Peace: The Bedrock of Positive Interfaith Relations

living is a negative reaction on the part of individuals. It repeatedly happens in social life that one experiences bitterness on account of others. On such occasions, expressing resentment could cause matters to escalate to the point of a head-on collision. Perhaps that is why the Quran enjoins us to tread the path of patience, saying: “Surely the patient will be paid their wages in full without measure.” (39:10) Perhaps the reason for the reward for patience being so great is that it is a key factor in maintaining the desired system of God. The other injunction designed to maintain peace in human society forbids the waging of offensive war. According to Islam, no one has the right to wage war against another. There are no grounds on which such a war could be considered justifiable. Only one kind of war is permitted in Islam: defensive war. According to Islamic teachings, only if one country, by deviating from the principles of Nature, wages war against another, only then that country may wage a defensive war under attack. However, this must be temporary and subject to humanitarian considerations. Peace is thus a basic teaching of all religions. Therefore, interfaith efforts should strive to establish peace in the world, which is the bedrock on which all human progress rests.