THE RELIGION OF HUMANITY: Islam’s Ethical and Spiritual Outlook

people’s hearts. It teaches goodwill toward all—without distinguishing between one’s own group and others. The result is that a person becomes more conscious of their responsibilities than their rights. When Islam enters a person’s heart, it turns them into an embodiment of compassion and peace. Islam and hatred or hostility cannot coexist. THE TRUE NATURE OF ISLAM The literal meaning of jihad is “struggle” or “effort.” In Islam, it refers to purposeful striving—not dying in combat. Islam gives a person a constructive mission, and fulfilling this mission requires the meaningful use of one’s God-given abilities—not engaging in futile violence or sacrificing one’s life without benefit. In Makkah, the Prophet of Islam did not die fighting his enemies. Instead, he migrated from Makkah to Madinah so that he could continue his divine mission without obstruction. Nowhere in the Quran is it stated, in absolute terms, that one must die fighting for God. On the contrary, the Quran says: “Be patient for the sake of your Lord” (92:7). The Prophet of Islam is referred to in the Quran as a “Mercy to all the worlds” (21:107). Nowhere is he described as the “Sword of God over mankind.” The Quran declares: “Reconciliation is best” (4:128), but it contains no verse saying, “War is best.” The Quran says: