Thai is why a Muslim is not considered to be a perfect believer unless he loves others. And love is expressed through the greeting of peace (, saldm). Hence peace exists when there is compassion in people's hearts for each other. This, in turn, will end every kind of injustice and will play vital role in establishing a just social order. That implies peace without justice has no meaning as the former is not merely absence of violence and existence of calmness. In the same manner justice cannot be established until the atmosphere is calm and serene. Hence, the administration of justice has always been a religious duty in Islam which consists of the application of the principles of shari'ah in the name of Allah. Unfortunately enough, the non-Muslim mind, especially that of the Orientalists, is ignorant, nay, but chooses to be ignorant about the universal fact that Islam succeeded in materializing in history its principles while the world witnessed the greatest ever commonwealth of which peace and justice were the most brilliant hallmarks.
Islam, Peace and Social Justice examines the ways in which Islamic cultures have dealt with issues of social justice historically and culturally. With unwavering objectivity, the author helps readers of any faith to gain a nuanced and accurate understanding of the challenges that we face in contemporary multifaith engagements. Dr van Gorder offers a comprehensive and sympathetic Christian insight into Islam. The contentious issues of social justice that are encountered in this broad, yet intricate, studyinclude the concept of Jihad, poverty, political oppression, human rights, genocide, racism, sexual injustice, homophobia, and environmental degradation. The challenges are real and the problems are vast; partnerships and solutions must be found - peopleof faith, Muslim, Jewish and Christian, must find ways to work together to address these shared challenges. This work exposes misrepresentations and stereotypes about Islamic views of social justice that abound in Europe and North America. The author encourages a deeper appreciation of how themes of social justice resound through Islamic texts and have been expressed both in the contemporary and historical life of various and diverse Islamic communities worldwide.
The issue of peace and justice in society, and in the international community at large is of fundamental importance and must be thoroughly addressed if the community – national or international – were to prosper and coexist in peace and harmony. However this would not be maintained if the code of conduct between individuals and states were not based on tolerance and non-violence when addressing matters of disputes and contentions. And there are the unavoidable circumstances that lead to conflict, but then war should be seen as the last resort in settling any conflict.This is the approach that is encouraged by Islam, and in this respect, three articles are presented in this book that address the issues of war, peace and non-violence from the viewpoint of the teachings of Islam. These authoritative articles have been chosen from the works of Imam Muhammad Shirazi who, as can be seen from his extensive works, advocates non-violence in all manners of life, and in the various domains of society. His call for peace and non-violence stems from his conviction to the teachings of Islam on every aspect of the human life.Through his extensive knowledge of the teachings of Islam, the author presents the Islamic stand on war, peace and non-violence, as found in the traditions and teachings of the Prophet of Islam, which could serve as exemplary models for Muslims in particular and mankind in general. Detailed accounts of the traditions of Prophet in his dealings with his foes during war or peace times are presented in this book, which gives the reader a clear insight into the way and the basis upon which the Prophet of Islam used to conduct his affairs in these respects.
Within the Muslim community, the call for peace has manifested and will undoubtedly continue to manifest itself in diverse ways. This reflects continuous efforts to interpret and apply foundational Islamic values in specific historical, social, and cultural situations. Islamic concepts of peace have been misrepresented, misunderstood, or simply ignored. There are indeed differences between prevailing Western and Islamic conceptions of peace. These differences constitute a basis for an ongoing dialogue on the topic. Beneath different interpretations of Islam, there is an underlying unity of intention that gives coherence to various approaches to peace. These in Islam can be categorized in five paradigms. Many Muslims have, at one time or another, subscribed to views that incorporate aspects of more than one paradigm. The model of power politics exalts state authority, views peace simply as the absence of war, and emphasizes the political necessities created by threatening environments. The Islamic world order approach sees peace as a condition defined by the presence of such core Islamic values as order, justice, equity, cultural coexistence (as in the Iranian Dialogue of Civilizations initiative), and ecological stability. Practitioners of Islamic approaches to conflict resolution adhere to a restorative conception of peace that encompasses notions of just compensation for losses, renunciation of retribution, and forgiveness. Though it is not widely recognized, an Islamic paradigm for nonviolence does in fact exist, and some of the most notable recent applications of it have occurred in South and Southeast Asia. Peace is understood as the presence of social justice, which must be sought by a just means. The last approach to peace, the Islamic equivalent of a transformational, spiritually centered paradigm, defines peace as a condition of harmony attained through the transformation of human consciousness. The dominant Western approach to peace finds its substance in political pluralism, individual rights, and, in practice - if not in precept - consumerism. In contrast, Islamic precepts permit a view of peace based on communal solidarity, social justice, faith and cultural pluralism. The differences between Western and Islamic approaches to conflict resolution reflect some of the differences between these two respective perspectives on peace. While the strongest Western approach to conflict resolution is to conceptualize and solve problems, the Islamic approach emphasizes the mending and maintenance of social relationships. Muslims see conflict and competition between individuals and groups as a threat to social unity, stability, and welfare, and are often somewhat less optimistic about conflict than the advocates of new Western approaches. Research and dialogue on conceptions of peace and peacemaking provide and alternative to the solipsism of culture - bound thinking. The can promote a deeper understanding of cross - cultural differences and a greater appreciation of the shared values and goals that will be needed if true coexistence - and perhaps even intercultural complementarity - is to be achieved.
The eighth volume of the series "Key Concepts of Interreligious Discourses" investigates the roots of the concept of "peace" in Judaism, Christianity and Islam and its relevance for the present time. Facing present violent conflicts waged and justified by religious ideas or reasons, peace building prevails in current debates about religion and peace. Here the central question is: How may traditional sources in religions help to put down the weapons and create a society in which everyone can live safely without hostilities and the threat of violence? When we take the Sacred Scriptures of Judaism, Christianity and Islam into consideration it becomes obvious that the term "peace" and its equivalents in Hebrew, Greek and Arabic describe, at first, an ideal state based on the "love" / "mercy" of God to his creation. It is a divine gift that brings inward peace to the individuum and outer peace resting upon justice and equality. One main task of Jews, Christian and Muslims in the history is to find out how to bring down this transcendent ideal upon earth. The volume presents the concept of "peace" in its different aspects as anchored in the traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It unfolds commonalities and differences between the three monotheistic religions as well as the manifold discourses about peace within these three traditions. The book offers fundamental knowledge about the specific understanding of peace in each one of these traditions, their interdependencies and their relationship to secular world views.
Meant for the general reader, this book gives a historical expose of the Western definitions of justice - mainly economic and social justice - from Plato to the modern day and compares it with the Islamic concept of justice. He draws upon the fundamental and central concepts of the Quran to the permanence and universality of that concept. He shows that the combination of adl (justice), qist (equity) and mizan (balance) goes towards creating that notion in comparison to the shifting definition of the Western conception which depends on which ideology is dominant.
Western theoretical approaches of modernization, development, social progress and interaction, have failed to understand the dynamics of the Islamic revival. Deina Abdelkader, in this seminal work argues that questions of social justice are indelibly tied to the phenomenon of contemporary Islamic resurgence as the quest for social justice is in fact motivated by the Shari’ah- hence an integral part of Islamic life and weltan-shauung. Using the two tools of maqasid and maslahah, and through the examination of the dialectical link between fiqh and reality, the author shows their indispensability as important methodological tools for the study of the social sciences and, indeed, of social phenomena.
Peace and Conflict Resolution in Islam steps beyond the limitations of the traditional scholarly framework used to evaluate the politics of Islamic societies, and assembles a selection from the best available English-language writings on a matter of central importance in Islamic precepts: peace (salam) and conflict resolution. The writings present diverse Muslim views on the nature of peace and the processes of conflict resolution, giving expression to a range of syntheses or "paradigms" of Islamic precept and practice, including power politics, world order, nonviolence, and transformation of consciousness and character (Sufism). Attention is given to both the diversity and the underlying points of unity among Islamic perspectives on peace, which accentuate, variously, an absence of war, a presence of justice, and ecological harmony.
Amazing book with spirituality and presence of mind with the beautiful islamic perspective and solution in today's worldThis book is one of the many Islamic publications distributed by Ahlulbayt Organization throughout the world in different languages with the aim of conveying the message of Islam to the people of the world. Ahlulbayt Organization (www.shia.es) is a registered Organization that operates and is sustained through collaborative efforts of volunteers in many countries around the world, and it welcomes your involvement and support. Its objectives are numerous, yet its main goal is to spread the truth about the Islamic faith in general and the Shi`a School of Thought in particular due to the latter being misrepresented, misunderstood and its tenets often assaulted by many ignorant folks, Muslims and non-Muslims. Organization's purpose is to facilitate the dissemination of knowledge through a global medium, the Internet, to locations where such resources are not commonly or easily accessible or are resented, resisted and fought! In addition, For a complete list of our published books please refer to our website (www.shia.es) or send us an email to [email protected]
