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Perhaps an extended statement like this would make me feel better about Islam as a peaceful<br />
religion.<br />
Saif, please think about why Islam is peace as opposed to violence, anger, frustration, war, and<br />
destruction.<br />
Some people will say that Islam is a religion of peace, but that it is also a religion that is under<br />
attack from non-Muslims, or the West, or imperialism, or Zionism, or capitalism. In fact, as Muslims<br />
we are told daily through various media that we are under attack by those who fear our strength or our<br />
potential. We are then told that these attackers are the reason why we must unite as a global Muslim<br />
community and fight back. How we fight back is a question that is left unanswered, and so certain<br />
people take the opportunity to define the fight back as one that is personal, violent, and random.<br />
What should we do? Why does this make us feel uncomfortable? If we are Muslims and our<br />
religion is one of peace, then why are there loud voices that have declared that we are at war? And<br />
that this war is one that has enemies everywhere and all the time? The lack of clarity is upsetting. If<br />
we follow this path, then we will be at war with all people for eternity. This cannot be the correct<br />
approach to life in the service of Allah.<br />
If we are a religion of peace, then surely we should react to perceived threats with an open heart<br />
and open hand. Perhaps instead of calling for war by all, in all places and at all times, we should call<br />
for trust, care, and generosity by all, in all places and at all times. To my mind, this reaction to a<br />
perceived threat would be more consistent with the statement that Islam is a religion of peace. In fact,<br />
I believe that if we as Muslims demonstrated grace and patience in the face of imagined, or actual,<br />
slights then we are likely to defuse the animosity that others may have toward us.<br />
If there is animosity toward the idea of Islam or Muslims, then we should remember that there is<br />
more than one way of dealing with it. We can individually, and communally, demonstrate through our<br />
behavior that we carry no ill will to others. We can engage with Muslims and non-Muslims in the<br />
same manner. We demonstrate peace by refusing categorically to consider anger or violence as a<br />
response in our interactions with others.<br />
My dream is to see a deep consistency in our behavior toward ourselves as Muslims as well as<br />
toward non-Muslims. For when we say that Islam is a religion of peace, we are making a tremendous<br />
statement. The idea of peace is not something that is divisible in my view. Peace is something that<br />
should not be offered when it is to our advantage and withdrawn when it is a burden. Peace is a state<br />
of being. Peace is a permanent stance toward the world. Peace makes real sense when it is offered as<br />
a response to anger, aggression, and violence. This is the peace that I see within Islam. When you<br />
hear the statement “Islam is a religion of peace” I want you to grab hold of the responsibility of<br />
peace. I want you to see this not as a defensive statement, but as a reminder of a great responsibility<br />
that you have toward Allah, toward others, and toward yourself.