Peace

It is interesting to note the use of ‘Peace’ in the major religions, as both a greeting and an attribute of God.

In Worship:
There are a few shanti mantras (shanti=peace, mantra=prayer) in Hinduism. Generally they are recited at the beginning and end of religious rituals and discourses. An example is the following:

“May peace radiate there in the whole sky as well as in the vast ethereal space everywhere.
May peace reign all over this earth, in water and in all herbs, trees and creepers.
May peace flow over the whole universe.
May peace be in the Supreme Being Brahman.
And may there always exist in all peace and peace alone.
Om peace, peace and peace to us and all beings!”
(Translation by Swami Abhedananda, Ramakrishna Vedanta Math, India)

Compare this with the Tashahhud recited by Muslims at the end of prayers:

“All blessings are for God. The peace of God be upon you, O Prophet, and His mercy and blessings. Peace be on us and on all righteous servants of God. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. Peace and blessings of God be unto you. (everything on my left and right)”

In Greeting:
The general greeting for Muslims is “Salam Alaikum”, meaning ‘Peace be unto you’, regarded as a greeting of the people of Paradise. The Hebrew equivalent used by Jews is “Shalom Aleichem” with the same meaning. In the Gospels, Jesus often uses the greeting “Peace be unto you” (e.g. Matthew 10:12, John 20:19, John 20:21), a translation of shalom aleichem. The Pauline letters always start with greetings such as

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:7)

which is very similar to the extended form of the Islamic greeting “Peace to you, and the grace of God and His blessings.”

The Hindu greeting “Namaste” has a very similar meaning. Namaste is derived from Sanskrit and is a combination of two words, “Namaḥ” and “te.” Namaḥ means ‘bow,’ ‘obeisance,’ ‘reverential salutation’ or ‘adoration^‘ and te means ‘to you’ (dative case of ‘you’). In fact, the Semitic root S-L-M has also the meaning ‘submission’ or ‘salutation’.

Other:
In the Quran, God repeatedly sends peace to the prophets:

“Peace be on him (John) the day he was born, and the day he dieth and the day he shall be raised alive!” (Quran 19:15)

“Peace be unto Noah among the peoples!” (Quran 37:79)

“Peace be unto Abraham!” (Quran 37:109)

“Peace be unto Moses and Aaron!” (Quran 37:120)

“Peace be unto Elias!” (Quran 37:130)

“And peace be unto those sent (to warn).” (Quran 37:181)

Jesus sends peace upon himself:

“Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive!” (Quran 19:33)

The three guests of Abraham:

“When they came in unto him and said: Peace! he answered, Peace!” (Quran 51:25)

In Paradise:

“There hear they no vain speaking nor recrimination, but the saying: Peace, Peace.” (Quran 56:25-26)

A word from God:

“Peace: a word from a Merciful Lord.” (Quran 36:58)

The Talmud says that the name of God is ‘Peace’ (Pereq ha-Shalom, Shab. 10b), as does the Quran (59:23).

So much peace the religions are offering us! Yet people keep fighting over whose religion is better.