Understanding Islam — Page 9
9 IS ISLAM A VIOLENT RELIGION? PERHAPS ONE OF the bluntest allegations against Islam is simply that it is not a religion of peace, along with the assertion that this expression was invented as late as the 1930’s and took off by the 1970’s in the writings of Muslims intended for western audiences. 1 It is also claimed that “it is beyond dispute that the Holy Quran never actually claims that, ‘Islam is the religion of peace,’ - nor do the traditions of Muhammad[ sa ]. ” This allegation is baseless, as the very root of the word Islam connotes peace. The root letters that form the word “Islam” are s ī n-l ā m-m ī m or S-L-M. Lane, 2 a leading Arabic- English lexicon, elucidates its meaning as “submission”, “making secure”, “peace; being at peace with oneself and others” or “paying a price in