Does the Sunni - Shiite blood-feud undermine Islam's legitimacy as a religion of peace?

Question

This is a real question, and I have no preconceived idea of the answer.

Answer 1

No more than the battles among sects during the Reformation undermined Christianity's similar claims.

Answer 2

Seems self-evidently pointing to a yes. I don't know the history of it, don't really know if I want to either. It's a thousand or more year old feud taking place between people I could never relate to, speaking a language I would never learn, debating about something that should be taught in elementary school. Sadly, there's not much I can do about it. However, on the brighter side, I'm going to appreciate the blessings I have here in America and do everything I can to teach people the logic and reasoning skills that will prevent them from losing their head. Their war is a spiritual war, our war is a different kind of war, but just as important. Compared to their lifestyles, we should be almost in heaven with what we have, but we're not. Something is not right with the way we see things, and it has nothing to do with an external evaluation of reality, it has to do with an internal one. People have lost their faith in themselves, and this is preventing them from achieving happiness. I'll try and do my best.

Peace.

Answer 3

Not really.

Islam as a religion has brought forth some very educated people into this planet.

This religion has completely changed the outlook of pagan arabs.

Most of these people have contributed so much to the advancement of man that their works are taken for granted.

People like: Avicenna, (Ibn Sinaa), who was the first person to describe meningitis and inroduce 100 new discoveries into medicine alone.

Al-Khwarithmi: the man who we owe the words: algebra and algorithm

Advances in optics that resulted in the construction of the first observatory, the collection and correction of previous astronomical data and the invention of the astrolabe.

These are just small examples.

What am trying to say is, as long as the original scripture of Islam: the Quran is alive and kept alive, cultural clashes between ignorant people, will not effect its enlightening outlook on life.

Answer 4

Nah, the Koran does a nice job of undermining Islam's legitimacy as a religion of peace all by itself.

Answer 5

The Shiite's are much more willing to fight--afterall. most of the suicide bombers are fueled by Shiite values, not Sunni, as suicide is against Islam. However, not all people are like this either--saying that their is a blood-conflict between the two has many fabrications within it already and is another fake game played between the government and the media television.

Answer 6

May the peace, blessings and mercy of God be upon you

The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, knew about the division of the Islamic nation into sects, this is noted in the Qu'ran

[006:159] Verily, those who divide their religion and break up into sects (all kinds of religious sects), you (O Muhammad [Peace Be Upon Him) have no concern with them in the least. Their affair is only with God, Who then will tell them what they used to do.

An explanation

(V.6:159) It is said that the Prophet [Peace Be Upon Him] recited this Verse and said: "These people are those who invent new things (Bid'ah) in religion and the followers of the vain desires of this Muslim nation, and their repentance will not be accepted by God." (Tafsir Al-Qurtubi)
[It has been narrated in the Hadîth Books (At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Mâjah and Abu Dâwûd) that the Prophet [Peace Be Upon Him] said: "The Jews and the Christians will be divided into seventy-one or seventy-two religious sects and this nation will be divided into seventy-three religious sects, all in Hell, except one, and that one is: on which I and my Companions are today, i.e. following the Qur'ân and the Prophet's Sunnah (legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements)."]

Unfortunately, it devastates me to see and hear everyday in Iraq, that people are blowing each other up with carbombs, and massacring each other because of sectarian differences.....

Are we all not God's people??

At my University, Sunni and Shia, pray side by side, no problems, its just that here in Canada we are more tolerant, there this is major political problems....

Peace Be With You

Answer 7

No, it doesn't. It's a cultural war that doesn't reflect the true nature of Islam as revealed by Muhammad [pbuh].

This coming from a non-Muslim.

Answer 8

We must look at the religion, not the people, just like Christianity

Answer 9

the Quran undermines islams legitmacy as a religion of peace:

Death for apostasy (Leaving Islam):
Sura 4:89: They long that ye should disbelieve even as they disbelieve, that ye may be upon a level (with them). So choose not friends from them till they forsake their homes in the way of Allah; if they turn back (to enmity) then take them and kill them wherever ye find them, and choose no friend nor helper from among them,”

Kill Disbelievers in a cruel fashion:
Sura 5:33: "Those who make war with Allah and his messenger will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. That is how they will be treated in this world, and in the next they will have an awful doom."

Slit throats of unbelievers:
Sura 47:4: Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens. Thus (are ye commanded): but if it had been Allah's Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the Way of Allah,- He will never let their deeds be lost.

Amputation for petty theft:
Sura 5:38: Cut off the hands of thieves, whether they are male or female, as punishment for what they have done—a deterrent from God: God is almighty and wise.

Killing unbelievers:
Sura 9:123. O ye who believe! fight the unbelievers who gird you about, and let them find firmness in you: and know that Allah is with those who fear Him.

Dont be friends with Jews or Christians:
Sura 5:51: O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your allies and protectors: They are but allies and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust.

Sex slaves are permitted:
Sura 4:24 Also (prohibited are) women already married, except those whom your right hands possess.

Kill disbelievers:
Sura 2:191. And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have Turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith.

Permission for a muslim man to beat his wife if she doesnt obey him:
Sura 4:34: Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in their sleeping places and **beat them**; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great.

Fight disbelievers until you subjugate them:
Sura 9:29: Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

Answer 10

the religion is peaceful and encourages peace. the fact that people fight because of religion of tensions between sects does not mean the religion is not peaceful.

every sect in any religion have tensions and fights, but that does not mean that the religion is violent or is promoting violence, etc.