The Encyclical Pacem in Terris and World Peace: A Muslim Perspective

Troubled by the world’s many wars and violent conflicts, Omar Sillah rekindles the thought in Pacem in Terris (the encyclical of one of twentieth century’s short-lived and most influential Catholic Popes) by analyzing and commenting on it from an Islamic perspective, a religion he practices and lives by. Through the book, Sillah insisted on promoting the recipes of peace. Instead of encouraging the philosophy of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) as a deterrent to war in international relations, Sillah proposes and promotes Mutual Assured Coexistence (MAC). While some people are pessimistic about religions’ positive roles and contribution in establishing peace at personal, familial, societal, national and international levels, Sillah is optimistic about positive roles and contributions religions can play in establishing peace at these levels. This book is unique. It is the single Muslim response so far to a Christian Catholic encyclical of such magnitude in the Muslim-Christian dialogue and solidarity towards the realization of world peace on religious and moral values and principles.