With so many acts of violence and terrorism attributed to Islam these days, it might seem unfathomable to some that Islam is a religion of peace. However, one only needs to look around to witness the peaceful footprints of Islam.
The unparalleled proof of the peaceful message of Islam is of course the Quran, a book revealed more than 1400 years ago that encourages tolerance in differences, "O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” (49:13), declares that there is no compulsion in religion "There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.” (2:256), delineates the rights of women and speaks on many other human rights issues with which we are familiar today.
If a person misunderstood Islam as anything but a religion of peace, it is partly because we as Muslims have not done enough to convey to others the beauty of our religion in real terms, like the Muslim scientists, artisans and traders of olden times.
We should reflect on the following challenge that God puts forth in the Quran: ‘Say, "If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Quran, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other assistants.”’ (Al Isra 17:88)
Because it is impossible for any mortal being to weave a sentence that barely resembles the richness and complexity of any Quranic verse. Reflecting on such thoughts is a humbling reminder to anyone that the words of the Quran can only come from a divine source. Furthermore, it motivates us to share the messages of the sacred book to others through our good acts.
Whether you are a scientist, writer, poet, graphic designer, artist or fashion designer, it is believed by Muslims that each one of us has been blessed with distinct talents to help us understand the peaceful messages of the Quran and convey it to the world. It is up to us to discover and take advantage of those talents. Hopefully, in our journey of discovery we become the group of people who are praised 32 times in the Quran: al-muhsinun, the doers of good and the creators of beauty.
FNA