Page 127 - Demo

123That “shālōm” and the Syriac “shlāmā,” as well as the Arabic “salām” and “Islam,” are of one and the same Semitic root, “shālām,” and mean the same thing, is an admitted truth by all the scholars of the Semitic languages. The verb “shālām” signifies “to submit,resign oneselfto,” and then “to make peace;” and consequently “to be safe, sound, and tranquil.” No religioussystem in the world has ever been qualified with a better andmore comprehensive, dignified, and sublime name than that of “Islam.” The true Religion of the True God cannot be named after the name of any of His servants, and much less after the name of a people or country. It is, indeed, this sanctity and the inviolability of the word “Islam” that strikes its enemies with awe, fear, and reverence even when the Muslims are weak and unhappy. It is the name and title of a religion that teaches and commands an absolute submission and resignation of will and self to the Supreme Being, and then to obtain peace and tranquillity in mind and at home, no matter what tribulations or passing misfortunes may threaten us that fills its opponents with awe. [1] It is the firm and unshaking belief in the Oneness of Allah and the unswerving confidence in His mercy and justice that makes a Muslim distinguishable and prominent among non-Muslims. And it is this sound faith in Allah and the sincere attachment to His Holy Quran and theApostle that theChristianmissionaries have been desperately attacking and have hopelessly failed. Hence, Jeremiah’s wordsthat “the Prophet who prophesies, namely, who preaches and speaks concerning the affairs of Islam as his religion, he[1] It is interesting and significant to note how the observations of the learned professor coincide with those of the ex-Kaiser of Germany who, on the occasion of his seventieth birthday celebrations at Doorn, Holland, was reported to have said in his speech: “And understand this - if ever the Muhammadans should conceive the idea that it is Allah’s command to bring order into a declining West and subjugate to His will, then -with faith in God- they will come upon the godless Europeans like a tidal wave, against which even the reddest Bolshevist, full of eagerness for combat, will be helpless.” (Evening Standard, London, January 26, 1929.). (The author).