THE IDEOLOGY OF PEACE IN ISLAM — Unconditional Peace

example. From the details of the peace treaty, it is clear that no clause regarding justice was included. Obviously the conditions of this treaty were quite against justice. But the Prophet accepted this treaty, not because it was giving them justice, but because it was paving the way to work for justice. It is for this reason that the Quran says: Reconciliation is the best. THE QURAN 4: 128 Therefore, according to Islam, the only practicable formula for obtaining peace is: ‘Ignore the problems, avail of the opportunities.’ Because of the importance of peace, the Quran has clearly declared that no aggressive war is permitted in Islam. Muslims can engage themselves only in a defensive, not an offensive war, irrespective of the circumstances (THE QURAN 2: 190). Similarly the Prophet Muhammad has observed: God grants to gentleness (rifq) what He does not grant to violence (unf). Sunan Abu Dawud 4/255 The Quran has this to say of the mission of the Prophet Muhammad: We have sent you forth as a mercy to all mankind. THE QURAN 21: 107 Peace opens doors to all kinds of opportunities that are present in any given situation. No wonder, then, that the Prophet Muhammad so earnestly used to entreat his Lord in his daily prayer: “O God, You are the original source of Peace; from You is all Peace, and to You returns all Peace. So, make us live with Peace; and let us enter paradise: the House of Peace. Blessed be You, our Lord, to whom belongs all Majesty and Honour!” o