Is Islam a violent religion?

[Dawud_uk]

As I stated, intentional attacks on non-combatants is the most easily defined as terrorism. Attacks against soldiers by car bombs, while not traditional combat, can be labeled a guerilla tactic. The U.S. calls these attacks "terrorist" attacks primarily because of the tactic. It is frustrating to face an enemy who seldom stands and fights but uses suicide bombs and IED devices. That frustration comes out as labeling them "terrorist attacks". However, in the world beyond political rhetoric, terrorism is easily defined.

keltoi,

so you would condemn the bombings of civilian areas by US and UK planes then? some of these attacks have almost reached the level of carpet bombing such as that in fallujah.

Abu Abdullah

 

[snakelegs]

i voted yes and no because there are specific cases in which the qur'an clearly calls for violence againt non-believers, but basically it is not a violent religion.

 

[Snowflake]

i voted yes and no because there are specific cases in which the qur'an clearly calls for violence againt non-believers, but basically it is not a violent religion.

What is the difference between any country fighting to defend their country against invaders and muslims fighting to defend their land and right to practice their religion? None.

The Quran does not call for violence but for self-defence.

 

[snakelegs]

What is the difference between any country fighting to defend their country against invaders and muslims fighting to defend their land and right to practice their religion? None.

The Quran does not call for violence but for self-defence.

i am on weak ground here. the qur'an does call on the believers to fight and conquer the disbelievers, doesn't it? and innitially, wasn't islam spread by the sword and this was considered ok? please note, i said specific cases.
i know islam encourages self defense, and i agree with this stance completely.

 

[Saif4U]

well... we muslims should not be on the defence all the time trying to please other people by ignoring part of our DEEN.. ISLAM is Peace but at the same time we are told to use force when muslims or Islam is being surpressed and we as muslims should be proud of that. because our BELOVED Prophet took part in 27 Battles himself.. that is a daleel in itself. Today we have a problem those that preach Peace are ignoring the JIhad part of Faith and those that get too excited with Jihad show NO peacefull side of Islam.. we should have a right balance.

 

[Nσσя'υℓ Jαииαн]

Islam was spread by the sword and the sword was the Prophet Muhammad(saw), SubhanAllah. It was spread by his(saw) righteous character. The only time the sword was ever picked up was in self defense. This isnt the crusades.

 

[snakelegs]

Islam was spread by the sword and the sword was the Prophet Muhammad(saw), SubhanAllah. It was spread by his(saw) righteous character.

not even in its early days? if that's true, then obviously, i was wrong. (not a first, by any means)

 

[Nσσя'υℓ Jαииαн]

Saying it was spread by the sword is saying it went through with force, which is incorrect. In the early days, the Prophet(saw) called the people together to the worshp of One True God. Slowly did he(saw) gather followers. People started to consider him(saw) to be a threat. Everyone knew him(saw) to be truthful and kind in every aspect of life. But only in this one incident, many people turned away because they refused to leave their idolatrous and barbaric lifestyle. Many of his people that came to Islam were harrassed and forced to leave their homes.

 

[ehmad]

Actually Bro "Islam" means submission it's derived from "Peace" , but the accurate translation of the word is submission.

Jazakallah kahir brother.. Indeed you are right but in that context, I quoted a verse from Surah yonus, and hence I was refering to that particular verse. when you read the arabic script in which Allah Sub'hanahu wa ta'alah says:

wa laahu yad 'o ila daaris Salam wa yahdi mai yashaa'o ila siratim mustaqeem.
And Allah summoneth to the abode of peace, and leadeth whom he will to a straight path. (10:25)

Here brother, the term abode of peace stands for ISLAM, and hence I quoted the Verse.

Jazakullahu khair, and I am sorry if I have offended you in anyway, my intention was just to clarify myself afterall we are here to learn from each other.

 

[Malaikah]

not even in its early days? if that's true, then obviously, i was wrong. (not a first, by any means)

You seem to be confused, the early days is when most of the self-defence happened!

Well it depends on what you mean by early days. The first ten years involved no war, the Muslims were too weak and they were basically oppressed and tortured by the rulers of the area they lived in.

After that wars began in self-defence, first against the people who oppressed the Muslims and who continued to oppress some Muslims, and then in defense of many, many tribes who tried to invade and take over the Muslims, and because of broken treaties (broken by the non-Muslims). Some of the wars that were not in self-defence involved those were the rulers of certain tribes refused to negotiate with the Muslims and therefore did not all the people of those tribes to hear and learn about Islam, so they fought against them to and conquered them.

 

[Snowflake]

i am on weak ground here. the qur'an does call on the believers to fight and conquer the disbelievers, doesn't it? and innitially, wasn't islam spread by the sword and this was considered ok? please note, i said specific cases.
i know islam encourages self defense, and i agree with this stance completely.

No problem, we are all learning inshaAllah.

Jihad is more of defensive reaction rather than an offensive action. Prophet Muhammed was only given permission to not abide by worthless peace treaties when they were repeatedly violated by disbelievers. Even then muslims were commanded by Allah to give protection to those who seeked it.

And if anyone of the polytheists seeks your protection [O Muhammad!], then protect him so that he may hear the Word of Allah, and escort him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who know not (9.6). How can there be a treaty with Allah and with His Messenger for the polytheists, save those with whom you [O you who believe!] made a treaty with at the al-Haram mosque? So long as they are true to you, be true to them. Surely Allah loves the dutiful (9.7).

The first verse proves that Islam does not see the disbeliever as an enemy. The second verse tells muslims to honour their peace treaties with the disbelievers as long as the latter honoured them.


Even after the death of the Prophet (PBUH) when many tribes apostated from Islam, the muslims only demand was that the disbelievers who lived in islamic states continue to pay tax (jizyah) in return for protection - as agreed in the Prophet's lifetime.

Jizya was levied from those who did not wish to accept Islam. Again this proves that disbelievers were not coerced to accept islam. War was declared by muslims when it was evident that disbelievers were motivated in opposition against muslims. It was then that they were given a choice of accepting Islam or paying jizyah. The refusal of both meant war.


"Therefore if they withdraw from you but fight you not, and (instead) send you (Guarantees of) peace, then Allah Hath opened no way for you (to war against them)."(4:90)

I can post vast amounts of Quranic text that proves that on no account are muslims told to spread islam by violence. But I will leave with one verse which more or less sums up everything in a nutshell. Then how could Islam possibly have been spread by sword?

"There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has become clearly distinct from error" ( 2: 256)


peace

P.S. Pleaze correct me if I've said anything wrong. I am only just learning Islamic history and haven't grasped the concept of sharing what I've learnt very well. I may have misunderstood something myself. Correct me nicely if you have to.

 

[snakelegs]

islam spread so fast - before long, it covered a huge expanse of land. none of this was by simple conquest of the sword? it was all self-defence? it was spread by persuasion?

 

[Malaikah]

What do you mean? Islamic rule was spread by the sword in some cases yes, i.e. in cases were there was hostility against the Muslims. But no one was ever forced to become a Muslim by the sword.

 

[naz87]

the hindus in india were forced to become by the sword, but the mughal rulers who did that were corrupt.

 

[snakelegs]

yes, maybe i just failed to distinguish the religious from the political.
if so, i would like to change my vote from "yes and no" to "no".
i do not think basically that islam is a violent religion, but i thought that on specific occaisions, it sanctioned violence in order to spread the religion (as did the jews in the early days if you read the bible), notwithdstanding "there is no compulsion in religion".
i still have a lot to learn.

 

[snakelegs]

the hindus in india were forced to become by the sword, but the mughal rulers who did that were corrupt.

yes, many have been killed in the name of religion - even when the religion clearly condemns it. look at christianity.

 

[Muslim Woman]

salaam/peace;

i voted yes and no because there are specific cases in which the qur'an clearly calls for violence againt non-believers, but basically it is not a violent religion.

---which verse u r referring to ?


As i mentioned earlier , God commands Muslims to ' escort ' enemies .....what do u think of this verse ?

Prophet Muhammed (p ) after conquering the holy Macca , forgave his enemies including the killer of his daughter , the lady who ate the liver of his dear uncle & others except few ( maximum 13 or 14 ) war criminals. He did not take any personal revenge but punish only few murderers.


He had 10, 000 armed soldiers with him .....he could easily killed all his enemies & destroyed them totally including cattles as we find such command in other holy book......but he did not.


He said what Prophet Josehp/ Yusuf (p) told : You are my brothers.

U may listen / watch a nice music video of our revert bro Yusuf Islam ( ex Cat Stevens ).

Life of the Last Prophet (p)
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/sunnah

htpp://www.mountainoflight.com

http://www.mp3.com/albums/176991/summary.html?from=141272

If u think Islam was spread by swords , well why non-Muslms are embracing Islam now ? Who is forcing them with swords ?


Turning Muslim in Texas .

George W Bush may be backed by Christian fundamentalists but in his home state of Texas, Islam is the latest big draw.


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9184353144432289069
Islam Youngest Muslim Reverts in The World. Children in England Turn To Islam
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6872731311255429137

Light upon light


http://www.lightuponlight.com/islam...nloads&d_op=viewdownload&cid=61&orderby=dateD

 

[snakelegs]

salaam/peace;





---which verse u r referring to ?


As i mentioned earlier , God commands Muslims to ' escort ' enemies .....what do u think of this verse ?

Prophet Muhammed (p ) after conquering the holy Macca , forgave his enemies including the killer of his daughter , the lady who ate the liver of his dear uncle & others except few ( maximum 13 or 14 ) war criminals. He did not take any personal revenge but punish only few murderers.


He had 10, 000 armed soldiers with him .....he could easily killed all his enemies & destroyed them totally including cattles as we find such command in other holy book......but he did not.


He said what Prophet Josehp/ Yusuf (p) told : You are my brothers.

U may listen / watch a nice music video of our revert bro Yusuf Islam ( ex Cat Stevens ).

Life of the Last Prophet (p)
http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/sunnah

htpp://www.mountainoflight.com

http://www.mp3.com/albums/176991/summary.html?from=141272

If u think Islam was spread by swords , well why non-Muslms are embracing Islam now ? Who is forcing them with swords ?


Turning Muslim in Texas .

George W Bush may be backed by Christian fundamentalists but in his home state of Texas, Islam is the latest big draw.


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9184353144432289069
Islam Youngest Muslim Reverts in The World. Children in England Turn To Islam
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6872731311255429137

Light upon light


http://www.lightuponlight.com/islam...nloads&d_op=viewdownload&cid=61&orderby=dateD

hi,
i admitted that i am on weak ground here, so i am not referring to any particular verse. i know islam condemns killing of innocents. but i thought in its early years, it had been spread by the sword. i have been corrected. obviously, i need to do some research. like read the qur'an that is sitting on my shelf!
can't do mp3's - dialup.

 

[snakelegs]

just remembered reading on islam qa about islam being spread by the sword
http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=5441&ln=eng
5441

Was Islam spread by the sword?

Question:
Some enemies of the religion claim that Islam was spread by the sword. What is your response to that?

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

Islam was spread by proof and evidence, in the case of those who listened to the message and responded to it. And it was spread by strength and the sword in the case of those who stubbornly resisted, until they had no choice and had to submit to the new reality.

And Allaah is the source of strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions, and grant them peace.

 

[Nσσя'υℓ Jαииαн]

Q.How can Islam be called the religion of peace when it was spread by the sword? ?

A.It is a common complaint among some non-Muslims that Islam would not have millions of adherents all over the world, if it had not been spread by the use of force. The following points will make it clear, that far from being spread by the sword, it was the inherent force of truth, reason and logic that was responsible for the rapid spread of Islam.

1. Islam means peace. Islam comes from the root word ‘salaam’, which means peace.It also means submitting one’s will to Allah (swt). Thus Islam is a religion of peace, which is acquired by submitting one’s will to the will of the Supreme Creator, Allah (swt).

2. Sometimes force has to be used to maintain peace. Each and every human being in this world is not in favour of maintaining peace and harmony. There are many, who would disrupt it for their own vested interests. Sometimes force has to be used to maintain peace. It is precisely for this reason that we have the police who use force against criminals and anti-social elements to maintain peace in the country. Islam promotes peace. At the same time, Islam exhorts it followers to fight where there is oppression. The fight against oppression may, at times, require the use of force. In Islam force can only be used to promote peace and justice.

3. Opinion of historian De Lacy O’Leary. The best reply to the misconception that Islam was spread by the sword is given by the noted historian De Lacy O’Leary in the book "Islam at the cross road" (Page 8): "History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myth that historians have ever repeated."

4. Muslims ruled Spain for 800 years. Muslims ruled Spain for about 800 years. The Muslims in Spain never used the sword to force the people to convert. Later the Christian Crusaders came to Spain and wiped out the Muslims. There was not a single Muslim in Spain who could openly give the adhan, that is the call for prayers.

5. 14 million Arabs are Coptic Christians. Muslims were the lords of Arabia for 1400 years. For a few years the British ruled, and for a few years the French ruled. Overall, the Muslims ruled Arabia for 1400 years. Yet today, there are 14 million Arabs who are Coptic Christians i.e. Christians since generations. If the Muslims had used the sword there would not have been a single Arab who would have remained a Christian.

6. More than 80% non-Muslims in India. The Muslims ruled India for about a thousand years. If they wanted, they had the power of converting each and every non-Muslim of India to Islam. Today more than 80% of the population of India are non-Muslims. All these non-Muslim Indians are bearing witness today that Islam was not spread by the sword.

7. Indonesia and Malaysia. Indonesia is a country that has the maximum number of Muslims in the world. The majority of people in Malaysia are Muslims. May one ask, "Which Muslim army went to Indonesia and Malaysia?"

8. East Coast of Africa. Similarly, Islam has spread rapidly on the East Coast of Africa. One may again ask, if Islam was spread by the sword, "Which Muslim army went to the East Coast of Africa?"

9. Thomas Carlyle. The famous historian, Thomas Carlyle, in his book "Heroes and Hero worship", refers to this misconception about the spread of Islam: "The sword indeed, but where will you get your sword? Every new opinion, at its starting is precisely in a minority of one. In one man’s head alone. There it dwells as yet. One man alone of the whole world believes it, there is one man against all men. That he takes a sword and try to propagate with that, will do little for him. You must get your sword! On the whole, a thing will propagate itself as it can."

10. No compulsion in religion. With which sword was Islam spread? Even if Muslims had it they could not use it to spread Islam because the Qur’an says in the following verse: "Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error" [Al-Qur’an 2:256] 11. Sword of the Intellect. It is the sword of intellect. The sword that conquers the hearts and minds of people. The Qur’an says in Surah Nahl, chapter 16 verse 125: "Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious." [Al-Qur’an 16:125]

12. Increase in the world religions from 1934 to 1984. An article in Reader’s Digest ‘Almanac’, year book 1986, gave the statistics of the increase of percentage of the major religions of the world in half a century from 1934 to 1984. This article also appeared in ‘The Plain Truth’ magazine. At the top was Islam, which increased by 235%, and Christianity had increased only by 47%. May one ask, which war took place in this century which converted millions of people to Islam?

13. Islam is the fastest growing religion in America and Europe. Today the fastest growing religion in America is Islam. The fastest growing religion in Europe in Islam. Which sword is forcing people in the West to accept Islam in such large numbers?

14. Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson. Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson rightly says, "People who worry that nuclear weaponry will one day fall in the hands of the Arabs, fail to realize that the Islamic bomb has been dropped already, it fell the day MUHAMMED (pbuh) was born".

http://johnw.host.sk/faq/qfour.htm