In The Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Gracious

Islam and Peace

(By Dr K. Astal)

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me a great pleasure to welcome you to the Quality and Peace Supporters Movement and to this meeting and fruitful seminar. My talk will focus on the issue of Islam and Peace as Arabs, Palestinians, Israelis and other parties are already engaged in bilateral and multilateral negotiations.

God the Exalted says : “And if the enemy incline to peace, you also incline to peace, and trust in God” (The Qur’an 8:61).

Peace is a fundamental and basic to life in Islam and war comes only as a matter of necessity, when there is no other way or alternative course of action. Islam came to give peace of mind and happiness to individuals and humanity as a whole, so that people might live in peace and prosperity on the earth. We read in the Qur’an: “God guides all who seek His Pleasure to ways of peace and safety…” (5:17-18).

The word “Islam” means peace and also submission and obedience to the Command of God, Who is the Creator, Master and Sovereign of the whole universe. The word “Islam” and its derivations has been mentioned  more than eighty times in the Qur’an. God is the source of peace and perfection and whoever turns to him for His guidance is blessed with peace, happiness and perfection” (59:23).

The enemies of the Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him) opposed him and stopped him from calling other people to the path of peace and happiness. They showered abuses on him and threw stones at him, but in reply he said, “Peace be upon you” (43:89). He never slackened in his efforts to bring them all to peace and security in the obedience of God’s Law. He remind them again and again of the fundamental truth of Islam i.e. peace.