What picture of Islam is accurate...?

Question

Is Islam the religion of violence and terrorism or the religion of peace and harmony? Is Islam essentially tolerant or intolerant in its relations with other religious groups? Why are the Muslims seem to be always in an upheaval against their non-Muslim neighbors or against each other?

Answer 1

Well, it seems very long questions and need to be answered...

What is the one thing that I want you to understand about Islam?

Well if there is one thing I want you to know about Islam and read from the Noble Quran, it would be the following Noble Verse:

"Say: 'O People of the Book (i.e., Jews and Christians)! Come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah; that we associate no partners with Him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah.' If then they turn back, say ye: 'Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah's Will).' (The Noble Quran, 3:64)"

Yes, I really wish for you worship none but Allah Almighty. Trinity and other forms of Polytheism such as idol worshiping are not the way to Allah Almighty. It's really ironic how trinitarian Christians refer to trinity as "The Holy Trinity". What Holy Trinity? What's so holy about it if it's not even directly defined in the Bible? The word itself (trinity) doesn't even exist in the Bible. Not even once!

Does "Islam" really mean to force someone to Islam or else kill him?

Some anti-Islamic Arabic speaking people say that the word "Islam" means particularly to "surrender". This is a clear lie, because "Islam" in Arabic means "submission".

Islam is derived from the word Salam which means peace. When someone says "as'SALAMu alaikum", he is saying may peace be upon you, or peace be upon you. Islam is not istislam. "istislam" means surrender, like in wars when your enemy surrenders. Islam means submission, and it is only used for submitting yourself to GOD Almighty and not to man. You can't submit yourself to me for instance. That is prohibited in Islam.

There are words that are related to the word "Islam", such as "Aslam" which means to convert to Islam. If I tell you you are better off to aslam to Islam, it means that you are better off to convert to Islam or submit yourself to Islam to be saved by Allah Almighty at the Day of Judgment.

"Tasleem" means to give or turn in, but it is not derived from the word Salam. "Islam" is only used when referring to Allah Almighty and the religion of Islam. It has nothing to do with compulsion. Plus compulsion is not allowed in Islam anyway:

"Let there be no compulsion (forcing others) in religion: Truth stands out clear from error...(The Noble Quran, 2:256)"

It is unfortunate that the Western World's media contniueosly propagates the false idea that Islam is a religion of terrorism. I was asked this kind of question many times before, and I feel that it is my duty to answer it and shed some light on those who do not have enough knowledge about Islam and about history in general.

First of all, I would like to start off by mentioning few world events that included a great deal of terrorism in it:

1- The Nazis and the Holocaust against the Jews was done by Hitler and the 60,000,000 German ROMAN CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN Nazis who followed him and died for his cause and ideas. The Nazis were not Muslims.

2- The Serbs in Yoguslavia and their massacures for more than 1,000,000 Muslims in Bosnia and lately in Kosovo. The Yoguslavian Serbs are 12,000,000 and they are GREEK ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS.

3- The massacures that happened in the Great land of United States of America against the Native Americans. More than 95% of the Native American population were massacures. They were literally shot everywhere they were found!. Ask any US History teacher and he would shed some light upon you regarding this subject. More than 90% of Americans are considered CHRISTIANS.

4- The Oklahoma City bombing happened by the CHRISTIAN CULTS group.

5- The use of "Uranium Bombs" by the American troops during the Gulf War against the Iraqi Civilians in Southern Iraq that infected thousands of civilians with the Uranium Radiation. I saw with my own eyes on the Arabic Satalite TV Channel (Al-Jazeerah) how Iraqi babies are born today with Uranium infections. If you see their pictures, you would cry. Their faces look like they had been burnt. Several infected American and German and British Soldiers who were near Southern Iraq were herrased by their governments when they tried to speak up against the Barbaraic attack against the Iraqi civilians by the US forces, and the Western Media until today is rediculously trying to cover up for this BARBARAIC attack on civilians who did not have nor use the Uranium Bomb, which is equivelant to a small Atomic Bomb.

6- The latest Israeli massacures against unarmed Palestinian Civilians.

If I decide to be stupid and ignorant, then I could easily link the events and the much more ones that were documented in history to Judaism and Christianity. But any normal educated person would seperate these kinds of massacures from religion.

How does Islam view Terrorism?

"...if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people...(The Noble Quran, 5:32)" In this Noble Verse we clearly see that Allah Almighty honors all the innocent souls that He created. Killing any innocent soul is so hated by Allah Almighty that He considers it as a crime against all of Mankind.

"Those who invoke not, with God, any other god, nor slay such life as God has made sacred except for just cause, nor commit fornication; - and any that does this (not only) meets punishment. (The Noble Quran, 25:68)" In this Noble Verse we clearly see that Allah Almighty considers the innocent soul "sacred". He will punish those who kill the innocent souls (by throwing them in hell).

"It may be that God will grant love (and friendship) between you and those whom ye (now) hold as enemies. For God has power (over all things); And God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. God forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for God loveth those who are just. God only forbids you, with regard to those who fight you for (your) Faith, and drive you out of your homes, and support (others) in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship and protection). It is such as turn to them (in these circumstances), that do wrong. (The Noble Quran, 60:7-9)"

Here is more information to add to the terrorism section.
While the media has propgated the Muslims are anti-American nuts, seems like
US government reports say- it ain't so- it's our neigbors to the south!
Fellow Christians.

Latest stats from CIA's website:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/di/products/terrorism/antiUS.gif

From iView's.com- Patterns of Global Terrorism Report:
"The scare rhetoric also shaped the State Department report, "Patterns of
Global Terrorism: 1999," claiming that "The primary terrorist threats to the
United States emanate from two regions, South Asia and the Middle East,"
even though statistics provided therein belied the claim. Amongst the 169
anti-US attacks including bombings reported for 1999, 96 emanated from Latin
America, 30 from Western Europe, 9 from Eurasia, 16 from Africa, 11 from the
Middle East, and 6 from Asia. The report listed Syria, Iran, Iraq and Libya,
but not Israel as "state sponsors" of terrorism..."

http://www.iviews.com/scripts/articles/stories/default.cfm?ID=5648&category_id=39

What is the definition of Democracy in Islam? How does Islam practice Democracy?

There are two parts for democracy: (1) Elections; and (2) The length of time the president serves. Democracy in Islam is a controversial issue. Some Muslims don't believe in the Western Democratic System, and others do.

After the death of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, each one of the four Caliphs who ruled after him, differed from one another about the leadership. Let us briefly examine what they did:

1- Abu Baker was elected by the majority of the Muslims right after the death of Prophet Muhammad. He however, served until he died.

2- Omar was given the leadership by Abu Baker. Muslims were not given the opportunity to vote for Omar or for anyone else. Omar was imposed upon them.

3- Uthman became the leader in an awkward way. Omar had 6 elected representatives from the Muslims, and he purposely made their number even, to vote for the next Caliph or leader, because Omar was very sick and was about to die. Three of those representatives voted for Uthman and the other three voted for somebody else. Ironically, Omar brought his son, who had no political influence or power and didn't represent anyone what so ever, and he had him choose between Uthman and his competitor. Omar's son chose Uthman, and this is how Uthman became the leader.

4- Ali became the leader after revolutionists killed Uthman for causing so much corruption by bringing his family to power and gave them all kinds of wealth from the Muslims' State's Wealth. They simply voted for him and he became the leader. Hell broke loose after wards, because Muslims thought that Ali killed Uthman. The famous battle of Camel was declared and around 60,000 Muslim lives were lost in that terrible war.

So, who's foot steps should we follow? Clearly, all of them differed from one another, and there is no set standards that we could follow from the four Caliphs. Please visit Non of the four Caliphs was really perfect! My rebuttal to the Muslim Sunni and Shia sects.

Personally, I think that elections were practiced. Abu Baker and Ali were certainly elected by the majority of the voters. The question, however, remains: For how long should a leader rule?

Which is better, one leader for life, or several ones?

The unfortunate thing that all of the four Caliphs didn't differ about is that all of them ruled until their lives ended. This, however, is not carved in stone in the Noble Quran or in the Sayings of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. We don't really have to follow this rule just because the four Caliphs practiced it.

It is important to know that the Muslims had so many conflicts with each others after the death of our Prophet peace be upon him. The struggle to gain power and leadership was the bottom line for them. This is not Islamic, even though it happened by Muslim leaders.

Personally, I think that since Allah Almighty and Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him left the issue of leadership open, then it is up to the Muslims to decide that for themselves. And knowing the Western World today, I believe that they, by far, have the best democratic system.

The elected leader would rule for 4 or 5 years and then somebody else replaces him and so on. This allows for people and their leaders to learn from others' mistakes and to progress in creating better methods for leadership, because every leader would avoid the mistakes of the one before him.

Can the leader abuse his power in Islam? Does Islam have any limits to the leader?

Well, the leader has to always consult with his administration about everything. Allah Almighty Said:

"It is part of the Mercy of God that thou dost deal gently with them Wert thou severe or harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about thee: so pass over (Their faults), and ask for (God's) forgiveness for them; and consult them in affairs (of moment). Then, when thou hast Taken a decision put thy trust in God. For God loves those who put their trust (in Him). (The Noble Quran, 3:159)"

"Those who hearken to their Lord, and establish regular Prayer; who (conduct) their affairs by mutual Consultation; who spend out of what We bestow on them for Sustenance; (The Noble Quran, 42:38)"

So, the answer is no, Islam doesn't allow the leader to abuse his power, or to go beyond his limits as dictators do today.

HOPE IT HELPS!

**PEACE**

Wassalam.....

Answer 2

There are a lot of suras preaching peace in the Quran but then there are many which preach hatred. It depends on how you take it. Terrorists simply take the suras that suit them. Its no wonder that all terrorists have spiritual leaders who interpret the religion for them.
Just for the record terrorism is as old as Islam itself. The Kharajites were the first Islamic terrorists, they used to kill women & children also because in their view they did not follow Islam in the way it should be followed.
There is a very strong streak of intolerance in almost all muslims & its been my experience that even the very educated ones are incapable of seeing the other point of view. When someone criticizes their faith or has exhibits a different value system they respond through violence. This sort of behavior just does not make for a civilised society.
This culture of intolerance and non empathy does not remain confined to outsiders but turns inwards also.
So in that context I will say that Islam, as it is actually practised by its followers is an intolerant religion.

Answer 3

Islam -as any other religion- is not a block that looks the same from all sides. Religion in theory and in practice is very complicated to judge especially that all the people who follow this religion believe it in a different way. My personal opinion is, all the hatered and violence we reached today -regardless what everybody's religion is- is because of the way we brought up. I don't blame the parents, it is just the culture of violence that is surrounding all of us. We should really go for an alternative.

Answer 4

The answer of your question is to look deeply in the middle east the most area violence, you can find in this area Muslims Christians, and jewish.
the strange is, this area was controlled by muslims rulers for many centuries peacefully except some times as follows :-

1. crusaders invasion to Jerusalems, hundreds of thousands of people were killed by crusaders (from both Muslims and christians, native people)

2. Jewish invasion as you can see in the media now.

it is important to mention that all christian and jewish in the middle east keep their own religion before islam

Answer 5

Islam respects people from all religious groups. Back in the time of prophet Mohammad, Muslims, Christians, and Jews lived peacefully side by side. As a matter of fact, prophet Mohammad's neighbor was a Jew.

Answer 6

Islam is a warrior religion. It does teach peace, but only between Muslims. It teaches violence against every other form of faith. This is why they have so much trouble with in-fighting. They doubt each others' brand of faith in Islam is real.

I have blogged on this topic with links to videos of their most popular religious and political leaders saying things like death to America and Muslims will rule the world. Look for the post titled "In Their Own Words" at http://judgeright.blogspot.com

Answer 7

Islam is religion of peace. Do not generalise evel actions of extremists who are in EACH religion to be the picture of Islam.

Well i do not want to waste my time and efforts by explaining. To feel real Islam you need to be in that environment. It is really worth..

Answer 8

Muslims modern-day it using fact the "one actual faith" by using merchandising it like used-vehicle salespeople. They pretend "scientific miracles", and boast approximately the way it somewhat is the "quickest becoming faith", jointly as omitting the information at the back of why it is so. They lie by using omission, for the sake of springing up Islam look like it particularly is lots extra beneficial than it particularly is. somewhat study is going an prolonged way. Islam is surrounded by using a cloud of psychological dishonesty and the exploitation of elementary lack of expertise.

Answer 9

Islam is peaceful with those who are peaceful with it, and harsh on those who give it hard time. Islam is the religion of truth and fair. means put everything in its place.

Answer 10

the koran contridicts itself as much as the bible. Goodness does not come from religion, it comes from doing the right thing. It is usually easy to do the right thing based off of reason. Only religion can make murdering people a wonderful thing

Answer 11

Watch the video "Islam and Terrorism"
At www.irf.net

And also know that, the media is always biased against islam.
They never broadcast the truth.