Correction DR.RJP !!

Submitted by Another one (Egypt), Feb 26, 2006 at 07:07

fact of the matter is, those contradictions of yours don't make any sense to me !

you assume that "Islam" [ forces others to convert to it under threats of death, forces others to follow its precepts under threats of death, threatens to kill anyone who should say anything negative about it ] ! and yet you say [I have nothing but the greatest respect for Muslims who are not like this]
ok let's examine your interesting point of view in here on a larger scale..

you see that the main aspects of islam is to "threat,kill,blah blah..etc" so those qualities should be the mark of a true muslim since they do obey and follow the basics of that religion.. and now you "respect muslims who aren't like this "how come you call them muslims if they aren't like this, and don't even follow the "killing and threatening theory !" which are the basic corners of islamic beliefs according to your statement !

P.S "you don't say the dark side of Islam because i wont allow you to, you say "the dark ugly deceiving faces represented by "some" of the followers"..then i may believe you.."

Ok enough with the lame talk..i like relating my comments more to facts which actually creates more credibility for the reader,maybe provides him with new information he haven't learned yet ..so in your case "SIT DOWN AND LISTEN" !!

(exerpted from): http://www.islam101.com/dawah/jihad_explained.html

The Qur'an permits fighting to defend the religion of Islam and the Muslims. This permission includes fighting in "self-defense and for the protection of family and property". The early Muslims fought many battles against their enemies under the leadership of the Prophet Muhammad (S) or his representatives. For example, when the pagans of "Quraysh" brought armies against Prophet Muhammad (S), the Muslims fought to defend their faith and community (3). The Qur'an adds:
"Fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight against you, but do not transgress limits. Lo! Allah loves not aggressors. ...And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against transgressors"

"And why should you not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who, being weak, are ill-treated (and oppressed)? - Men, women, and children, whose cry is: 'Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from You, one who will protect; and raise for us from You, one who will help.'" (4:75)

The mission of the Prophet Muhammad (S) was to free people from tyranny and exploitation by oppressive systems. Once free," individuals in the society were then free to chose Islam or not." Prophet Muhammad's (S) successors continued in his footsteps and went to help oppressed people. For example, after the repeated call by the oppressed people of Spain to the Muslims for help, Spain was liberated by Muslim forces and the tyrant rulers removed. After the conquest of Syria and Iraq by the Muslims, the Christian population of Hims reportedly said to the Muslims:
"We like your rule and justice far better than the state of oppression and tyranny under which we have been living." (7)
The defeated rulers of Syria were Roman Christians, and Iraq was ruled by Zoarastrian Persians
In conclusion, jihad in Islam is STRIVING IN THE WAY OF ALLAH by pen, tongue, hand, media and, if inevitable, with arms. However, jihad in Islam does not include striving for individual or national power, dominance, glory, wealth,prestige or pride.

After all that suffering and humiliation that "qurysh" caused to our prophet and the continues hunting for his head..they were defeated at the great battle of "badr". the prophet and this followers returned to mekka again victorious(in the eighth year of the Hijrah -A.D. 630), with ten thousand men. On that memorable day, the Prophet asked the Makkans, 'What do you think I will do to you?' They answered, 'You are a generous brother and the son of a generous brother.'
'Go,' the Prophet rejoined, 'you are freed.'

he didn't kill them though they would if they were in his place "but i doubt that you ever heard of the power of forgiveness that the prophet always followed in his prophetic life and so did his followers after him "

ok another sample from the Medieval source books [ about salah al din]

The Fate of the Native Christians
'Imad al-Din indicates that, after paying their ransom, the native Christians requested Salah al-
Din's permission to remain in their quarters in safety. Salah al-Din granted their request,
provided that they paid the poll tax (jizya). Some members of the Armenian community also
asked to stay in the city and were allowed to do so, provided that they also paid the tax. Many of the poor from both groups were exempted. Rich Christians bought much of the property of the departing Latins, as has been mentioned above. Salah al-Din allowed them to pray freely in their churches, and he handed over control of Christian affairs to the Byzantine patriarch.
'Imad al-Din notes that at first Salah al-Din ordered the closure of the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre. Its future was discussed, and some even advised that it should be demolished in
order to sever completely the attachment of the Christians to Jerusalem. However, a majority of
the Muslims rejected the idea. They argued that demolishing the church would not help, for it
would not prevent Christians from visiting it. According to 'Imad al-Din:

" Those who come to visit it come to worship at the location of the cross and the sepulchre
rather than at the building itself. Christians will never stop making pilgrimages to this location,
even if it has been totally uprooted."

Those who spoke in favour of preserving the Church of the Holy Sepulchre even suggested that
when the Caliph 'Umar conquered Jerusalem, he confirmed the right of Christians to the church
and gave no orders to demolish the building.

ABOUT AL "JIZYA" for who cares to know..
- facts about (jizya) or the tax,it's not an exchange for sparing the life of the non muslims after the Islamic invasion, NO . It's an exchange for not participating at the muslim army in order to defend the country from outside attackers..and a financial obligation placed upon those who do not have to pay the "Zakah" just like the muslims..

also it's important to mention that some people were exempted from paying it such as the poor,the ill or weak who can't work,widows and orphans.. and i rememeber that story of the Caliph"Umer" who was one of Muhammad's favourite companions..When he heard that jewish old man arguing with his soliders,and when he asked him what's wrong with you old man? the man replied "i'm old enough to work,and i can hardly make my own living to pay al Jizya".."Umar then made his announcement to remove al Jyzia
from the "people of the book" who can't pay and make their own living.."then he swore,O'Allah Umer wont sleep in rest knowing there's somone under his rule 's being wronged or starving to death"and he ordered a certain sum of money to be given to those who are worthy of having it from the poor of the christians and jews..

The noted historian Sir Thomas W. Arnold in his Call to Islam, states:
"This tax was not imposed on the Christians, as some would have us think, as a penalty for their refusal to accept the Muslim faith. Rather, it was paid by them in common with the other dhimmis or non-Muslim subjects of the state whose religion precluded them
from serving in the army, in return for the protection secured for them by the arms of the
Muslims. When the people of Hirah contributed the sum agreed upon, they expressly mentioned that they paid this jizyah on condition that ‘the Muslims and their leader protect us from those who would oppress us, whether they be Muslims or others."

The seriousness with which the Muslims took their covenants with the non-Muslims is well
illustrated by the following incident. During the reign of the second caliph, `Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, the Roman emperor Heraclius raised a huge army to repel the Muslim forces. It was thus incumbent upon the Muslims to concentrate their efforts on the battle. When the commander of
Muslims, Abu ‘Ubaydah (may Allah be pleased with him) heard this news, he wrote to his officials in all conquered cities in Syria and ordered them to return the jizyah which had been levied in those cities. He also addressed the public saying; "We are returning your money because we know that the enemy has gathered troops. By the terms stipulated in the covenant, you have obliged us to protect you. However, since we are now unable to fulfill these conditions, we have returned to you what you paid to us. We shall abide by the terms agreed upon in the covenant, if Allah helps us to rout the enemy."

Thus, a huge amount was taken form the state treasury and returned to the Christians, making
them very happy. They prayed for and blessed the Muslim commanders. They exclaimed, "May
Allah help you to overcome your enemies and return you to us safely. If the enemy were in your
place, they would never have returned anything to us, but rather they would have taken all our
remaining property."

The jizyah was also imposed on Muslim men who could afford to buy their way out of military
service. If a Christian group elected to serve in the state's military forces, it was exempted from
the jizyah. Historical examples of this abound: the Jarajima, a Christian tribe living near Antioch
(now in Turkey), by undertaking to support Muslims and to fight on the battle front, did not have
to pay the jizyah and were entitled to a share of the captured booty.
When the Islamic conquests reached northern Persia in 22 A.H., a similar covenant was
established with a tribe living on the boundaries of those territories. They were consequently
exempted from jizyah in view of their military services.
Other examples are to be found during the history of the Ottoman Empire: the Migaris, a group of Albanian Christians, were exempted from the jizyah for undertaking to watch and guard the
mountain ranges of Cithaeron and Geraned (which stretch to the Gulf of Corinth). Christians,
who served as the vanguard of the Turkish army for road repairs, bridge construction and so on
were exempted form the kharaj.

As a reward, they were also provided with some lands, free of all taxes. The Christians of Hydra
were exempted when they agreed to supply a group of 250 strong men for the (Muslim) naval
fleet. The Armatolis, Christians from southern Romania, were also exempted from the tax, for
they constituted a vital element in the Turkish armed forces during the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries. The Mirdites, an Albanian Catholic clan who lived in the mountains of
northern Scutari, were exempted on the condition that they would offer an armored battalion in
wartime. The jizyah was also not imposed on the Greek Christians who had supervised the
building of viaducts, which carried water to Constantinople, nor on those who guarded the
ammunition in that city, as just compensation for their services to the state. However, Egyptian
Muslim peasants exempted from military service was still required to pay the jizyah."

Now "Ahem",you were saying ?

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