Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to say Islam is a peaceful religion in the complete sense of the term. We would not be wrong in saying that Islam is the first religious system in human history that offers a complete ideology of peace. By adopting it, Prophet Muhammad successfully brought about a peaceful revolution in the real sense. The ideology of Islam banishes the notion that there can be anything acceptable about terrorism. Islam is an entirely peaceful religion, and the Islamic method is peaceful. By following the ideology of peace, each individual’s mind can be re-engineered away from the culture of violence and closer to the culture of peace. 

The essence of Islamic teaching on peace is underscored by an incident when Prophet Muhammad returned from the Tabuk campaign in 9 AH. When he reached Madinah with his 30,000 companions, he said to one of them, ‘We have come back from a smaller jihad to a greater jihad.’ (Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, Tarikh Baghdad, Hadith no. 4590)

What did the Prophet mean by ‘a smaller jihad’ and ‘a greater jihad’? 

‘A smaller jihad’ connotes a temporary jihad, and ‘a greater jihad’ connotes a permanent jihad. A permanent jihad is a part of the daily life of a believer. In this world, where man is undergoing a divine test, a believer must lead a principled life, eschewing temptations and provocations and adhering unflagging zeal to Islamic principles. That is why it is called a greater jihad. So far as the more minor jihad is concerned, it is, in fact, another name for defensive war. It takes place infrequently and only as the occasion warrants it. It is not a permanent feature of Islamic life.

Prophet Muhammad was born in AD 570. He received his prophethood on 12 February 610 in Makkah. He died on 8 June 632 in Madinah. Thus, according to the Christian calendar, his prophetic period lasted twenty-two years and three months. In this entire period, only four short battles took place: the Battle of Badr (2 AH), the Battle of Uhud (3 AH), the Battle of Khaybar (7 AH), and the Battle of Hunayn (8 AH). The battles, or skirmishes, lasted only half a day on all these four occasions. That is two days in total. Counting the days of his prophetic period, the total comes to about 8130 days. So, during this long period, the Prophet and his Companions were engaged in a peaceful struggle for 8128 days, and they fought defensive battles for only two days. It would thus be appropriate to say that, in Islam, peace is the rule and war the rare exception.