OFFSTONE JAN EDITION 2026

57 ISLAM AND THE PURSUIT OF PEACE: PEACE-BUILDING ETHICS AND GLOBAL COMMUNICATION IN A CONNECTED WORLD By: Dr. Eizan Azira Binti Mat Sharif eizansharif@usim.edu.my The writer is a lecturer in the New Media Communications Programme at the Faculty of Leadership and Management, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). Her research interests encompass communication technology, gamification, advertising, social media, media studies, and neuroscience. Her research explores the integration of digital technologies in communication, with particular emphasis on media engagement, digital advertising strategies, and evolving communication behaviour in the digital era. ABSTRACT This article considers the ethical foundations of peace-building in Islam and their relevance to a global environment. It emphasises Islamic values of justice, forgiveness, and mercy and examines how global communication processes shape perceptions of Islam. Dialogue and responsible communication, as essential instruments for promoting peace and understanding between nations worldwide, are also highlighted. Introduction As the world grows more interconnected yet polarised, the role of religion in peace-building in the global context is a pressing question. In this context, Islam is a world religion with more than one billion followers across many cultures worldwide. Rather than an undifferentiated whole, Islam comprises abundant resources for ethics, spirituality, and social relations that can contribute positively to peace-building and to mutual respect in global communication.