Islam as a religion of peace
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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After the September 11 attacks in 2001, some in the Anglophone world described Islam as a religion of peace in an effort to distance it from Islamic terrorists.
Usage of the term
In the past the epithet "religion of peace and good will towards men" has been applied to Christianity.
In September 2001, in the wake of the September 11 attacks, U.S. President George W. Bush said: "The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That's not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists don't represent peace. They represent evil and war." Some have pointed out that the word "Islam" is etymologically related to the Arabic word salām meaning "peace" This prompted criticism from some quarters and a poll of United States Evangelical Protestant leaders taken in 2002 revealed that only 10% agreed with Bush that Islam was synonymous with peace.
Mahathir bin Mohamad, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia said in 2002, "Islam, as I said, is a religion of peace. However through the centuries, deviations from the true teachings of Islam take place. And so [people who call themselves] "Muslims" kill despite the injunction of their religion against killing especially of innocent people.
Dalil Boubakeur, mufti of the Paris Mosque, said in 2006, "The prophet did not found a terrorist religion, but a religion of peace."
Criticism
Sherman Jackson believes that the comments of Western politicians about Islam being a religion of peace is an attempt at political correctness. However, Jackson asserts that the expression does not imply a rejection of violence by Islam, but rather admits peaceful coexistence with non-Muslims.
The term "The Religion of Peace" is used mockingly by critics of Islam, such as right-wing commentator Ann Coulter. Philosopher and New Atheist writer Sam Harris wrote, "The position of the Muslim community in the face of all provocations seems to be: Islam is a religion of peace, and if you say that it isn't, we will kill you."
When asked by reporters in 2005 if Islam was a religion of peace, Pope Benedict XVI stated that some elements of Islam can favor peace, but it also has other elements.
Islamist Sayyid Qutb wrote that Islam is the religion of peace in the sense of submitting all of mankind to Allah.
On May 13, 2015, ISIL released an audio message by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who asserted that Islam is not a religion of peace, but rather the religion of fighting.
See also
- Islam and other religions
- Divisions of the world in Islam
- Peace in Islamic philosophy
- Islam and violence
- Pacifism in Islam
- Islamic Terrorism
