True Religiosity

In today’s world, many leaders who identify themselves as “religious” draw attention with their rhetoric and actions. Sadly, we often witness warmongering, glorification of violence, marginalization, and anti-democratic practices. Yet I firmly believe that a truly religious person would never walk that path. True religiosity is nourished not by war and destruction, but by peace, prosperity, and human dignity.

The Place of Peace in All Abrahamic Religions

Anyone who claims to be devout should look back at the message of peace and brotherhood at the core of their faith. The Holy Scriptures — the Qur’an, the Bible, and the Torah — all call humanity toward goodness, unity, and justice.

Peace in Islam:
The Qur’an promotes peace and harmony. Surah Al-Baqarah 2:208 invites believers to “enter into peace, all of you,” while Al-Anfal 8:61 opens the door to reconciliation: “If they incline to peace, then incline to it also.” Likewise, Al-Hujurat 49:10 emphasizes unity: “The believers are but brothers; so make peace between your brothers.”
Peace in Christianity:
The Bible clearly expresses the importance of peace and reconciliation. In Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God,” elevates peace as a virtue. Romans 12:18 urges believers to “live at peace with everyone, as far as it depends on you.”
Peace in Judaism:
Although direct references to peace in the Torah are rare, the core moral principles of Judaism support a peaceful stance. The commandment “Love your neighbor as yourself” instructs compassion and respect for all people. This universal love forms the foundation for living harmoniously with those of different faiths.

Who Is Truly Religious?

Despite these universal messages at the heart of every faith, if someone preaches war, defends violence, or divides people by religion, race, or nationality, they cannot truly be called “religious.” Such actions contradict the essence of faith itself.

A genuinely devout person, regardless of their religion:

Avoids violence and inflammatory speech.
Works not only for their own community’s welfare but for the peace and happiness of all humanity.
Embraces diversity, unites people, and acts with justice.
And if one strays from these core principles — even while calling themselves religious — they have betrayed their own faith.

Remember: A leader’s foremost duty is to secure the happiness and peace of their people, and indeed of the entire world. Violence and war are the exact opposites of that mission. War brings destruction; true faith uplifts peace, brotherhood, compassion, and human dignity. Therefore, a truly religious person can never speak or act outside the path of peace.