1.
Introduction
As Islam itself mean ‘enter into peace” thus prophet Muhammad is messenger of peace. Prophet
hailed himself as the perfect exemplar of peace .prophet preached Islam throughout his life.
Prophet always struggled .prophet Mohammad, even before announcing his prophet hood, had
been making efforts to promote peace in Arab society by resolving disputes in peaceful manner.
His preaching of peace and justice led to establishment of peace in holy city of medina. Prophet
promoted peace at Makkah and medina and established a law of peace and war.
2. Islam is a religion of peace
Peace is the fundamental characteristic of Islam. A word Islam itself derived from another Arabic
word “salaam” which mean peace and the literal meaning of Islam is ‘ to enter into peace’. Islam is
a religion of universalism, tolerance, peace, and reconciliation. According to the hadith of sahih al-
bukhari “indeed, God is peace”. The Quran states “reconciliation” is best”. Islam decrees that
violent should not be opted if there is a room for reconciliation. Allah (SWT) does not like the
disturbance of peace. Therefore peace is one of the constituents of Islamic faith.
3. Peacemaking efforts of prophet at Makkah and medina
The life of prophet teaches us the two different aspects of peace. Prophet remained committed on
the idea of peace both in Makkah and medina but the way the peace has to achieved had to
drastically different in Makkah and had to drastically different in medina.
1. 1 peacemaking efforts of prophet at Makkah
Prophet and his followers were in minority in Makkah. They were oppressed, bullied and harmed by
pagans of Quraysh. Even in the face of miseries prophet preached a lesson of peace. Prophet shows
oppression can be fought with a character nonviolently.
A. conflict avoidance
Prophet gave message of peace .he preached and practiced to avoid any kind conflict
as much it can be. During his youth, when different clans of Quraysh had a
disagreement over the right to erect the Hajar al-Aswad in the Holy Kaaba, and it was
feared that a civil war would break out, the Holy Prophet resolved the issue by putting
the Black Stone in the middle of a piece of cloth, and asked a representative of each
clan to hold one of the edges of the cloth and raise it close to its place. Then the
Prophet picked it up with his own noble hands and placed it to its original place.
B. b. non violence
Islam introduces us to the concept of non-violence. Prophet remained nonviolent to
people of Makkah and chooses to address their atrocities with compassion and a
character. The best example of this is a women used to throw trash at him when he
passed by her house and prophet went to visit her when she got ill
C. c. forgiveness
Prophet kept to remain nonviolent and even choose to forgive his worst enemies to
spread message of truth and peace of Islam. During the visit of Taif the Taifiites
adopted inhuman attitude and throwed stones at him and his companion which caused
him to bleed seriously, so much so that his feet stuck to his shoes by the drying blood.
At that moment angel Gabriel came to him and asked his permission to crush Taifiites to
death but prophet choose to forgive them in hope they might accept the message of
Allah (SWT)
II. 2 at medina
During the arrival of prophet at medina , the tribes were at war with each other, different religious
groups were already living in medina and there was continuous tread of war from neighbored tribes
which were under quraish influence.prophet led the foundation of first city state of islam in medina
which gave a momentum to spread of islam to the face of earth and which is achieved through peaceful
mean
a. Diplomacy
Prophet achieved spread the message of Islam in Arab peninsula through
diplomatic and peaceful means. Holy prophet remained his peaceful and
diplomatic approach.
i- letters to the king: He sent his ambassador with his letters to other
neighboring and foreign states to join fold of Islam
ii- treaty of hudiabiya:
he accepted the harsh terms which helped to decrease tension between the
two cities and avoided war and authorized Muhammad's followers to return
the following year in a peaceful pilgrimage. Constitutional making
b. Constitution
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) migrated to Medina and founded Islam’s first city-
state in Medina. A large number of Jews and idolaters were already living in
Medina. Soon after establishing the city-state the Holy Prophet (PBUH)
concluded the Charter of Medina. It was a written agreement. The Muslims,
Jews and idolaters were signatories to it. Charter of Medina is a great
diplomatic success of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), as apart from ensuring
fundamental rights of all the communities, it also included clauses for
joint/collective security and defense of Medina. It declared that
safety/defense of city-state of Medina in case of foreign aggression would be
joint responsibility of all communities residing in Medina irrespective of their
religion, cast and creed. it set an example for other Muslim leaders to follow
toward other minorities
c. law of war
Islam does not believe in ideology of everything is fair in war. Islam condemns
the barbarianism. It’s a greatest contribution of Prophet Mohammad to
establish strong laws for war. laws of war itself is evident enough that Islam is
religion of peace
The rights given to enemy by law of war are
i.right of non combatants
ii. rights of combatants
iii.sanctity of property
iv. sanctity of dead body
v. rules about declaring a war
4. foundational principles of peace making
5. conclusion
We have come to a conclusion that prophet is supreme personality and a role model for peace .he
practiced and preached peace. Teaches that there is always room for reconciliation
