In the
name of God, the Giver of Peace
Belief, Love and Peace for All
Wouldn't it be nice if we could all live together
on earth in Peace? Imagine, there'd be nobody
stealing; nobody hurting or killing; no one shouting
or swearing or calling names, people would love
and look after each other. Wouldn't that be like
heaven on earth?
Well. That's exactly what the Last Prophet Muhammad,
peace be upon him, was sent to teach us: how people,
all over the earth, can learn to live in peace
together, without fighting each other, and enjoy
all the good things God has given us. How?
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "You
will not enter heaven until you believe; and you
will not believe until you love one another. Should
I not guide you to a thing that if you do it will
increase love amongst you? Spread "As salam'
(peace be with you)"
[1]
In this special saying of the Prophet, he mentions
three important things: Belief, Love and Peace.
Each one is important and they are all linked
closely together. If we want to enjoy peace we
should believe and want happiness not just for
ourselves but for others as well. These three
life-altering things could really change our world,
if only people could practice them. Maybe it's
because some, are just not looking for them in
the right place, they look everywhere but sometimes
forget to look at themselves, in their own hearts,
where belief, love and peace begin.
Many Ways to Peace
A companion of the Prophet, peace be upon him,
told us that he heard the Prophet say: "O
people! Spread Salam (the greetings of peace),
feed (the poor and needy), be kind to your relatives,
offer prayer when others are asleep, and (you
will) enter Paradise in peace."
Let's look now at some of the other things which
the Prophet taught, to keep us out of trouble
and make the world a better place:
Don't Be Angry
First, try not to get angry. Sometimes we're
tested by being bullied or pushed, often there'll
be someone who wants to show that they are better
or stronger than you; they go out of their way
to prove it and make you feel small. Well? What
do we do?
The Prophet, peace be upon him, was once asked
by a man to give him advice. The Prophet told
him, "La taghdab!' Which means, "Don't
be angry!' But the man didn't listen, and kept
on repeating his request. The Prophet, peace be
upon him, just kept on telling him the same answer,
"Don't be angry! Don't be angry!'
Patience and Prayer
Patience and Prayer are the best ways to deal
with any bad thing that happens. Being patient
sometimes means to do nothing except wait for
Allah to remove whatever is bothering us. Sometimes
it means not to give up your belief and stand
firm; not to be shaken. Whenever we need extra
help, we should turn to God and pray. And if we
are true believers, we won't only do this when
we need something, but we will pray everyday.
Then we will be closer God, and know that He will
always be with us when we need Him.
Don't Bad-Mouth Anybody
Sometimes it's not others, but we who cause
harm and disturb the peace. Think about it. Haven't
you ever said something that might have hurt somebody's
feelings or called them nasty names? Maybe we
spoke badly behind their backs. That is called
"Ghibah' or backbiting. When they hear about what
you said it creates pain and hate in their hearts.
So the Prophet, peace be upon him, taught us never
to talk badly about others, and never to talk
behind their backs.
However, if somebody does it to you, instead
of getting upset, know that God is with you if
you stay patient; try to learn to forgive them
as you wish God to forgive you. Also, if you hear
somebody talking badly about someone else, don't
just listen; instead, stop them or try to say
something good that would make the person they're
talking about pleased. The Prophet, peace be upon
him said, "Speak good or be silent.' This
way, you create peace and harmony. Just listen
to the silence of the Sunlight, which makes everybody
warm and happy.
Listen
to Yusuf Islam read "Peace Notes"
