This article first appeared with Independent Journal.
Words for ‘peace’ in European languages imply the absence of war, and freedom from disturbance. It is no coincidence that the German words Friede‘peace’ and frei ‘free’ sound similar, because they come from the same root.
The word Islam is based upon a military metaphor. Derived from aslama‘surrender’ its primary meaning is to make oneself safe (salama) through surrender. In its original meaning, a muslim was someone who surrendered in warfare.