ISLAM - THE MESSAGE OF PEACE - BY M.Z.M.NAZIM
IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST COMPASSIONATE THE MERCIFUL!
The meaning of this salutation "Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmathullaahi Wa Barakaathuhu- is
May the Peace and Mercy of Allah and Blessings be unto you."
This salutation of the Muslims is not only used to greet each other but is the first thing that is
uttered with feeling and sincerity at the commencement of any occasion - Greeting a congregation
or greeting an audience or even an individual with the peace, blessings and Mercy of Allah is a
way of life of a Muslim. It is therefore, clear proof that Islam takes peace as of prime importance.
Islam also means - complete submission to the Will of Allah and the word Muslim, derived
from Islam, denotes the person who shows complete submission to the will of Allah and the person
who has attained peace by being in total submission to the will of Allah. This is the person who is
described in the Holy Quran as a Believer. Now, we raise the question - How does man show
complete submission to the Will of Allah? in other words "Who is a Believer?" - The Holy Quran says:
"ONLY THOSE ARE BELIEVERS WHO HAVE BELIEVED IN ALLAH AND HIS APOSTLE,
AND HAVE NEVER SINCE DOUBTED; BUT HAVE STRIVEN WITH THEIR BELONGINGS
AND THEIR PERSONS IN THE CAUSE OF ALLAH. SUCH ARE THE SINCERE ONES." (49:15).
The Holy Quran further emphasizes that "Those who do not judge by the light of what Allah has
revealed are indeed unbelievers, perverted transgressors, wrongdoers and rebels." (5:44,45,47)
This is indeed proof without doubt that person carrying just an Arabic Name only, is not classed as
a Muslim or a believer in the light of the Holy Quran. A Muslim is a person who judges everything
and anything by the light of the Holy Quran -
His occasions, events, habits, systems, values, attitudes, behaviour, morality -
yes in fact your complete life has to be judged by the Holy Quran, if you are deemed to be
a Muslim according to the Holy Quran.
Our Holy Prophet Muhummed (S) said:
"The Holy Quran came down under five heads: Lawful, Unlawful, plain, figurative and parabolical.
Then observe: as lawful whatever is lawful;
forbid what is unlawful and abstain from the unlawful;
act upon the plain injunctions;
believe in the figurative; and
take example from the parables.
In order that man may abide by these injunctions, man must transform himself and institute a complete
change in himself - the importance of such a change was literally shown in the flight of our Holy
Prophet Muhummed (S) from Makkah to Medina.
This is a flight signifying the flight from paganism and polytheism to Monotheism.
It is a flight from falsehood to truth and this should be the resolution of every man.
When a man resolves, that he will not speak lies, that he will not back-bite and slander and that
he would abstain from committing sins of whatever nature - and abides by this resolution -
he has performed Hijra. The flight from Evil to Goodness.
A Muslim is a person, who also contemplates, reflects and ponders on his days performance at the
end of each day. What are the good things I have performed today?
What are the evil things that I have indulged in today?
Have I performed my duties as enjoined in the Holy Quran?
Were my actions pleasing to Allah and His Apostle or was I trying to please the people for the sake
of name, fame, power and position and recognition?
I would like to take this opportunity to, very briefly, set out the duties enjoined in the Quran:
"Help your kin, help the orphans, the needy and the wayfarer. Be steadfast in your prayer and
practice regular charity. Fulfil the contracts which you have made. Be firm and patient in pain and
adversity and all periods of panic. Enjoin what is right and good and forbid what it is evil and wrong.
Let there be not even an atom of pride or even an atom of jealousy in you nor walk in insolence
through the earth. Be moderate in thy pace and lower thy voice.
Eat of the lawful things enjoined on you and abstain f rom the unlawful and forbidden. Earn lawfully.
Do not give short-weights or short-measures and do not indulge in devouring usury or interest.
Do not gamble or imbibe intoxicants. Be just in your dealings even if it means speaking against
your own family, or kin for the sake of justice.
When a person brings any news to you, he may be a wicked person or a person trying to create
mischief, check the facts, verify them, check the veracity of the news before you pass it on to
the other person - Just a few of the many instructions and injunctions.
Now ask yourself - "Am I satisfied with the life I am leading as a Muslim?.
This question will certainly make you correct yourself and also stop you from repeating the wrong
you did the previous day and make you an asset to mankind in this world and earn salvation for
you in the hereafter.
The characteristic of kindness and forgiveness must be impeccable. Please permit me to give you a
Historical illustration at this juncture. This was the subject of an article written by Mabel Brailsford
in the Manchester Guardian of November 1912.
Quote: "In the reign of Charles II, a young English woman who had been a servant girl became
an active member of the "society of Friends" commonly called the "Quakers" and suffered persecution
on that account. She was twice flogged in England for protesting against the Church customs of the day.
She with two other Quakers, went to preach in New England as the American Colonies were then
called. They were thrown into prison on a trumped up charge of witch-craft and released only after
many hardships. After her return to England she set out with Five other Quakers to convert the
Grand Seignior as the Sultan of Turkey was then called. In the journey across Europe her companions
fell into the hands of the INQUISITION and only one of them was ever heard of afterwards. He returned
to England after many years, a gibbering madman. (Still quoting from the Manchester Guardian) -
She after much persecution and annoyance pursued her journey quite alone: took ship at Venice and was
put ashore on the Coast of the Morea, far from the place she wished to go, but in Muslim Territory.
From thence she walked all the way to Adrianople; but she need not have gone on foot, for,
from the moment she set foot in the Muslim Empire, persecution was at an end. Everybody showed
her kindness. The Government officials helped her on her way and when she reached Adrianople, where
the Sultan Bayazid was then encamped, and asked for audience of the Emperor, saying, that she brought
a message to him from the ALMIGHTY GOD - The Sultan Bayazid received her in state, according her
all the honours of an Ambassador. He and his courtiers listened with grave courtesy to all she had to
say, and, when she finished speaking, the Sultan said this was the truth which they also believed.
The Sultan asked her to remain in his country as an honoured guest or at least, if she must depart, to
accept an escort worthy of the dignity of one who carried a message of the Most High; but she
refused departing as she had come on foot and alone; and so reached Constantinople without the least
hurt or hindrance and there took passage on a vessel bound for England." Unquote
Such is the toleration of Islam.
The Holy Quran says:
"That if anyone slew any person, it would be as if he slew the whole of mankind and
if any one saved a life it would be as if he saved the life of the whole of mankind (5:32).
Our Prophet Muhummed (S) said:
"The Arab is not above a non-Arab neither a Non-Arab above an Arab, neither is a white man superior
to a black man nor a black man superior to a white man unless he is righteous, pious, a person of
good character, conduct and morality.
Let us hope that these thoughts would make us think reflect and ponder and correct our lives accordingly.
May Allah in His Mercy guide us all along the right path. Aameen.