Yes, it is true that Islam prioritizes peace.

The very word “Islam” is derived from the Arabic root s-l-m, which relates to concepts of peace, safety, and submission (to God’s will). Islamic teachings strongly emphasize peace as a core principle for individuals and society. 

(Note: From Wikipedia. In Arabic, Islam (Arabic: إسلام, lit. ‘submission [to God]’) is the verbal noun originating from the verb سلم (salama), from the triliteral root س-ل-م (S-L-M), which forms a large class of words mostly relating to concepts of submission, safeness, and peace. In a religious context, it refers to the total surrender to the will of God. A Muslim (مُسْلِم), the word for a follower of Islam, is the active participle of the same verb form, and means “submitter (to God)” or “one who surrenders (to God)”.)

Core Principles of Peace in Islam

• The Meaning of the Name: 
  • One of God’s ninety-nine names in the Quran is As-Salaam,
    • meaning “The Peace” or “The Source of Serenity”.
    • The ultimate goal for believers is Dar al-Salam, the “Home of Peace,” which is Paradise.
• A Universal Greeting: 
  • Muslims greet one another, and are encouraged to greet others, with “As-salamu alaykum” (Peace be upon you).
• Sanctity of Life: 
  • Islam places immense value on human life, with the Quran stating that
    • “if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people” (Quran 5:32).
    • Unnecessary violence and the killing of non-combatants are strictly prohibited, even during conflict.
• Justice and Forgiveness: 
  • True peace in Islam is intrinsically linked with justice and fairness.
  • Muslims are encouraged to pursue justice and,
  • in instances of conflict, prioritize reconciliation and forgiveness.
  • The Quran instructs believers: “If they incline toward peace, then incline toward it [also] and rely upon Allah” (Quran 8:61).
• Tolerance and Coexistence: 
  • Islamic teachings advocate for peaceful coexistence with people of other faiths, with no compulsion in religion.
  • The Prophet Muhammad established the Constitution of Medina, an early agreement that outlined the rights and obligations for Muslims and non-Muslims, ensuring peace and cooperation. 

While Islam permits defensive action in cases of aggression or severe oppression, it frames war as an exception and emphasizes non-violence and peaceful resolution as the primary approach.

The life of the Prophet Muhammad is cited as an example of prioritizing peace, even in the face of hostility, such as during the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and the peaceful conquest of Mecca. 

Arabic (and by extension Maltese), Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Aramaic have cognate expressions meaning ‘peace be upon you’ used as a greeting:

• Arabic: As-salāmu ʻalaykum (السلام عليكم) is used to greet others and is an Arabic equivalent of ‘hello’. The appropriate response to such a greeting is “and upon you be peace” (wa-ʻalaykum as-salām).
  • Maltese: Sliem għalikom.
• Hebrew: Shālôm ʻalêḵem (שלום עליכם‎) is the equivalent of the Arabic expression, the response being עליכם שלום‎ ʻAlêḵem shālôm, ‘upon you be peace’.

By Epson291 in English Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Salaam.png, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2994150

By self – en: wikipedia, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1111804

Witnesses tell of courage, panic in wake of Bondi beach shootings

AFP

Fruit seller Ahmed Al Ahmed was hailed for disarming one of the attackers after footage showed him sneaking up on a gunman.

SYDNEY:

 A brave few dashed towards Australia’s Bondi Beach as a mass shooting unfolded on Sunday night, wading through fleeing crowds to rescue children, treat the injured and confront the gunmen.

A father-and-son duo opened fire as crowds thronged Australia’s famous surf beach for a yearly Jewish celebration on a balmy summer evening, killing 15 people and wounding dozens more.

Confronting tales of heroism and terror trickled out in the hours following Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in almost 30 years.

Fruit seller Ahmed Al Ahmed, 43, was lauded as the man who disarmed one of the attackers.

Footage showed a t-shirt clad man – later identified as Ahmed by local media – sneaking up on one of the gunmen.

He briefly tussles with the shooter before knocking him to the ground and wresting away the weapon.

“It’s been a very, very brave person, actually, who went and attacked frontally one of the shooters, and saved a lot of lives,” US President Donald Trump said of Ahmed.

Churches, bars and restaurants threw open their doors to shelter the panicked crowds sprinting away from the beach.

Proposal for a Gaza-West Bank Territorial Exchange as a Two-State Solution