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the most extraord<strong>in</strong>ary circumstances when all other meas-<br />

ures fail. This is the actual status of war <strong>in</strong> <strong>Islam</strong>. <strong>Islam</strong> is<br />

the Religion of peace: its mean<strong>in</strong>g is peace: one of God's<br />

Names is Peace; the daily greet<strong>in</strong>gs of Muslims and angels<br />

are peace; Paradise is the House of Peace, the adjective<br />

'Muslim' means Peaceful. Peace is the nature, the mean<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

the emblem and the objective of <strong>Islam</strong>. Every be<strong>in</strong>g is enti-<br />

tled to enjoy the peace of <strong>Islam</strong> and the k<strong>in</strong>dness of the<br />

peaceful Muslims, regardless of religious or geographical or<br />

racial considerations, so long as there is no aggression agai-<br />

nst <strong>Islam</strong> or Muslims. If non-Muslims are peaceful with<br />

Muslims or even <strong>in</strong>different to <strong>Islam</strong>, there can be no ground<br />

or justification to declare war on them. There is no such<br />

th<strong>in</strong>g as religious war to force <strong>Islam</strong> on non-Muslims, be-<br />

cause if <strong>Islam</strong> does not emerge from deep convictions, from<br />

with<strong>in</strong>, it i s not acceptable to God, nor can it help its profes-<br />

sor. If there is any religion or constitution to guarantee<br />

peaceful freedom of religion and forbid compulsion <strong>in</strong> relig-<br />

ion, it is <strong>Islam</strong>, and <strong>Islam</strong> alone. To this po<strong>in</strong>t the Qur'an re-<br />

fers as follows:<br />

"Let there be no compulsion <strong>in</strong> Religion:<br />

Truth stands out clear from error; Whoever<br />

rejects Evi! and believes <strong>in</strong> God has<br />

grasped the most trustworthy handhoid,<br />

that never breaks. And God hears and<br />

knows all th<strong>in</strong>gs".<br />

(2:256)

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