Islam is a religion of Peace

Submitted by The Scholar (United States), Nov 9, 2005 at 13:18

I am responding to the person who claimed to have studied the Quran and the Sira and still believes that Islam is a religion of violence. I will only show one example of the way he quoted the Quran:

"Kill disbelievers wherever you find them"

But he failed to quote the whole section that says:

[2:190-192] "And fight in the cause of Allah with those who fight with you, and do not exceed the limits, surely Allah does not love those who exceed the limits. And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from where they drove you out, and persecution is severer than slaughter, and do not fight with them at the Sacred Mosque (in Makkah) until they fight with you in it, but if they do fight you, then slay them; such is the reward of the unbelievers. But if they desist, then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. And fight with them until there is no persecution, and religion should be only for Allah, but if they desist, then there should be no hostility except against the oppressors."


Let me also share with you the following verses:

[17:33] "Nor take life - which Allah has made sacred - except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, we have given his heir authority (to demand retaliation or to forgive): but let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life, for he is helped (by the Law)."

[22:39] "Permission (to fight) is given to those upon whom war is made because they are oppressed, and most surely Allah is well able to assist them."

[42:40-43] "The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah: for (Allah) loves not those who do wrong. But indeed if any do help and defend themselves after a wrong (done) to them, against such there is no cause of blame. The blame is only against those who oppress men and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land, defying right and justice: for such there will be a grievous penalty. And whoever is patient and forgiving, these most surely are actions due to courage."

It is also weird that after reading the Sira, he concluded that Islam is a violent religion while after reading it, Mahatma Gandhi (I hope everybody knows who he is) said (in a statement published in 'Young India,'1924.):

"I wanted to know the best of the life of one who holds today an undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind.... I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the second volume (of the Prophet's biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of that great life."

Also, please check what Sir George Bernard Shaw (you all know who is he, right?) wrote in 'The Genuine Islam,' Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936: "If any religion had the chance of ruling over England, nay Europe within the next hundred years, it could be Islam." "I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him - the wonderful man and in my opinion for from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Savior of Humanity." "I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness."

I advise that person to try to read the Quran again and this time, he should try to read about the historical facts behind the verses, and maybe this time he will realize that God was actually instructing Prophet Mohamed to act in a certain manner at a certain time. Reference to the unbelievers for example in many verses meant the unbelievers who were fighting him and does not simply relate to every unbeliever.

He should do some research in history so you know that it is not the followers of Islam who killed millions in: Rwanda, World War one, World War two, Russian Civil war, South American civil wars, Spanish Inquisition, conquest of South America,....etc. I guess people like him have probably found a way to blame these atrocities on Islam too, right?

I guess the main difference is that Islam tolerates other religions (please read some history) and so does not judge the religion by the actions of its followers...

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".