Islam is a "peaceful religion" and 'Islam allows total religious freedom'?

Question

I keep hearing muslims saying their religion is the most peaceful religion on earth. And that Islam allows religious freedom. Yet when someone converts from Islam to another faith, good Muslims have a right -- no, a duty -- to kill you. Where is the freedom in that?

Khalid E, your answer doesn't make any sense. What if someone was born to muslim parents. Was he warned before accepting Islam? NO

Da man....I could bring you so many verses from the quran to prove that. I don't have to bring them...you could easily search for them on google.

Answer 1

I will have to disagree with you there. There is no where in any scripture that says kill people who convert from Islam. This has been a long held misconception among western and Muslim societies.

History shows that the worldly punishment for apostasy in Islam has been applied only to those who, in addition to their apostasy, actively engaged in the subversion of society, This distinction is important as many clerics in the Muslim world have incorrectly claimed that death is the automatic punishment for apostasy regardless of whether the individual is a threat to society or not.

Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa, one of the most respected Islamic scholars in the world today, re-affirmed that Muslims have the freedom to convert to another religion, but that it would be a “grave sin.”

Just who is Ali Gomaa? He is considered to be one of the most respected and qualified traditional Islamic scholars alive. He specializes in the science of the foundations of Islamic Law
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Gomaa). This is no evangelist of the street or some revisionist religion student.

“Choice means freedom, and freedom includes the freedom to commit grave sins as long as their harm does not extend to others,” said Gomaa, according to Agence France-Presse.

Islam can be hijacked by fanatics and lunatics. But so can any religion (remember the Spanish Inquisition). It is important not to be caught up in the emotions of the lynch mob and to objectively analyze the issue at hand. You're question seems to be a start.

Answer 2

Allah is the one who judges and punishes. Any Muslim who kills another human being or any living thing is out of the bounds of Islam. They are called hypocrites. Allah does not give anyone else the right to take a life.. That's his right only. Which is exactly why suicide is a sin. If we can't take our own lives.. Why would we be allowed to take others. If you state these verses.. then I'm sure all Muslim brothers and sisters can clear up any misconceptions you get from that verse.

Here is an example.

"and give them tidings of painfull doom"...
Sounds like a command to kill doesn't it? BUT THE TRUE MEANING IS..... **TELL** them of the doom that awaits for an unjust person. believer or not. To inform them.. not to kill them. You really have to stop taking everything in the Quran literally. Arabic words have so many routes and deep meaning that a weak english translation doesn't ever bring justice to the words. I suggest you read in dept analysis.. instead of googling everything and getting things from Islam hate sites.

Peace & Love

Answer 3

I'm a muslim and i believe that those muslims that kill others after converting out of islam shouldnt consider themselves muslims. Many Americans that have converted to Islam were also critized maybe not killed but lets face it every religion has their bad "apples" but why are we focusing on the negatives rather then the positives. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world so while your talking about that one person getting threats from converting out of islam, Millions of muslims are embracing the thousands that are converting into islam.
(p.s. just out of curiosity how many people did get killed for converting out of islam, or did u just hear a bias argument on FOX or CNN)

Answer 4

"when someone converts from Islam to another faith, good Muslims have a right -- no, a duty -- to kill you"

You have gone from a question to a false affirmative statement in your line of logic. This is the FIRST mistake that most instigating non-Muslims make. In the Quran there is NO reference to killing apostates. Their fate lies in the hereafter; and while it is not our duty to "kill" them in this life they are assured a grievous chastisement in the next.

Besides, if they don't believe Islam in their heart there is no need for them to be a part of our religion. By leaving Islam they are ridding our religion of hypocrites =D

Salam

Answer 5

Islam is not a religion of peace, until everyone converts to Islam and everyone stays Islam.

Islam is a religion divided in two sects Shiites and Sunni's. Shiites believe the twelfth imam fell down a well, and will return whenever the entire world turns over to Islam. All Islams believe that they should conqeour the world and destory the infidels or those opposed to the Islamic faith. Their goal is to destroy Israel (little Satan) and United States ( The great Satan) and to bring about an Islamic revolution by Jihad (holy war).
The religion of Islam is more of a political system than a religion.

Answer 6

Islam, like most other major religions, emphasizes peace. A good Muslim is NOT required, or in any way allowed, to kill a non-believer.

Do not blame the *entire religion* for the way that a *few indiviudals* have chosen to interpret it. Yes, there are some Muslims, Christians, and Jews who interpret their holy texts in such a way to justify the murder of "infidels." That does not mean they have interpreted the text correctly, or that their version is any more "true" than a peaceful version.

Answer 7

First off, that freedom of religion under Islam thing is crap. Jews and Christians are allowed to live UNDER a caliphate in some Muslim areas, but never as true equals. Hindus and those of any other religion are NOT tolerated.

AnnaMichele - Ever read a verse that goes something like "Suffer not a witch to live"? True, it's a mistranslation of the Hebrew, but that is the official Christian translation, and thousands have died from it. It would be more accurate to say, "Christians no longer obey passages that command them to kill those of other faiths"

Answer 8

I stared and starred. from the posts above I see that Islam truly has religious freedom. believe in Al'la or die. nice. let's see how many will accompany me when I'll set forth for the ultimate journey. some dogs bark on the caravan, and some dogs fight, and so do I, when the time comes.

religious freedom is not only start believing when you wish, but also leave the belief, when you want. the second part is somewhat forgotten under Islam.

Answer 9

No, Muslims do not pave a pathway to Hellfire for those who choose it. Muslims do not say to people - select any religion and you will be saved in the Hereafter because Muslims believe that Islam is the Religion God ordered us to follow and whoever rejects it would be rejecting what God ordered.
As for the apostate rule, that is not applied in this society because there is no caliph. Any people who apply it now are unjust.

Answer 10

I do feel sorry for them even if they do want to kill me. Think of the years of propaganda they're exposed too. It probably feels normal to them. What is hard to understand is---no matter what religion you were taught, no matter what creed you live by, at some point in your life you will desire to think for yourself. So what happens when a Muslim reaches this age of enlightenment? The violent ones who want to kill will always find a "reasonable" excuse for doing so. Saying you are a "warrior of God" is simply a chickenshot way to defend your own psychoses. In this day and age I choose to take it for granted that all (and especially Muslims) religions are dangerous and their followers are not to be trusted for a minute. By the way, I am not an atheist, not agnostic.