Peace is part of everyday Muslim life
Muslims greet each other with as-salamu alaykum, “peace be with you,” many times a day, and end every prayer by saying it to the right and to the left. One of God's names is As-Salam, Peace, and the Quran calls Paradise “the home of peace.”
God invites to the home of peace, and guides whoever He wills to a straight path.
Quran 10:25
Every life is sacred
Whoever kills a person, unless it is for murder or for spreading corruption in the land, it is as if they had killed all of humanity. And whoever saves a life, it is as if they had saved all of humanity.
Quran 5:32
Even in war, Islam sets strict limits. The Prophet ﷺ forbade killing women and children. His successor, Abu Bakr, instructed his army not to kill the elderly, not to cut down fruit trees, not to destroy homes, and to leave monks in their monasteries alone.
No forcing anyone
There is no compulsion in religion. The right way has become clearly distinct from the wrong.
Quran 2:256
Faith only counts if it's freely chosen. The Quran even gives Muslims words for living alongside people who believe differently:
You have your religion, and I have mine.
Quran 109:6
What about “jihad”?
Jihad means “striving” or “struggle.” Most of the time it refers to the everyday struggle to be a better person: resisting temptation, controlling your temper, being honest when it costs you. The Prophet ﷺ said that the best jihad is speaking a word of truth to an unjust ruler.
Armed jihad does exist in Islamic teaching, much as most nations accept the idea of a just war. It is limited to self-defence and protecting the oppressed, must be declared by a legitimate authority, and never permits targeting civilians.
Fight in the cause of God those who fight you, but do not transgress. God does not love those who transgress.
Quran 2:190
Terrorism
Muslim scholars around the world have condemned terrorism in the clearest terms. In 2014, more than 120 of them signed an open letter that took apart ISIS's claims point by point. In 2016, hundreds of Muslim scholars and leaders signed the Marrakesh Declaration, defending the rights of religious minorities in Muslim-majority countries.
Most of the victims of groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda have been Muslims. Those groups no more represent Islam than other violent extremists represent the faiths they claim.
Good and evil are not equal. Repel evil with what is better, and the one you were at odds with will become like a close friend.
Quran 41:34
Quran quotes are English translations of the meaning, adapted from Saheeh International and M.A.S. Abdel Haleem. Tap a reference to read the verse in Arabic with other translations.