Islam means "peace" really?

Submitted by Lactantius Jr. (United Kingdom), Sep 22, 2006 at 08:31

In response to Mahmoud Hayat, first off I question your assertion Mahmoud, that "Islam" means "peace." Not being an Arabic speaker, I can't be absolutely firm about this, but I understand that "salaam" is Arabic for peace, whilst "Islam" means "submission" or rather "submission to the will of Allah," which is it Mahmoud?

Christianity and Islam are very similar aren't they, only differing in such details as the nature and character of God, the nature and character of human beings, sin, salvation, heaven and hell, they don't differ much really do they? with the greatest and most important difference being, that the God revealed in the printed words of the Bible, and supremely revealed in the living, loving Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Qur'anic god are not the same.

You say Mahmoud that:- "...Islam is a Religion of peace, not hatred and war like many people think." Really, you contradict your prophet, your Qur'an and Islam's most authoritative documents, for example:- (Muhammad said) "I have been made victorious with terror" (Sahi Bukhari V4B52N220) "I shall terrorise the infidels. So wound their bodies and incapacitate them, because they oppose Allah and his apostle." (Qur'an 8:12) (Muhammad said) "Killing unbelievers is a small matter to us" ( at-Tabari IX:69) (Muhammad said) "Paradise lies under the shade of swords" (Sahi Bukhari V4B5N73) "The believers fight in Allah's cause, they slay and are slain, kill and are killed" (Qur'an 9:111) "Muhammad said, ‘You are commanded to carry out jihad against the unbelieving infidels until they submit to Islam' " (Qur'an 47:4) "But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful." (Qur'an 9:5) With the Qur'an saying of Muhammad:- "Ye have indeed in the Apostle of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of Allah." Surah 33:21 (Abdullah Yusuf Ali) "And verily, you (O Muhammad SAW) are on an exalted standard of character." Surah 68:4 (Hilali-Khan) with Muhammad speaking the following words during his last sermon on 7th.March 632 AD in Mecca:- "I am leaving you with the Book of Allah (the QUR'AN), and my SUNNAH (the life style and the behavioural mode of the Prophet), if you follow them you will never go astray."

This may all be very hurtful to you Mahmoud, and I apologise for the hurt caused you in reading what your prophet and your book say about violence and killing, but please don't blame me, I didn't write it.

Lactantius Jr.

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