Is Islam a Peaceful Religion? - Paper Example

Introduction

Islam is one of the oldest religions in the world. It is practiced in many parts of the world. Unfortunately, Islam has been recently associated with negativity including radicalism, extremism, and terrorism. As a result, many people now perceive Islam as a bad religion that is not peaceful at all because it is associated with violence, war, hatred and inhuman actions against members of other religions. One easily justifies this position considering the existence of groups such as Al-Qaeda that has declared war against Christian nations like America and has even gone ahead to attack its citizens through deadly bombings such as the September 11, 2001 explosion. However, there may be more good than bad in Islam religion regarding peace. To answer the question as to whether Islam is a peaceful religion or not, one first needs to delineate the meaning of peace. According to Oxford Dictionary, peace is defined as freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility. This definition will be adopted in determining Islam as allowing calm and tranquil societies or not. Proceeding in this line, an examination of Islam peace and war verse, Sharia law, treatment of women and terrorism will be essential before concluding the subject. Arguably, Islam is a peaceful religion as evidenced by the elaborative peace verses, established respect for women and clear path created by Sharia law to the source of life; however, a misinterpretation of the original Sharia law combined with the negative attitudes towards modernism have created contemporary Islam filled with hatred and radical ideas leading to terrorism.

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Peace and War Verses in Quran

Quran is the holy book that guides Islam religion meaning that whatever the book states is to be abided by the followers. In this book, there are many instances that the scriptures centre on the importance of peace and peaceful nations. As a preamble of Quran, the Muslims learn that God's objective in establishing different races of human in different communities was to ensure that they all relate to one another in a peaceful manner (49:13). Quran further notes that sowing hatred and enmity between and among people is the work of the devil (5:91). Islam considers war as hateful (Quran 2:216). For the people who believe and do good deeds, they shall be rewarded through conversion of fear into safety (Quran 22:55). All these verses, being a sample from the Quran, indicate the commitment of Islam religion to peace of individuals and communities as guided by God.

On the other hand, however, there are some verses that relate to the war in the Quran. For example, there is a verse stating that war may be necessary only to stop evil from progressing in a way that could corrupt the world (Quran 2:251). But even if this verse hints at a possibility of Islam driving its followers into war, it warns that this must be the done when there are valid justifications that the world is being corrupted. It does not imply that people of different religions should be fought. Quran states that there should never be compulsion in religion (2:256). In fact, Quran appreciates religious diversity as an unalterable fact (5:48). Perhaps God allowed Islam followers to fight under His backing when they have been wronged and treated unjustly. For example, when the Muslims were being persecuted at Mecca, God instructed them to fight because they were being mistreated and evicted out of their homes promising them victory (Quran 22:39-41). In this context, war is justified as a means of overcoming injustice but should not be extended beyond that for the same Quran warns Muslims against spreading corruption in the world (28:38).

Given the above verses on peace and war, one may realize that Islam is a peace-loving religion that values calmness and tranquility and only resorts to war when they have been treated unjustly. This is likely for anyone else as injustice is least tolerable by many people in the world.

Islam and Treatment of Women

Islam values the difference between a man and a woman and how best to treat and honor women as special beings. Islam has assigned a position of dignity to women as a special regulation essential for comfort, peace, happiness, and procreation of human species (Khan 2). This special recognition for women is derived from Holy Quran which asserts that a woman was created as a mate for man (Quran 39:7). Islam views a woman as a special being that was created from a soul of a man as is stipulated in the Quran (4:2). Whereas the Church Fathers blamed a woman for the man's fall and positioned her as a being minus a soul and an instrument of the devil, Islam has denounced such a representation of women and elevated them to a position of spiritual equality with men (Khan 3). Islam is of the view that a man and a woman complement each other and were created by God for mutual fulfillment. For example, the Quran states that a woman is a garment for a man and a man is a garment for a woman (2:188).

Women, being a vulnerable set of human beings are accorded special protection in Islam. The Quran is clear on this. Those who perceive women as cursed beings shall be rebuked and will bear witness against themselves for negative things they have done against women (Quran 24:24-5). The Quran further insists on equality of men and women. For example, the Quran makes it clear that whoever does well whether male or female shall enter paradise (4:125). A woman is vulnerable and in need of a man's strength for protection.

The Islam also recognizes women as nursing than men. Women are well equipped for childbearing and bringing up. Whereas men lack this art, they are supposed to play a supplementary role during the upbringing of the children (Khan 9). Islam recognizes the childbearing and upbringing nature of women as a natural capacity and proper function as opposed to a question of superiority or inferiority.

There is no doubt that Islam lives to the words in their Quran and treat women as able beings who can even be trusted with leadership. In the Islamic states, this has been witnessed. For example, in 1988 the Islamic state of Pakistan elected Ms. Benazir Bhutto as their Prime Minister (Amjaid-All 125). This was just a way of showing that Islam viewed women as being able as men. In fact in the Quran, Islam learns of the high accord to Mary mother of Christ. They also recognize the Queen of Sheba who had the mighty throne to lead and was considered a wise ruler by Solomon (Amjaid-All 127). Undoubtedly, Islam treats women with decorum and recognize their ability equivalent to that of men in leadership capacities.

Sharia Law

Sharia is the religious law or code of conduct in Islam. These laws are derived from the Quran precepts and the examples of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. The term "Sharia" is derived from the Arabic language which means "path to the waterhole."(Creative Commons Attribution). Sharia law, therefore, means a way to be followed or a pathway to watering place. The watering place is considered the source of life implying that through Sharia law, the Islam followers shall reach the source of life. Sharia laws are the God's guidelines for Muslims to follow and ensure that they are in the right way. Sharia law, thus, appears to be the duties of Muslims while they are living on earth (Creative Commons Attribution).

Traditionally, Sharia law was interpreted according to three different sects which are the Sunni, Salafi and the Shi'a. According to Sunni, the code of conduct is derived from the Quran, Muhammad's compassion, and Islamic jurists. Also, various forms of reasoning including analogy would be used when a concrete rule was missing in the sources (Creative Commons Attribution). Salafi adopted laws from the Quran, the Sunnah and the actions and sayings of the three generations of Muslims as guiding principles. On the other hand, Shi'a rejects analogy and hold to the belief that Islam was designed to meet today's culture and innovation. After the death of the Prophet, the Shi'a Imams began teaching and spreading the original messages of Islam. Shi'a applies logic to test whether the conduct derived is in tune with the Sunnah and Quran. In this manner, they lived to the true Quran guiding principles (Creative Commons Attribution).

Nevertheless, the lack of a unified system in the interpretation of the Quran guiding principles meant that there would be different schools to deduce their meaning of the word as they understood. In the modern day Islamic, Muslims have variedly responded to the forces of modernity through interpretation of the Sharia law in a manner that crosses the traditions of Islam and the earlier sects as well as schools (Creative Commons Attribution). Traditionally, Islamic Sharia law was not mixed with politics, but today the states have taken the mandate to interpret the law leading to what can only be considered contemporary Sharia (Creative Commons Attribution). Perhaps this is where the original Islam religion has been lost. Today there are different types of Islam states ascribing to different Sharia laws. The first category is those using Sharia laws in the secular nature such as the Mali, Kazakhstan, and Turkey. In these states, religious interference in state affairs, politics and law strictly prohibited. Religion is considered a personal and a family matter leading to fewer disturbances in tranquility. The second category is the Islamic states with blended sources of law such as Afghanistan, Egypt, Pakistan, and Indonesia among others. In these countries, politics and laws are largely influenced by Islam religion. As such, there are authoritarian leaders taking advantage of the Sharia laws and declaring themselves as absolute leaders often causing disturbances in the tranquility of the nation. The last category of the contemporary Islam states is those using classical Sharia. Examples of these states include Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states. In these nations, rulers have little to no authority to change the laws as they are based on the original Sharia (Creative Commons Attribution). In these countries, there is little interference with peace because of the stability of the Sharia laws as they were constituted in the Quran and Sunnah. Thus, followers find no cause of disputes or conflicts that would interfere with individual or community calmness.

Islam and Terrorism

Terrorism is a phenomenon that has emerged in the 20th century. Terrorism has been closely linked with Islam. However, such a potion can be challenged. Whereas terrorism began in the 20th century, Islam has existed for thousands of years with no reported terror cases. The original Islam religion has since distanced itself from terror-related activities. According to Gullen, the Islam religion does not allow anyone among its followers to kill another human being, act as a suicide bomber or even touch an innocent person even in time of war (1). Islamic law prohibits the harm of people worshipping in church. This was warned by Muhammad as well as the Rightly Guided Caliph (Gullen 1). Gullen further states that Islam does not authorize anyone or a group of people to declare war as this can only be a role to be played by the state (1). The Prophet Muhammad commanded followers to command more than sixty battles (Gulen 1). However, none of the followers was attacked meaning that the motive was peacebuilding but not killing each other. This denotes Muhammad as a Prophet who was interested in peace and not war.

Given the above position of Islam on terrorism one question lingers; then where have the modern terrorists derived their command to terrorize and kill non-Muslims? This is a question that calls for a deeper determination. According to Duran, the problem of modern terrorists using Islam as a shield to their terror activities began with an obstructed response to modernity. Some of...