Is Islam a peaceful religion?

Question

I heard a interesting fact that right now in the world there are 29 wars/conflicts going on and that Muslims make up at least one side and in a lot of them both sides of all 29 wars. My question is that if Islam is a peaceful religion like many of their members claim why are they fighting with everybody and even eachother?

Answer 1

Islam, in claiming Ishmael as its Patriarch, has fulfilled the prophesy in Genesis 16: 11,12 ..... Speaking to Hagar, Ishmael's slave-girl mother, God said:

"Now you have conceived, and you will bear a son,
and you shall name him Ishmael, for God has heard your
cries of distress.

A wild *** of a man he will be, against every man and every man against him, setting himself to defy all his brothers."

I don't think there's a clearer or more concise description of Islam than that . . . . and it was written, prophetically, over 4000 years ago.

Answer 2

Islam is a peaceful religion. Read the Quran and the basic underlying philosophy, like most religions, is simply to treat everyone well and live a good life. Again, like most religions, the problem is that a few extremists seize power and become the focus of the media and that's the face that gets shown.

As for the fighting in their region, look where they are. That region of the world has not seen peace in well over 2000 years. Giving the Jewish people the state of Israel against the will of the people already living there in the 1940's certainly did not help matters in the region, nor did it help with our own foreign policy. If there were a Christian theocratic state in the region, it would be in on the violence as much as the Islamic states--though one could certainly argue that this situation already exists with the US presence in Iraq.

Lastly, for those so quick to bring up 9/11, let us remember that Hitler, Timothy McVeigh, and David Koresh (to name a few) all considered themselves to be devout Christians. George W. Bush considers himself a devout Christian, yet he's hardly displayed a dedicated following to Jesus' actual teachings. Today's Christianity even has Fred Phelps and the authors of the Left Behind series, each calling for holy war and desperately praying for Armageddon. In spite of Chritianity having at its center one of the leading pacifists in history, practicing Christians cannot claim in anyway whatsoever to have a monopoly on peace.

All religions at peaceful at their core; it's the followers who spill blood on their holy pages.

For all of those who point to Sunnis vs. Shiites and Hamas vs. Fatah, have you ever heard of what the Protestants and Catholics did to one another throughout the 16th - 18th centuries?

Answer 3

Yes it is.
And just notice that the 29 wars around the world have being fed by the American interference... Ummm..let's say "by the Christian interference" since you are talking about religions and peace.
By the way, if you really want to see whether Islam is a peacful religion then you only need to read the following:
[60:8] GOD does not enjoin you from befriending those who do not fight you because of religion, and do not evict you from your homes. You may befriend them and be equitable towards them. GOD loves the equitable.

In another place, God says: [4:90] ........ Therefore, if they leave you alone, refrain from fighting you, and offer you peace, then GOD gives you no excuse to fight them.

Peace!

Answer 4

Let's just get this straight: The Crusades were defensive wars fought by Europe to stop aggressive, violent Islamic expansion of the period. Look up the Battle of Tours.

And please keep in mind, you have to go back to the Inquisition, the 1500s, to denounce Christianity, but to denounce Islam, you need only look at the headlines.

The very fact that Muslims still recall the Crusades as something where THEY were the victim just illustrates Muslim ethnocentrism, solipsism, and arrogance.

Answer 5

Yes Islam is the most peace full religion out of all.
and yet you claim that most of them are sort of infighting.
This is very unfortunate. Let us not forget one thing.. that most of these conflicts were came into existence at the end of the second world war and have continued in one way or the other.Whether these conflicts surfaced out of deliberate political or accidental mistakes, is for the historians to consider and decide.But these conflicts have not been resolved yet reflects the poor existing selfish leadership.

Answer 6

I know many peaceful Muslims. The religion is as peaceful as the persons following that religion. Extremists always give a bad name to peace.

Answer 7

mmmmmmm the conflicts in the middle east doesnt have nothing to see with the religion,.. they are politics no religious.. anybody could take a religion for making the war.. it's not a good believer..the Islam is a religion like christianity and judaism..

Answer 8

In the past they were quite peaceful. While christianity was responsible for countless wars and plunging europe into the DARK ages. Muslim countries were very peaceful and very progressive as far as womens rights and stuff like that. The religion itself is quite violent from what i've heard. In my opinion it has more to do with the people and what purpose they want to use their religion for than the religion. When people want to use their religion to justify their own hatred violence and intolerance THEY WILL.

Answer 9

See for yourself.

Sura 8:12

"I am with you; so support those who believed. I will strike terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved. You may strike them above the necks, and you may strike even every finger."

It even promoted terrorism in the Koran.

Sura (2:216) - Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not.

Sura (3:151) - Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority.

Sura 3:151 speaks directly of killing Christians (above)

9:5 Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the non-believers wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush.





Peaceful? I'll leave that up to you.

Answer 10

I cannot speak for all people of the Islamic faith because I am only responsible for my own actions. I am a Muslim, I believe in one God, I believe in peace. I respect other people, regardless of their religion. I am all for tolerance and respect.
The people who kill in the name of Islam are not true Muslims. Islam teaches us to respect others and live peacefully.

Answer 11

This is a good week to pose that question to Hamas and Fattah.

Next week it will be another good week to ask it of the Sunnis and the Shiites.

If they cannot bring peace among themselves, how will they ever bring peace to the whole world?