Here is the third and final part of this essay.  Please see part 1 here and part 2 here.

With religion playing such an important role in the life of its believer, it carries the potential to guide their behavior into ethical streams. In this regard, Islam has tremendous emphasis on achieving this ideal. Let me give you a few examples of how the value of peace is centrally engrained in Islamic theology and so comprehensively maintained by the Shariah:

1. It is authentically reported from the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him that one of God’s numerous attributes is peace and one of His names is The Peace: “O Our Lord, you are The Peace and from you is peace.” Similarly every prayer ends by a supplication of peace for all those attending the prayer and every group or individual is greeted in Islam not with ‘Good morning’ or ‘Good afternoon’, rather with ‘Peace be upon you’ – a supplication for peace. Similarly, the greetings of the angels as well as the inhabitants of paradise – is also Peace. As well, the salutation or blessing from Allah to His creation is also peace. Also, the supplication of the Prophets for themselves or for creation is also that of peace – such as when the Quran quotes Jesus saying in the Chapter of Mary the mother of Jesus which is Chapter 19 in the Quran, verse 33 : “Peace be upon me the day that I was born, the day that I shall die and the day that I shall be raised up again.”

2. The notion of inner peace – within one’s self – that of not harboring ill feelings for any human being, that of having complete sincerity in worship and dealings, that of being at peace with God’s actions and destiny – are all concepts that are encouraged in Islam with the understanding that if the inner is rectified, then the outer follows.

3. The Shariah makes provisions for the institution of a section of the Islamic government and judicial body – to be dedicated to peace and joining between the hearts of people. This body has been given the power and authority to actively seek out disputes and restore peace and harmony.

4. Severe punishment is enshrined in the Shariah for those casino Floor har en alldeles utmarkt avdelning med fragor och svar. who disrupt peace and cause social chaos and upheaval – such as for drug trafikking. Similarly, someone who spills the blood of a non-Muslim under the protection of a Muslim state is one who would be prevented from paradise due to it.

5. From the principles of Islamic legislations in all matters of Human interactions, such as in matters of business and trade is – the prevention of disputes and oppression and maintenance of peace. Example: Prevention of dealing in prohibited business transactions, such as dealing in Usury or deceitful dealings even with the enemy or a warring party. Similarly, in marketing practices, any attempts to break the peace and harmony that should exist in a market amongst the traders with unethical marketing practices is strongly tackled in the Shariah.

6. Strong encouragement to spread the Salaams – the salutation of peace to all those who are known or un-known to you. Even though this may be seen has a simple exercise, however the effect of that on joining between the hearts is truly amazing, apart from the obvious positive effect on human behavior if a word such as ‘peace’ is constantly repeated.

7. Peace in the society is strongly preserved to the extent that in Islam, a neighbor is responsible over his neighbour’s wellbeing. The issue of societal harmony is so paramount that a neighbor is not permitted to sell his house, until he offers his neighbor the right of preemption in buying the house first – because when you choose your house, you also choose your neighbours. Incidently, the Prophet himself had neighbours from all different religions, as is authentically reported that he died whilst some of his possessions were still a collateral with a Jewish merchant in medinah who was his neighbour.

8. The ideal of harmony and peace between religions is also deeply promoted by Islam. Take the incident of Umar – the second Caliph after the Prophet – when Jerusalem was under the control of the Muslims, and he went there to visit the city – he refused to pray in a synagogue or church. When questioned by his followers, he replied: That if he had prayed in the church, then it may be that over zealous Muslims would come after him that would raze the church and replace it with a mosque – simply because it is a place where the leader of the believers had prayed. So he wished to preserve the church and so he did not pray in it.

In summary, Islam comprehensively promotes ethical responsibility in human conduct towards the ideal of peace. Political and vigilante violence that is performed in the name of a religion that promotes peace is not promotion of the religion, rather a perversion of it.