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Dear Nafeesa,
al salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatu.
Thank you for your question.
I appreciate your question and I hope I can offer you a satisfactory answer. First of all, we have to see that the way we deal with others is convincing to them that we ourselves are peace-loving people. As for our friends, who ask us about Islam, we should clearly explain what Islam really means. As for others, where a conversation is possible, we can strike up a friendship where the conversation can be turned into a discussion of Islam in the present context. Of course, for this we must have full confidence in ourselves. Then we can explain how Islam and Muslims can be misunderstood.
The major starting points are:
1. The word, 'Islam' signifies both peace and submission to God. The best way to attain peace is to surrender your desires, your will, your life itself to the One and Only God.
2. Nature follows God's law, as indeed does every other thing in the universe. Only man is gifted with special faculties such as intelligence and imagination. Only man is given freedom. Still, man often misuses both his talents and his freedom, and oversteps the limits of propriety, to do evil. To direct him along the right path, God has sent His prophets, along with His books of guidance. If man follows God's guidance to lead a good life here, or in other words a life of “submission” to Allah, he will be successful; he will attain peace in this life and the hereafter. The greeting of Islam “may God bless you with peace” was in fact the greeting taught by Jesus and Moses.
We read in Luke 10 that Jesus taught his disciples:
[5] "And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house." This is exactly what Muslims do. Yet, most Muslims have limited it to their fellow Muslims. In fact we can grant it to all. If we do so, we would be following the advice of Jesus, as well as that of Moses and Muhammad.
Also read how Jesus greeted his disciples; Luke 24:
[36] "And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you."
For a Muslim who prostrates before God five times a day, always thinking of God throughout all the day-to-day activities as the Prophet has taught, it is impossible to resort to violence and bloodshed. It is a fact that Islam permits fighting; but only as the last option. This is when you are unjustly attacked, then you can resort to self-defense; and here too, fighting must stop at the moment the oppression or aggression stops. There is no question of killing innocent people on any account.
Hope this answers your question.
Salam
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