Muslims, is your religion a religion of peace or war, and why?

Question

I just had a huge debate with a friend over whether Islam is a religion of peace or war. I chose peace but my friend mentioned jihad and I didn't have anything to say to refute that. Please explain. Thanks.

Answer 1

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".

Answer 2

Who said that Islam was a religion of Peace? Islam is a religion of Justice and that Justice is to everyone. You can take random verses out of The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe and ask why CS Lewis was such a hater of children..but that doesnt mean that CS Lewis was a hater of children. Likewise when you try to understand the Quran you need to understand it in CONTEXT (which is rarely done) OK you posted a lot. Ill try to do justice. 1) The first verse you posted was a commentary on the Battle of Badr. The muslims were lesser in number than the nonbelievers so the verses preceding were an encouragement that Allah would help the muslims with the angels who would strike terror into the enemys heart. 2.The second verse says that the muslim who sits and does nothing is not equal to the one who moves and does something in the way of Allah (Feesibilillah) with their WEALTH and LIFES. This doesnt automatically mean fight as Jihad has many levels. Kitaan(Actual fighting) is one of them. The fact that it was clarified that there was an exception that being those that were ill or disabled is a testimony to the justice that Islam encourages. We recognize the weak and disabled in our societies. 3.Your verses are ALL out of context. Read them in contextual form. 4. The rape can be proven. The PUNISHMENT for the crime of the rape (zina) won't be enforced (Stoning to death) but the Judge can give what punishment he wishes. If the woman has bruises, has fought back (so the rapist has scratches) anything can be a proof that she was violated in some way and Islam is Just. 5. Allah gave the man the allowance in the Quran to marry up to 4 wives. Before this they would marry as many as they wanted and this is the same in other societies. We don't lie about our faith but it is difficult to get the truth out in the sea of misinformation and wilful lies by Islams detractors.

Answer 3

Islam is one of peace if it was one of war I would not be muslim pure and simple. Jihad means struggle. It mainly referred to an inherent struggle to be a better person.

However, the Qu'ran also tells when warfare should be perscribed if there is injustice and opression against them. Yes the qu'ran has passages that refer to killing jews and christians. However what the muslim bashers leave out is that these verses refer to the jews and christians that organized to persecute and execute the muslim community. When there is an army approaching to wipe you off the earth you should not be ridiculed for defending yourself.

Islam is a religion of peace. the bashers confuse the right to defend yourself as the right to murder.

However some muslims have screwed this up. People like Osama bin Laden have (either mistakenly or delibrately) convinced others that the west comes to exterminate muslims, therefore they must strike back. Their behavior is like that of an animal. A wolf will assume a human toddler is a threat and will kill the toddler.....humans know better but not all humans

Answer 4

Jihad my dear doesn't mean that you take up a sword and start slaying people. Jihad in Islam means that in what way are you helping your human beings, Jihad can be charity, Jihad can be raising a voice against the incompetent rulers, Jihad can be so many good things, tell your friend to learn Arabic and then study the Holy Quran then he may not like to debate anymore on this topic

Answer 5

our religion puts peace in frst place,we have a saying in quran (i'll tell what it means) that if poeple want peace, we agree., but not in the meaning 2 surender either. If we have a right, and it doesn't get with peace, we fight. only in that case. and about el qa3da and so , they're not of islam cause we have been said not 2 kill a women or a boy or an elder during war. So how could we harm anyone how is not even fighting us.And 4 u to know, el qa3da even kills muslims,

Answer 6

Truth about Islam is that we, Muslims will have to come up and see how to salvage the religion.

War/Jihad, Terrorism and all are just too synonymous with Islam. It is no more the perfecting compliment it should be to Christianity.

Islam is not all about war. Jihad is not just blood-shedding war. It is more of evangelism in essence than carrying sword to the battlefront.

Are you a Muslim? Please email me on [e-mail]. I'm writing a book titled "WHAT ISLAM SHOULD HAVE BEEN!"

Answer 7

Mohamed got sick and wanted to kill himself when he was visited by an angel. There is only one angel that would make someone want to kill themselves, the angel of light the most beautiful angel there ever was his name is lucifer (the devil). Everything they say lines up with Revelation in the Bible. Christians are waiting for the Antichrist to come he is supposed to claim to be Christ. The devil (the ninth imam) in disguise is to stand next to the Antichrist. Yes the devil has made this evil religion and he will continue to kill many until it has taken over much of the world, even the United States will be ravaged by Islam. But in the end Jesus will come back and conqueror the earth and cast all unbelievers into hell. So make sure you accept Christ as your one and only salvation and repent from your sins (turn from your sin) and ask for the Holy Spirit to live in you

Answer 8

Muslims ask nonmuslims to study their holy book to find answers and yet these Muslims cannot for the life of themselves find within their own books and with their own logical minds the answers to refute the claims against Islam and Prophet Mohammad that a former Muslim has lodged against Islam.

see for your self: http://www.faithfreedom.org/challenge.htm

Why should I waste my valuable time reading something whose followers can not intelligently defend?

Answer 9

Yet to decide its or peace or war

Answer 10

i 100% agree with akband.even seeing ur parents with love is jihad,making others smile is jihad.
ISLAM IS GREAT