<p class="MsoNormal">The root word for Islam” is “salam.”<span style=""> </span>Islam means to submit, obey, have peace and give peace to others.<span style=""> </span>All these meanings are hidden in the word, Islam.<span style=""> </span>Allah Ta’ala has selected only “Islam” as the name of our religion.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Truly, Islam is the only Din (Religion) in Allah’s sight.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Surah Aale Imran(3:9)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is given in Surah Maida (5:8)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">And let not (even) the extreme hostility against a people provoke you into abstaining from justice (in their case). Always do justice, (for) it is akin to piousness.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">This religion is of peace and the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is the Prophet of Mercy.<span style=""> </span>His teachings are the teachings of peace, brotherhood, humanity and dignity.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The foremost Auliya of the Ummah are the Sahabah.<span style=""> </span>No saint can reach the status of a Sahabi.<span style=""> </span>Their efforts to spread peace and security in the world are a shining example for the whole Ummah.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Returning tax</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hadhrat Abu Ubaidah Bin Jarrah was the commander of the army at Hims(a city).<span style=""> </span>The Muslims were in such a situation that they had to withdraw their army from the city and move to another place.<span style=""> </span>For this reason, Hadhrat Abu Ubaidah (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with him) called all the Christian and Jew inhabitants of the city and told them: Jizyah (a tax) was taken from you in lieu of the protection and safety of your lives and property by the Islamic army.<span style=""> </span>Now, as the army has to move out of the city, the Jizyah taken from you is being returned.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thus, all the money taken from the non-Muslims was returned to them.<span style=""> </span>When the saw the Muslims leaving, they cried out and said: May Allah (<i style="">Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala</i>) bring you back.<span style=""> </span>The Romans would not have returned even a dime.<span style=""> </span>The Jews took up a fort with the intention that if the army of Caesar comes, they themselves would fight it.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Vacating lands won in war</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the same way, in the era of Hadhrat Umar Bin Abdul ‘Aziz (May Allah Ta’ala shower His mercy on him), some non-Muslims said that 15 years ago, when the Muslims attacked Samarqand, Iraq, they had not given prior notice of their coming.<span style=""> </span>To judge this case, Hadhrat Umar Bin Abdul ‘Aziz (May Allah Ta’ala shower His mercy on him) appointed a special judge and ordered investigation into this matter.<span style=""> </span>After the investigation, it came to light that in reality, the non-Muslims had not been informed beforehand and they were attacked when they were not prepared for it.<span style=""> </span>Thus, Hadhrat Umar Bin Abdul ‘Aziz (May Allah Ta’ala shower His mercy on him) ordered that all the war booty and properties, which was received from Iraq should be returned, give over this area of Iraq to them and vacate the land.<span style=""> </span>On this, the non-Muslims said that they had filed this complaint just like that.<span style=""> </span>They also requested that the Muslims should not leave these areas, as they want to live in peace and justice under them.<span style=""> </span>After this, gradually the people of Samarqand started embracing Islam and time came that not one person of Samarqand remained a non-Muslim.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Auliya not only follow the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Hadith, but due to their efforts and their blessed attention (<i style="">Tawajjuh</i>), the common people also start following the teachings of Islam.<span style=""> </span>The desire to perform good deeds develops and progresses by virtue of their company and listening/reading to their lives.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Forgiving those who come to murder</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Once a hard hearted non-Muslim hid a dagger on his person came to martyr Hadhrat Khwaja Ghareeb Nawaz (May Allah Ta’ala shower His mercy on him) and sat before him.<span style=""> </span>With his divine foresight, the Khwaja learned his intention and told him: Why don’t you use your dagger.<span style=""> </span>I offer my head for this.<span style=""> </span>On hearing this, he started trembling.<span style=""> </span>He threw away his dagger and fell at the Khwaja’s feet.<span style=""> </span>After this, he repented and embraced Islam.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Providing protection for those who hurt</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the era of Hadhrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya (May Allah Ta’ala shower His mercy on him), non-Muslim lady went to draw water from a well near the river Jamuna.<span style=""> </span>Hadhrat Nizamuddin Auliya (May Allah Ta’ala shower His mercy on him) sent a disciple to find out why the lady was drawing the salty water of the well leaving the sweet water of the river Jamuna.<span style=""> </span>The lady said: There is no set arrangement for our needs.<span style=""> </span>The sweet water of Jamuna digests the food very easily.<span style=""> </span>I am taking this salty water so that the food is not digested as easily and there is less need of food.<span style=""> </span>On this, Hadhrat Nizamuddin Auliya (May Allah Ta’ala shower His mercy on him) said: If Allah Ta’ala asks me in Qiyamah: O Nizamuddin! There was a house in your area who were starving.<span style=""> </span>Why didn’t you take care of them? What answer will I give?<span style=""> </span>Tell this lady that she can take her monthly expenses from our Khanqah.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Once a person entered the room of Hadhrat Naseer Chiraag Dehlvi (May Allah Ta’ala shower His mercy on him) and attacked him with a knife to the point that his fingers started bleeding and the blood started seeping out of the room.<span style=""> </span>On seeing this, his disciples entered the room.<span style=""> </span>Some of them were also injured. <span style=""> </span>At last, that person was overpowered.<span style=""> </span>Soldiers arrested him.<span style=""> </span>Hadhrat Naseer (May Allah Ta’ala shower His mercy on him) said: That person has hurt me.<span style=""> </span>On my part, I forgive that.<span style=""> </span>I hope that my disciples will also forgive that.<span style=""> </span>The disciples started saying: We also forgive it.<span style=""> </span>Then Hadhrat Naseer (May Allah Ta’ala shower His mercy on him) told the government officials: I and my disciples have foregone our right, so as per the Shariah, there is no punishment for that person and as such, he should be released.<span style=""> </span>The government ordered his release.<span style=""> </span>Hadhrat Naseer (May Allah Ta’ala shower His mercy on him) saw that people’s hearts were still full of anger for him, so he demanded that the government assign 50 soldiers for his protection.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Auliya made such efforts for maintaining peace and security in the society that they not only forgave the offender, but demanded their release.<span style=""> </span>Not only this, when they felt that the life of that offender was in danger, the demanded protection and security for the person who tries to kill them.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">If we look closely into the teachings and writings of the Auliya, we will find thousands of incidents like these, in which the Auliya shared the sorrow of the lay people, the needy, etc. and serve d them to please Allah Ta’ala.<span style=""> </span>These blessed souls made successful efforts to spread peace in the society and even today, the shrines of the saints and the programs, activities which happen there promote peace.<span style=""> </span></p>