Peace
"Salam" (peace) is the most common word on a
Muslim's tongue.
"Whenever two people meet, they exchange greetings, wishing each other
peace: "Peace be upon you." Islam permits fighting in self-defense, in defense of the religion, or by
those who have been expelled forcibly from their homes. At the same time, Islam
requires one to treat one's enemy mercifully. It lays down strict rules of
combat which include prohibitions against harming civilians and against
destroying crops, trees, and livestock. Islam also requires that if an enemy
declares his desire to end hostilities and seek peace, the Muslims must do the
same.
The concept of Jihad ("Holy War" or struggling in the cause of
Allah) is stated in the Qur'an. Allah said: Jihad is never to be waged to force anybody to choose a particular religion.
On the contrary, it is to waged to protect his right to choose freely.
Therefore, if there is a force in the world that tries to prevent a person from
practicing this right, Jihad may lead to fighting the force that is trying to
prevent him from exercising free will.
But peace cannot prevail except through justice. Since the concept of justice
may differ from one man to another, or from one society to another, Muslims
believe that real justice is that which is specified by Allah (God).
[2:19]