established by showing a place of great moral happiness. Islam teaches peace and tolerance. Islam is the religion with the greatest ideas about human rights. It gives full details of duties and rights. It teaches mutual respect and has all these virtues, if they are practised properly, there is no need for war to establish peace in the world.