Peace
"Peace" is the most
common word on a Muslim's tongue. Whenever two people meet, they
exchange
greetings, wishing each other peace: "Peace be upon you."
But peace cannot prevail except through justice.
Since the concept of justice may differ from one man to another,
or from one society to another, Muslims
believe that real justice is that which is specified by Allah
(God).
Islam permits fighting in
self-defense, in defense of the religion, or by those who have
been expelled forcibly from their homes. At the same time, Islam
requires one to treat one's enemy mercifully. It lays down strict
rules of combat which include prohibitions against harming
civilians and against destroying crops, trees, and livestock.
Islam also requires that if an enemy declares his desire to end
hostilities and seek peace, the Muslims must do the same.
The concept of Jihad (struggling
in the cause of Allah) is stated in the Qur'an. Allah said: "Fight
in the cause of God those who fight you, but do not transgress
limits. God does not love transgressors." [2:19] Jihad is
never to be waged to force anybody to choose a particular religion.
On the contrary, it is to waged to protect his right to choose
freely. Therefore, if there is a force in the world that tries
to prevent a person from practicing this right, Jihad may lead
to fighting the force that is trying to prevent him from exercising
free will.
