If Islam was a religion of peace, why the Quran is full of verses that order Muslim to FIGHT?

Question

I always hear people claim that Islam is the religion of peace. Neverthless, I surveyed only one chapter from the Quran (Quran has 114 chapters) and I found many verses that order Muslims to KILL and FIGHT non Muslims.

Some examples are:
I will instil terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite them above their necks and smite all their finger tips off them." [8:12]

It is not fitting for a Prophet that he should have prisoners of war until he hath thoroughly subdued the land [8:67]

But (now) enjoy what ye took in war [8:69]

Is there any discrepancy between what I hear and those verses?

Answer 1

yes there are many verses that state fight or kill,but i must add there are many verses about,chairty,family,marriage and manners and so on.

i think it just goes to show,God knows the past and the future events.God knows how much the muslims must go though in life.
look at palestine,they want their land,its theirs right,but they cant live in peace.they dont have war ships,planes and so on.they are poor and have been though so much,yet no one helps them.
only their faith keeps them going
but dont get me wrong,islam is peace,its a beautiful way of life.
its just depends on how you use it,use it in trhe right way and you will suceed!

Answer 2

The Christian bible also speaks of such things. If taken out of context, the bible would also seem to promote violence against other faiths. Many battles in the bible were fought because the "enemy" was non-christian. Have you looked them up?
What are the versus surrounding the onces you mentioned in the Quran? Do they provide a scenario or lesson to go with the specific verse? A sentence can say one thing, but the surrounding paragraph can truly change the context of that one sentence when taken all together.
Just curious - have you looked in the Quran for the opposite type of verse? How many can you find that promote understanding, praise and love?

Answer 3

From what I read it is based on a specific time in Islamic history when they were attacked by the Christians and Jews but in different time frames.

You are not going to get any solid answers from here, you need to go to an Islamic Webiste and ask them these questions. Interested to see there response by the way! you should cut and paste their responses to us in a form of a question.

I dont think muslims are evil and if you think they are you are in for a surprise cause I have a few friends that are and they are very giving persons and they give me money all the time. They are so easily manipulated its funny. I will pay them back (one day-lol).

Answer 4

I know that islam is peaceful in the sense that it doesn't allow muslims to start aggression, however, it does allow self-defense; thus, you will find that Quran allows fighting. I think it's naive to reject fighting, you need to protect yourself and your rights, this is basic human instinct.

Concerning the verses you referred to, you need to realize that not "orders" in Quran are to be applied all the time. Usually, such verses are specific to circumstances muhammed and his companions have gone through, e.g. verses 8:67 & 8:69 are specific for the Bader Battle where muslims faced annihilation by Quraysh which tortured muslims for many years before that, but muslims emerged as victorious.

Well, in general, when referring to Quran, realize that many verses are very specific to very specific circumstances; DON'T generalize these very specific orders.

Answer 5

Hi there.. yes, eastchick is soooo right in her answer..

It was revealed in 2 A. H. after the Battle of Badr, the first battle between Islam and kufr.
So, the Surah is relevant for that event.. not, to all non-muslims in general.. Read the details of the battle of Badr. I wont get into the details.. it'll be very long and you may not even read it..

Peace.

p.s George23, John S, ayesha and others.. you all are good!

Answer 6

Well, I just wanted to say, you must consider that Christianity is supposed to be the religion of a LOVING God. As such, if a person knowing nothing of Christianity were to select a chapter from the Old Testament, what would he/she find? Horrible stories about slavery, mass murder, etc. Perhaps you have pulled versed re: violence, but perhaps they are taken out of context. Just a thought.

Note: Christianity imposes the punishment of eternal damnation in a lake of fire for not believing. Is that a statement of love? Or is that not the ultimate act of violence and hatred?

Answer 7

All These Verses are cut from their context, Listen, all the fighting verses were intended to tell: "Defend yourselves".. It was, is, and will be always self defence. What is more is aggression refused by God and denied by all religions.

You'll find most verses of war talking about unbelieveres becuase they used to attack Muslims and kill them, like what Romans did to christians when they adopted christianity.

We are not ordered to go to an unbeliever sitting peacefully watching a bird in a good morning and behead him.. We are not guards or judges for what is in the hearts.

God says in the Quran:

"Allah Does not forbid you from the unbelievers who didn't fight you, to give them charity, be kind, and treat them in Justice".

But (now) enjoy what ye took in war [8:69], those are war captions of horses, moneys and invetntory, not Humans!

No leader Did as Muhammad PBUH did when he won and captuered Mecca, as he told the defeated enemy unbelievers when : "Go free." Tell me the name of another leade or military commander who did that.

Answer 8

For all the people who hate Muslims without even meeting me then all I can say is... I love you. I'm enjoying my life and there is nothing what you haters can say that will get me down. I have a wonderful family who are Christians and they know I won't kill them or anybody else. If they are the only people in this world who won't discriminate against me then so be it.
You know white people (the racists) hate me because I'm Black, everybody hates me, because I'm a Muslim. That's two strikes against me. One more then perhaps I should just kill myself. Will that make you people happy? One less Muslim in the world? Would you scream with joy over my dead body?

Answer 9

Islam is non violent, yet there are some Muslims who imagine that they are so religious that they ought to kill whoever leaves the religion or offends it and stuff i fairly hate what befell contained in the middle East after that movie, "Innocence of the Muslims"

Answer 10

Islam is the religion of peace not religion of surrender,so the Muslims are in peace with them or with other but if the other want to fight the Muslims will fight either to win or to die.