SALĀM, SALUTE AND THE UNDERLYING MILITARY LINK

SALĀM, SALUTE AND THE UNDERLYING MILITARY LINK 

It is interesting to see military men throughout the world giving the salute and Muslims also in somewhat a like manner giving the salām. Very strange military resemblance. Of course one must find out the source of the salām and the salute in historical terms to understand the significance of the link better. But one thing is certain that Islam has a strong military component to it as is illustrated by its history since inception when jihād began to be staged routinely after the Hijrah and has never stopped ever since, being a divine mandate in all its dimensions, not the least of which is both defensive and offensive war. Thus, the salām resembling the military salute is so revealing as to the real nature of Islam despite the word's linguistic peaceful connotation. 

Written by Sugata Bose