Peace and Peacemaking

Concept of Peace in Islam

Peace (‘Salam’) holds a significant place in Islam, which itself means ‘peace’ or ‘submission’.
Peace in Islam encompasses inner peace, interpersonal peace, and global peace. It’s sought as a divine quality and the ultimate objective for individuals, communities, and the world at large.
Allah, the Supreme Being, is referred to as ‘As-Salaam’, meaning ‘The Peace’ and ‘The Bestower of Peace’. This reflects that peace originates from Allah and is a divine blessing.
The mutual Arabic greeting ‘As-Salaam-Alaikum’ translates to ‘Peace be upon you’, reflecting the aspiration and promotion of peace in daily Muslim life.
The Qur’an and prophetic traditions contain numerous verses and teachings emphasising peace, justice, compassion and respect, which are believed to be the fabric for constructing peaceful societies.

Peacemaking in Islamic teaching

Peacemaking holds a critical position in Islam. Muslims are encouraged to strive (‘Jihad’) in the way of establishing peace and justice.
Guided by the principles of justice and fairness, Muslims are instructed to prevent and resolve conflicts, and to stand against oppression and violence.
Peacemaking initiatives include dialogue, mediation, negotiation, reconciliation, and non-violent protest. They aim to resolve conflicts, build bridges and promote mutual understanding.
The Prophet Muhammad played a significant peacemaking role, exemplified by the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. His life and teachings provide Muslims with a model for peace building.

Peace and War in Islam

While peace is fundamental, Islam also provides guidance about war. War is seen as a last resort, permissible only in self-defence or when necessary to protect religious freedom and justice.
A war must meet criteria of just war. Innocents, civilians, properties, animals and environment should not be harmed, and peace should be re-established as soon as possible.
Islam fosters the idea of ‘Greater Jihad’ and ‘Lesser Jihad’. The ‘Greater Jihad’ involves a spiritual struggle to maintain inner peace and righteousness, while the ‘Lesser Jihad’ can refer to the struggle to defend Islam.

Impact of peace and peacemaking

Peace and peacemaking teachings influence the morality, ethics, and behaviour of Muslims. It consequently fosters peaceful coexistence and mutual respect among diverse communities.
Numerous Muslim organisations and individuals globally have dedicated their efforts to work for peace, justice, and humanitarian causes. This is seen as a form of practising Islamic teachings.

Barriers to Peace

Misinterpretation and misuse of terms such as ‘Jihad’, mainly by extremists, have led to widespread violence and conflict. This contradicts the true Islamic teaching of peace.
Presence of socio-political conflicts and divisions in many predominantly Muslim countries acts as a barrier to peace. These can be attributed to various factors such as wealth inequality, power struggle, colonial legacy and sectarianism.
Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiments can also hinder peacemaking efforts and sustainable peace and harmony. This calls for continuous education, dialogue and cooperation to overcome prejudices and foster understanding.

It’s important to understand the complexity and diversity of experiences and interpretations within the global Muslim community. Not all Muslims experience or express their faith in the same way. These points offer a broad understanding for revision, but always strive for deeper insights and critical thinking.