Love for one's neighbor as an imperative of Islam's non-violent social mission

Abstract

The article is devoted to understanding the concept of love for one’s neighbor as an imperative of nonviolence in the Islamic tradition, as well as to examining the reasons behind the distorted global perception of Islam caused by the actions of Islamist extremist groups. The objective of the study is to analyze the notion of love for one’s neighbor within the framework of the true deontological values of Islamic doctrine, and to conduct a philosophical and logical analysis of this religion in order to either refute or confirm the significance of nonviolence ethics by exploring the ontological and soteriological primacy of love for one’s neighbor in Islam.

The methodological framework of the study is based on hermeneutic, historical-critical, and philosophical-analytical methods. These approaches enable an objective examination of both the context and the true meaning of Quranic verses that are controversial or difficult to interpret (and are often misused by radical Islamist groups outside theological interpretations), as well as the role and place of love for one’s neighbor as the foundation of the canonical principles of nonviolence within Islamic legal ethics.

Based on an analysis of Islamic teachings, the study results are as such that identify the primacy of love for one’s neighbor within the system of Islamic soteriology. In the Islamic tradition, love for one’s neighbor is not only an ethical norm but also a path to salvation, shaping a nonviolent, peaceful attitude of Muslims toward others — even toward those perceived as «enemies of Islam».

The conclusions include the affirmation that Islam is a religion of peace, justice, and love, and that its distortion by terrorist and radical groups is a consequence of their detachment from the broader context of the Word of Allah and the misuse of religion by politicians and extremist groups to satisfy their own ambitions. Restoring the true meaning of love as a canonical and even soteriological value for Muslims can become one of the leading means for rehabilitating Islam’s positive image in the modern globalized world. Furthermore, love for one’s neighbor may serve as a model for interfaith dialogue in pursuit of a formula for harmonious coexistence among various religious communities on a planetary scale.