Assalamualykum everyone. I am brand new to these forums, as I questions regarding the Islam and I require help. Hopefully I can increase my knowledge and become closer to Allah by joining these forums. I am a brother from Canada, and from my personal experience it is very hard coming up as a Muslim here. There are so many bad influences every single day that I need to over-come and Alhamdulillah so far I am okay. Also, in Canada, there is a LOT of atheists and Christians especially in my school (I am 15 years old). Whenever I read anything online or hear things about Islam in real-life, I always, always hear things about Islam teaching violence. I always see these posts about ISIS saying dua'a and then killing people and all this non-sense. I refuse to believe it, because I know it's not true. On the Internet I read people quoting the Quran verses and they attack Islam viciously naudhubillah saying that we're a death cult and things. Well, I don't know how to answer or rebut these people. I am unknowledged and I see guidance on how to deal with this. I would also appreciate if you can help me understand that indeed Islam does not teach violence. JazakAllah.
wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatullah.
As you know that Muhammad salla Allaho alaihi wa sallam was the final Prophet of Islam, He was the first to act upon the Holy Quraan. You must know about His response to the enemies. He salla Allaho alaihi wa sallam did preaching in secret for 3 years when he used to invite to the Faith of Oneness of God Allah only close friends and relatives. After 3 years He started preaching openly. He only told the idolaters to worship only one God Allah and that mankind is responsible for their Faith and deeds, that there is life after death in which every person shall be accounted and rewarded or punished according to his/her Faith and deeds. He advised them NOT to kill their innocent newborn daughters. He also advised not to attack eachother tribes killing them and kidnapping their girls. In short the Arab people were in terrible darkness attacking each other and burying alive their own newborn daughters, and they used to worship their hand-made idols. The Prophet salla Allaho alaihi wa sallam invited them to the light of Islam but they became His enemies. They started beating and torturing the new Muslims. For 12 and a-half years the Prophet salla Allaho alaihi wa sallam and His companions were patient. The idolaters killed some of the Muslim slaves. The first Muslim woman was a slave of Abu Jahal, she got killed by Abu Jahl and became the first martyr of this Ummah. Finally they made plans to kill Muhammad salla Allaho alaihi wa sallam just because He preached Islam. By that time people had accepted Islam in Madinah, they invited the Prophet salla Allaho alaihi wa sallam and His companions to Madinah. This is called Hijrah. Even they had to make hijrah i.e. leave Makkah to Madinah in secret because the idolators/unbelievers didn't let them go to Madinah.
While making hijrah The Muslims had to leave their shops, businesses, wealth etc. and went to Madinah empty-handed. The unbelievers in Makkah and in the surrounding Arabia became very jealous with the progress of Islam. So they started attacking the Muslims in Madinah. It was only then (after more than 13 years of Islam) that Allah gave permission to the Prophet salla Allaho alaihi wa sallam and His companions to respond to the enemies and then Allah gave them Help so they won and became successful.
You can find from the history that the battles of Badar, Uhud and the battle of Trench were all fought near Madinah which is a manifest proof that the kaafirs had attacked the Muslims in their own state Madina. Then who is violent???
In the present world, you can see again that Muslims are attacked and are killed in their own countries, cities, streets and homes. Can you tell me any non Muslim country which is attacked by Muslims and where the Muslims are killing the helpless non- Muslims??? I believe we cannot find a non Muslim country attacked by Muslims but the opposite is true. Then who is violent? And Who are the real killers? The answer is very clear.
But I advise you just to practice Islam, making 5 prayers daily, helping needy, fasting in Ramadhan and remain patient. Don't get involved in arguments with the unjust unbelievers. They themselves know that they are unjust and violent but due to power they lie forcefully. So be patient and pray to Allah to send Help to the oppressed Muslims. That will be great!!!