SHARED WISDOM

position. On the one hand, there is God, and on the other hand, there is God’s creation. God is one, and humankind also is one. Thus, there is the Oneness of God, and there is the oneness of humankind. This is a fundamental teaching of Islam. Mutual respect and peaceful coexistence are essential teachings of Islam. PEACE: THE BEDROCK OF POSITIVE INTERFAITH RELATIONS Peace is a basic teaching of all religions. Therefore, interfaith efforts should strive to establish peace in the world, which is the basis of all human progress. Islam, understood authentically, is a religion of peace. The Arabic root of the word ‘Islam’ is silm, which means peace. In the Islamic tradition, one of God’s names is As-Salaam, which means ‘The Source of Peace.’ Prophet Muhammad is said to have been sent to the world as a mercy to humankind (Quran, 21:107). The very first verse of the Quran reads: “In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.” The fact that this phrase is repeated in the Quran no less than 113 times shows Islam’s importance to such values as mercy and compassion. According to the Quran, the ideal society is Dar as-Salam, ‘The Home of Peace’ (10:25). Islam, understood correctly, attaches great importance to peace. Peace is the religion of the universe. Peace should, therefore, be the religion of man, too. When God created the heavens