Admitadly there are places in the Qur'an that speak of the justification and even the need for violence. But care must be taken that these are not taken out of context. In each case there were very unique circumstances involved. In no place was it ever said that we could fight a physical battle unless we were attacked first.
You will often hear people quote ayyats out of context and use that as "proof" that the Qur'an demands physical, outer Jihad.
There is a reason the outer Jihad is called the lesser jihad. Our own inner battle is the greater Jihad and the important one we each must fight and win.
When people bring these seemingly violent ayyats up to you, ask them to quote the specific ayyat, then show them the full Surat so it can be taken in context.
It's unfortunate, Diede, that Islam was also hijacked along with the jets that crashed into the World Trade Center on 9/11. The western media has not been much help, because it uses the word "islamic" when referring to terrorists, when terrorist activity could never be used to define the nature of islam. Also, the association of "Islam" with the word "violence" or "terrorism" sells more newsapers than if it were to be associated with the words "Peace" or "Knowledge." People don't pay to read about peace, but they will pay to read about pain and suffering. Just ask any newspaper editor.
Terrorism needs to be identified for what it is by the media before the western opinion of Islam as a violent religion changes. Instead of constantly printing the term "islamic militants," they would be more correct in saying, "anti-islamic militants." Nothing could be more fundamentaly contrary to Islam than terrorism.
Although I live in a U.S. community where virtually every religion in the world is accepted, Islam is the only faith still looked upon with suspicion. I could announce that I was a martian, and it would be more accepted of me than if I were to announce that I was a muslim or that I was even an avid reader of the Quran.
The Qur’ân also makes it clear that when the other party refrains from aggression, then it is not permissible to attack them. Allah says: “But if they cease, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression and there prevail justice and faith in Allah. But if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah:192-193]
British forces will "complete their tasks" and leave Iraq by the end of July, Gordon Brown says during a visit to Baghdad.
Obama committed to troops pullout from Iraq www.chinaview.cn 2008-12-04 20:15:19
·U.S. President-elected Obama confirmed his commitment to withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.
·Obama had said that he intends to get the American soldiers in Iraq home within 16 months.