In the name of God, the Giver of Peace

Belief, Love and Peace for All

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all live together on earth in Peace? Imagine, there’d be nobody stealing; nobody hurting or killing; no one shouting or swearing or calling names, people would love and look after each other. Wouldn’t that be like heaven on earth?

Well. That’s exactly what the Last Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was sent to teach us: how people, all over the earth, can learn to live in peace together, without fighting each other, and enjoy all the good things God has given us. How?

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “You will not enter heaven until you believe; and you will not believe until you love one another. Should I not guide you to a thing that if you do it will increase love amongst you? Spread “As salam’ (peace be with you)” [1]

In this special saying of the Prophet, he mentions three important things: Belief, Love and Peace. Each one is important and they are all linked closely together. If we want to enjoy peace we should believe and want happiness not just for ourselves but for others as well. These three life-altering things could really change our world, if only people could practice them. Maybe it’s because some, are just not looking for them in the right place, they look everywhere but sometimes forget to look at themselves, in their own hearts, where belief, love and peace begin.

Many Ways to Peace

A companion of the Prophet, peace be upon him, told us that he heard the Prophet say: “O people! Spread Salam (the greetings of peace), feed (the poor and needy), be kind to your relatives, offer prayer when others are asleep, and (you will) enter Paradise in peace.”

Let’s look now at some of the other things which the Prophet taught, to keep us out of trouble and make the world a better place:

Don’t Be Angry

First, try not to get angry. Sometimes we’re tested by being bullied or pushed, often there’ll be someone who wants to show that they are better or stronger than you; they go out of their way to prove it and make you feel small. Well? What do we do?

The Prophet, peace be upon him, was once asked by a man to give him advice. The Prophet told him, “La taghdab!” Which means, “Don’t be angry!” But the man didn’t listen, and kept on repeating his request. The Prophet, peace be upon him, just kept on telling him the same answer, “Don’t be angry! Don’t be angry!”

Patience and Prayer

Patience and Prayer are the best ways to deal with any bad thing that happens. Being patient sometimes means to do nothing except wait for Allah to remove whatever is bothering us. Sometimes it means not to give up your belief and stand firm; not to be shaken. Whenever we need extra help, we should turn to God and pray. And if we are true believers, we won’t only do this when we need something, but we will pray everyday. Then we will be closer God, and know that He will always be with us when we need Him.

Don’t Bad-Mouth Anybody

Sometimes it’s not others, but we who cause harm and disturb the peace. Think about it. Haven’t you ever said something that might have hurt somebody’s feelings or called them nasty names? Maybe we spoke badly behind their backs. That is called “Ghibah’ or backbiting. When they hear about what you said it creates pain and hate in their hearts. So the Prophet, peace be upon him, taught us never to talk badly about others, and never to talk behind their backs.

However, if somebody does it to you, instead of getting upset, know that God is with you if you stay patient; try to learn to forgive them as you wish God to forgive you. Also, if you hear somebody talking badly about someone else, don’t just listen; instead, stop them or try to say something good that would make the person they’re talking about pleased. The Prophet, peace be upon him said, “Speak good or be silent.’ This way, you create peace and harmony. Just listen to the silence of the Sunlight, which makes everybody warm and happy.

Give Generously

Money is one of those things that often cause people to fight. If we listen to the Prophet’s teachings we will learn how to avoid this. Sharing and being charitable is one of the best ways to avoid jealousy. So if we have wealth, we should always give some away to poor people who have little or nothing. This brings peace and balance between those who have not and those who have. If we can, we also lend to people who are in need, but we must not ask for more back than we gave, that is called “Riba’ or interest, and that is forbidden to do.

Work Hard and Be Honest

In business we should be fair and not raise the price of things people need. There is enough for all people on this earth to eat, but some are holding food back because it keeps the price high and that makes them more money.

God has especially blessed whatever you earn by hard work with your hands Once a man came to the Prophet, peace be upon him, and asked for help, he taught him to cut wood and later the man became very rich and never asked anyone for anything again. [2]

So the Prophet, peace be upon him, taught us to always be satisfied with even a little. He said, “(A person) who lives a day in safety of his life , with a healthy body and food enough for one day, is like a person to whom the world and all it contains has been given’ [3] That’s how we should look at life, always positive, and smiling.

Love and the Family

Men and Women must try live together in love and peace. This is why the family is so important, without a loving family, children feel unwanted and alone. Mothers and Fathers should try to make the home a place of peace and happiness. Everybody should share in the work and to help clean the house, especially children.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, was the best of Fathers, he taught elders to be merciful to children and for children to love and respect their elders. Even though he was himself an orphan – his father passed away before he was born and his mother died when he was six – the Prophet especially told us to look after our Mothers and that Paradise was hidden under their feet. That means we must never be too proud to serve our Parents, even if they cannot buy you everything you want.

Caring for Orphans

Sometimes children from rich homes are spoilt; they show off and are proud because of the things they have, this causes envy. Those who don’t have nice clothes and big houses feel sad. So we should think about the poor orphans, who have no Mother or Father, and no food, let alone money to buy nice clothes.

War & Peace

Throughout man’s history people have started wars. There are always people ready to fight you, but you have to think, what are you fighting for? God the Almighty has given permission to defend yourself and fight back when someone is driving you out you out of your homes. So fighting is sometimes necessary, but it should never go further than it needs to. If your enemies agree to stop fighting, you should accept it and make peace.

Once the Prophet, peace be upon him, made a peace agreement called the “Treaty of Hudayybiyah’ with the Makkan Tribes who had been fighting the Muslims. Even though the Tribal Chiefs were forbidding Muslims from making pilgrimage to the House of God in Makkah, he agreed to their request and signed the Treaty. The next year they were allowed to make the pilgrimage.

Years later, when the Makkans broke the Treaty and went back on their word, the Prophet and his companions, after twenty years of suffering and being driven out of their homes, marched with a great army and opened Makkah. The people were not killed, but instead he forgave them and let them live in peace.

Peace is necessary for people to enjoy life and return to their homelands, so families can be joined together again and have the freedom to worship God, calmly and without fear.

Look how kind the Prophet was to his enemies. To be good is not easy, especially when people are attacking you. Sometimes it feels like a war is raging in your heart, that’s when you have to be strong to fight what is inside you!

Differences Are Natural

If everybody believed and followed one way, there would be no wars and peace would fill the earth. But part of God’s plan is to test everyone with what they have been given. [4] So today we see different people, of many colors and different religions, these differences came over a period of time. In the Qur’an it tells us that all the messengers and prophets came to teach how to worship One God and be good to each other. It also tells us that people are free to choose whether to believe or not, that is why today we can see churches, synagogues, temples and mosques, and millions of people dressing and praying differently.

A believer is not allowed to make fun of other religions because that might create bad feelings in return and people may start fighting. So the Prophet, peace be upon him, taught us how to behave and try to be just to everybody, because he was the last Prophet sent to all mankind and a mercy to all the worlds.

Once a Jew and a Muslim were arguing. The Muslim was saying that the Prophet Muhammad was the best and the Jew was saying Moses was the best. Then the Muslim slapped the Jew. So the Jew went to the Prophet, peace be upon him. He told him what had happened and the Muslim was called. The Prophet, peace be upon him, then told the Muslim, “Do not try to make me higher than Moses, because on the Day of Judgment all people will be struck with sleep, lifeless, and I will be one of them, but I will be the first to wake up and will see Moses standing and holding the side of the Throne of Allah. I will not know if he was also asleep and got up before me.‘ [5]

Even though Allah in His Holy Book had said that Muhammad himself was created with the best human nature, when he was once asked who was best amongst all the persons in the world, the Prophet never mentioned himself, instead he said, “Joseph, the Prophet, son of a Prophet, son of a Prophet, son of Allah’s friend (meaning the great Grandfather, Prophet Abraham) [6]

He taught us to respect all Prophets of God equally, but mentioned some with extra honour: he said, “And if a man believes in Jesus and then believes in me, he will get a double reward.” [7]

Love Leads to Peace

In the beginning we talked about learning to Love before we can find peace. That is why we must try to love and follow the Prophet, peace be upon him.  He was told to say, “If you love God, follow me, God will love you and forgive you your sins.” [8]

The Last Prophet, peace be upon him, taught us to respect human life and property, how to look after the earth and the animals over which we have been given power. He showed us the path to peace and called all people and believers in God’s Words to join together, bowing to One God. He read the Qur’an to people of all Faiths:

There hath come to you from Allah a (new) Light and a clear Book.  Whereby God guides those who seek His good pleasure to paths of peace. He brings them out of darkness unto light by His power, and guides them unto a straight way. [9]

And so we ask Allah to send His peace and blessings on the Last Prophet, Muhammad and on all of the Prophets who brought us the good news and showed us the way, if we follow their tracks, doing good and avoiding bad, one day – insha Allah (God willing) we will arrive at the home of everlasting Peace – Dar As salam.

There is a prayer that the Prophet, peace be upon him, taught, “Oh Allah! You are Peace, from You comes Peace, So help us to live in Peace, Oh owner of Majesty and Honour.”

Listen to Peace Notes, narrated by Yusuf here

References:

[1]  “You shall not enter paradise so long as you do not affirm belief; and you will not believe as long as you do not love one another. Should I not direct you to a thing which, if you do, will foster love amongst you: give currency to as-salamu alaykum.” Reported by Abu Hurairah: Sahih Muslim

[2]  A man of the Ansar came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and begged from him.  He (the Prophet) asked: Have you nothing in your house?  He replied: Yes, a piece of cloth, a part of which we wear and a part of which we spread (on the ground), and a wooden bowl from which we drink water.  He said: Bring them to me. He then brought these articles to him and he (the Prophet) took them in his hands and asked: Who will buy these?  A man said: I shall buy them for one dirham.  He said twice or thrice: Who will offer more than one dirham?  A man said: I shall buy them for two dirhams.  He gave these to him and took the two dirhams and, giving them to the Ansari, he said: Buy food with one of them and hand it to your family, and buy an axe and bring it to me. He then brought it to him. The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) fixed a handle on it with his own hands and said: Go, gather firewood and sell it, and do not let me see you for a fortnight. The man went away and gathered firewood and sold it. When he had earned ten dirhams, he came to him and bought a garment with some of them and food with the others.  The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) then said: This is better for you than that begging should come as a spot on your face on the Day of Judgment. Begging is right only for three people: one who is in grinding poverty, one who is seriously in debt, or one who is responsible for compensation and finds it difficult to pay. Reported by Anas Ibn Malik: Abu Dawood

ALSO

The Prophet said, “No doubt, it is better for a person to take a rope and go in the morning to the mountains and cut the wood and then sell it, and eat from the money he makes and give charity from it than to ask others for something.” Reported by Abu Hurairah: Sahih Bukhari