Islam is the religion of peace

Islam is the religion of peace. It is Islam that protects all human rights. Even during the Warfield, Islam put limits on its followers to not cross them. It is not allowed to murder children, women, and injured in Islam. Its Prophet (P.B.U.H) preached tolerance and coexistence. In fact, the constitution of Islam highlights the concept of peace as the word ‘Islam’ itself has been extracted from another Arabic word “Salam” meaning peace and therefore the meaning of Islam is ‘to enter into peace’. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) always endeavored to maintain peace and tranquility in Islamic society and for the peaceful co-existence of Muslims with other communities. He (PBUH) was sent as a messenger of peace and mercy for the whole universe  because the ALLAH Almighty says in verse 107 of Surah Al-Anbya (the Prophets), 

“And we have not sent you, [O Muhammad], but as a mercy to the worlds.”

Even before announcing his prophethood, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) had been making efforts to bring peace to Arab society by amicably settling the conflicts. During His youth, when different clans of Quraysh made a disagreement over the proper to upright the revered Hajar al-Aswad (The Black Stone) within the Holy Kaaba, and it was feared that a war would escape, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) settled the difficulty in a peaceful way that history is not able to present any such example. When the matter was mentioned to him, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) placed the Black Stone in the middle of a bit of cloth and asked the representative of every clan to hold one of the edges of the fabric and raise it close to its place. Then the Holy Prophet (PBUH) lifted it together with his own noble hands and placed it to its original place. 

Later on, in 610 AD, when the Holy Prophet (PBUH) started preaching Islam, the people of Makkah turned against him. They started oppressing him and his followers i.e. the new Muslims. Their brutalities and inhumanness persevered rising. Once, when the Holy Prophet (PBUH) visited Taif for the preaching of Islam, the Taifiites adopted a brutal attitude and battered stones at Him and His companion Hazrat Zaid bin Harisa (RA). The stones that were thrown at HIM by the youngsters caused him to bleed badly, and due to this, His feet stuck to his shoes. At the moment angel Gabriel came to him and asked:

“O, Prophet of Allah (PBUH)! I am at your service. If you would like, I can cause the mountains overlooking this town to crush Taiffies in between these mountains, or you may suggest any other punishment for them.”

But the Holy Prophet (PBUH) replied, “Even if these people are not accepting Islam, I do hope from Allah that there'll be persons from among their progeny who will worship Allah and obey His cause.”

In Makkah, the unbelievers plotted even for murdering the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Muslims had no option except to leave their homes after crossing the boundary of cruelties and brutalities by Makkans.  Hence they migrated to Medina. But, the main thing is that despite all the sufferings, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) always prayed to ALLAH for guidance for the Quresh. In Medina, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) grounded the primary city-state of Islam. Since a gigantic number of unbelievers and Jews were already living in Medina at the point, hence the Holy Prophet (PBUH) made the treaty of the Charter of Medina with them. It was an agreement comprised of 52 articles — the numbering varies depending on the source like Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri enlists 63 articles in his book named as The Constitution of Medina: 63 constitutional articles. The Muslims, unbelievers, and Jews signed the agreement. Indeed, it was a great effort to promote peace and harmony among the Mediniites of different religions. 

Even in Medina, the Makkahs' people kept on distressing Muslims and creating hardships for them. From 624 to 627 AD, Quraysh, and their allies attacked Medina three times. In all these battles, unbelievers were the aggressors while Muslims were only protecting their area. 

Another incident, which reviews the peacemaking attempts of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), is the Battle of Badr during which seventy unbelievers were killed and almost seventy-two were the jailbirds of War. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) put a condition of freedom in front of them, that if each one of them would educate the ten Muslims. This act of peace and kindness towards the jailbirds of War still remains unprecedented within the annals of history. 

The establishment of the primary state became the momentum of the spread of Islam. So, within ten years, Madina became the capital of a huge state whose area, consistent with historical evidence, was no but three million square kilometers. So the expansion during ten years was some 845 square kilometers per day on average. A major part of this expansion was accomplished via peaceful means while a few portion was achieved via war. The most important thing to notice is the fact that the average number of enemies killed was less than two per month. In the aforesaid expansion period, the number of enemies killed was less than two hundred and forty. This fact denies all false of spreading Islam by the sword. Later on, T.W.Arnold also rebuts these untrue claims in his book named "The preaching of Islam" by saying that Islam was spread through peaceful means, not by the sword. 

When In 628 AD, more than 1,400 Muslims donned ihram with the Holy Prophet (PBUH) from Madina to offer Umrah. As per the established practice, it was sure that the Makkans will allow the worshippers as Muslims were going to Makkah without arms to perform Umrah. But, scared by the large Muslim presence, the Quraysh leaders decided to not let them from entering Makkah and sent Khaled Bin Walid with fighters to prevent them from defying old Arab tradition. 

The Holy Prophet (PBUH) altered the course of Taneem to avoid an encounter and came to a little-known place called Hudaibiyah. He (PBUH) sent Hazrat Usman Ghani (RA) to barter with the Quraysh as his ambassador. Hazrat Usman Ghani (RA) was detained and to embitter the Muslims, the Quraysh spread a rumor that he had been slain.  The Holy Prophet (PBUH) gathered all his followers near the oasis of Rizwan and took the oath that they would sacrifice their lives for the sake of Allah and will take revenge for the murder of Hazrat Usman (RA). This oath is familiar as the Bait-e-Rizwan. 

The Quraysh became worried after hearing this and eventually, they sent a Sohail-named person as an emissary with the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Then an agreement named "Sulah Hudaibyah" was made between Muslims and the Quraysh. Apparently, a major part of this Treaty was not favorable to the Muslims and even a number of the companions (RA) had displeasure over the part of the treaty, but the Holy Prophet (PBUH) signed the Treaty just to prevent bloodshed. Later on, this treaty proved valuable because it terminated the atmosphere of hostility and therefore the non-believers of Makkah started traveling to Madina. ALLAH ALMIGHTY called this Treaty ‘Fatah Mubeen’ in The Holy Quran, Surah Fatah (The Victory) “O Prophet, verily we've granted you a transparent triumph.”

Afterward, the Treaty was broken by the Quraysh when they became the companion of the tribe of Banu Bakr with whom they had a contract to assist one another. They attacked a tribe that was the ally of the Muslims, of Khuza’a. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) decided to go away for Makkah after hearing the news of breaking the Treaty. Then on the 10th of Ramadan, 8 AH, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) led a military of 10,000 Muslims to Makkah. The Muslims camped at a place a few kilometers away from Makkah known as Mar-ur-Zahran. 

Meantime, the infidels were very afraid and selected Abu Sufyan as their leader and a couple of people to seek out conditions. He met Hazrat Abbas (RA)during his investigation, who convinced him to meet with the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Abu Sufyan who had launched battles against the Muslims was given whole protection within the camp of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Subsequently, the Muslims triumphantly and peacefully entered Makkah instead of any bloodshed, and the infidels surrendered without any effort of resisting. This great military triumph was accomplished in such a peaceful way that's still unparalleled in human history. At this great success, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) set another spectacular example when he showed resolute mercy for those people that had persecuted the Muslims, and hence HE (P.B.U.H) declared general forgiveness for all. Resultantly, the Makkans started to embrace Islam due to those noble steps.

Based on the above assertions, it is clear that how Holy Prophet P.B.U.H set up a practical model of best peacemaker for all of us. Moreover, it is also concluded that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was the most superlative and supreme personality. Even the worst enemies of Islam appreciate Him. He (PBUH) was the best peacemaker who announced an amnesty for all His (PBUH) adversaries. Dr. M.Hart, in his book "The 100:A ranking of most influential persons in History", placed Holy Prophet P.B.U.H on number 1 personality as the supremely successful personality in both the secular and religious fields. Maulana Wahidudin Khan refers to the Holy Prophet P.B.U.H as "the Prophet of peace". Hence Islam tells us all the principles of peace which were all followed by its Prophet P.B.U.H.