true path and in this Book, Allah commands man to adopt moral
perfection in the light of Islamic tenets. This morality is based
upon concepts such as love, compassion, understanding and mercy.
The word "Islam" is derived from the word meaning "peace" in Arabic.
Islam is a religion revealed to mankind with the intention of
presenting a peaceful life through which the infinite compassion and
mercy of Allah manifest on earth. Allah calls all people to Islamic
morals through which compassion, mercy, peace and love can be
experienced all over the world. Allah addresses believers as
follows:
O You who believe! Enter absolutely into peace (Islam ). Do not
follow in the footsteps of satan. He is an outright enemy to you.
(Surat al-Baqara, 208)
As the verse above suggests, Islam is a religion purely based on
love and compassion. The Qur'an emphasizes a love that stems from
faith and has a profound effect on the soul. Altruism, fortitude,
generosity, care and protection all fall within the scope of the
concept of love revealed in the Qur'an. This being the case, Islam
intrinsically calls for peace and fosters a life in absolute
sincerity and honesty before Allah. Therefore it is vitally important
for an individual to live by the religion of Islam to be a Muslim
with his own will and aspiration and observe Allah's commands and
advise from heart and soul through personal conscientious
contentment.
This tenet is the basis of Islam which is described by the verse:
There is no compulsion where the religion is concerned. (Surat al-Baqara: 256)
As stated in the verse, no-one can be compelled to live by Islamic
morals. Conveying the existence of Allah and the morals of the
Qur'an to other people is a duty that believers are charged with.
Muslims who desire to perform their duty spread the message of
religion in order to guide other people. They instruct goodness and
rule out evil as to Allah's provision to " command what is good and
forbid what is wrong " and call people to the path of Allah with
words of purity. Meanwhile they never force them, for they know
that it is only Allah Who guides people to the right way. This is
related in the following verse:
You cannot guide those you would like to but Allah guides those He
wills. He has best knowledge of the guided. (Surat al-Qasas, 56)
The Qur'an also provides an environment where people can fully enjoy
freedom of thought and freedom of religion and allows people to
live by the faith and values they believe in. According to Islam,
everyone has the right to live freely by his beliefs, whatever they
may be. Anyone who wants to found a church, a synagogue or a mosque
must be free to do so. In this sense, freedom of religion, or
freedom of belief, is one of the basic tenets of Islam. There is
always freedom of religion wherever the moral values of the Qur'an
prevail.
Indeed, freedom of thought, belief and expression are at the heart
of Qur'anic moral values. Therefore, true freedom of belief can
prevail only when the moral values of the Qur'an are followed.
Islam is a religion that offers freedom of thought, worship and
expression, protects people's all kinds of rights and brings with it
true freedom.
That is why Muslims also treat Jews and Christians, described in
the Qur'an as "the People of the Book," with great justice, love
and compassion. Allah says in the Qur'an:
"Allah does not forbid you from being good to those who have not
fought you in the religion or driven you from your homes, or from
being just towards them. Allah loves those who are just." (Surat
al-Mumtahana, 8)
Muslims who share the same basic values believe in the need to act
together with Christians and Jews. They therefore strive to
eliminate prejudices stemming from provocations by unbelievers and
fanatics. Jews, Christians and Muslims strive together to spread
moral virtues across the world. They base themselves on the
principles of love, respect, toleration, understanding, harmony and
collaboration with the People of the Book.
Allah also provides Muslims the rationale of this approach in the
Qur'an. Allah explicitly states that the existence of people from
different faiths and dissenting opinions is something that we have
to acknowledge and welcome heartily, for this is how He created
and predestined humankind in this world:
We have appointed a law and a practice for every one of you. Had
Allah willed, He would have made you a single community, but He
wanted to test you regarding what has come to you. So compete with
each other in doing good. Every one of you will return to Allah and
He will inform you regarding the things about which you differed.
(Surat al-Ma'ida, 48)
In acknowledgment of this fact, Muslims have an inner love and
compassion for people of all faiths, races and nations, for they
consider them as the manifestations of Allah in this world and treat
them with an heartfelt respect and love. This is the very basis of
communities administered by Islamic morality.
While talking about a peaceful society, "security" is a vital
concept to focus on. Unless security prevails, peace can never be
attained. In this sense, Islam again brings about the preconditions
for peace, and the only way to ensure security is "entering into
Islam", that is, as stated above, living by the values of the
Qur'an. This fact is related in the verse Surat al-Baqara, 208:
O You who believe! Enter absolutely into peace (Islam). Do not follow
in the footsteps of satan. He is an outright enemy to you.
The values of the Qur'an hold a Muslim responsible for treating all
people, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, kindly and justly, protecting
the needy and the innocent and "preventing the dissemination of
mischief". Mischief comprises all forms of anarchy and terror that
remove security, comfort and peace. As Allah says in a verse, "Allah
does not love corruption". (Surat al-Baqara, 205)
The concept of love as revealed in the Qur'an is much different from
what people generally understand as love. The love taught in the
Qur'an is the true love based on love of Allah and on His approval.
It is never weakened despite being tested on many times and can
withstand time, difficulties, deficiencies and errors.
There is one aspect of love that people are unaware of: It is Allah
Who bestows love on hearts. One can only attain true and lasting
love by striving to earn the approval of Allah, Who inspires love in
people's hearts. Only people who love Allah above all else and who
make no concessions in exhibiting the moral character that He
desires love one another with genuine respect and love.
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