For whom is Islam a religion of peace?

Question

For whom is it a religion of peace? Clearly, not for this poor school teacher who let her students name a class teddy bear Mohammed (watch link below).

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1294365,00.html

Then, there is the poor woman in Saudi Arabia who has gotten herself set up for a punishment of 200 lashes, raised from 90 when the "court" decided that it did appreciate her taking her case to the level of the world media in an effort to influence (ease) the court's initial ruling of 90 lashes.

They can name their dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, or sons Jesus Christ! That doesn't bother me ONE bit! *shrug* None of you so far has really answered the question. For WHOM is Islam a religion of peace? From my tiny perspective it seems to be a religion that allows the mullahs in the mosques to control their "flocks" sans having to interact with them too much.

It allows them to interact with the "flocks" and keep their hands clean! *laughter*

Answer 1

Until Islam loosens it's strangle-hold around the throats of every Muslim, Islamic countries will always be viewed as backward, living in the Bronze age and barbaric. A civilized society is measured by how its people are treated. Respect and dignity for all is the only sane way to be.
.

Answer 2

i won't say much as others have explained well the difference between a religion and people to your limited scope of understanding.

First and fore most, do NOT judge a religion by it's people. Otherwise you'll have the world judging Christianity by people like Jeffery Dommer, Timmothy Mcveigh, Hitler and helter skelter.

In the case of the saudi, the women is an adult and knows well what the laws of the land are. She was having an affair with someone which has admitted to (check bbc). Then she tried to make circus out of the judicial system by going to international Media. Is that how you deal with the law and fight your case? Begging international media to put pressure on a judicial system to let you go for breaking their law? She should be lucky she didn't get the deanthy penalty as the punishment of adultry. And don't no one go crying that is harsh, everyone of you would swear to kill your partner if he/she cheated on you.

As for Sudan teacher. Although i don't agree with the punishment because Muhammad is a popular name and one isn't necessarily naming the teddy after the prophet, maybe after his uncle Muhammad or something. But the issue here is culture and customs of that country, she should be aware of what is good and bad practice to engage in. She is after all a guest teacher who is required to learn the local customs before going there.

Answer 3

The problem is Theocracy. There are all kinds of nasty things in the Bible -- especially the Old Testament. What if the United States was run by Old Testament law? It would probably look a lot like the Middle East. Theocracy is the worst kind of tyranny, no matter what religion is running it.

And keep in mind that Islam is about 500 years younger than Christianity. What were Christians doing 500 years ago? Torturing and killing unbelievers and heretics. America started out as a Theocracy, too, but their punishments were more along the lines of public humiliation and shunning. Blasphemy, working on the sabbath, not going to church -- these were all considered "crimes" in Colonial times. And in Salem, if your neighbor wanted your land, they could accuse you of witchcraft.

I'm not trying to vilify Religion here, I'm just saying that all religions have the potential to become Theocratic and Tyrannical. Could Islam change in 500 years? I hope sooner than that. Could Christianity revert back to it's Theocratic phase? Yes, the potential is there, espeicaly since the rise of Premillennial Dispensationalism.

What we need to do is to encourage whichever Muslim country we invade -- Afghanistan, Iraq, probably Iran in the not too distant future -- to not only form a Democracy, but to form a Secular Democracy. A Wall of Separation between Mosque and State, and Religious Freedom expressed through greater Religious diversity will help to turn the tide in the Middle East. The only way to win the War on Terror is to encourage the spread of Secular governments. But completely eliminating religion, and forcing everyone to be Atheists isn't the answer either. It didn't work in China or Russia, it won't work anywhere else. A Secular government must be balanced and tempered by a spiritually diverse population -- the more different religions to choose from, the better.

And we need to look into that dark mirror ourselves, look at the Muslim Theocracies, look into our own history, and never forget what the Founders had in mind when they wrote the First Amendment. It could happen here again if we are not vigilant.

Answer 4

For all those who want to live in peace.

Your post relates to a blasphemy case. No Muslim can bear insult of prophet Muhammad. The poor woman should have known the Muslim reaction against the Pope in 1995.

A 46 years of woman cannot be called poor when she is openly involved in blasphemy.She deserve the punishment.

If you do not pay respect to your prophet or God - Jesus christ you should not expect the same from Muslims! We love Muhammad more than our own souls!

Do not shetter the Peace if you want peace !

Answer 5

As salaamu 'alaikym, my misinformed and opinionate friend with a very biased opinion.

Insha'Allah, Islam is the religion of peace for approximately 1.6 billion persons on this planet, persons found in all nations and societies throughout the world.

Insha'Allah, as has been explained in previous post, the Christian school teacher, working in a Christian school in a primarily Muslim nation did not take the time to learn the custom and culture of the peoples in the nation where she was a guest. By not learning such, she, either deliberately or inadvertently, insulted those same persons just as Muslims would if he or she went to a supposedly "Christian" nation (like the USofA) and had her students name a doll "Jesus". It is not hard to immagine the uproar that such would cause here in this country.

The young woman in Saudi Arabia well knew what the laws of that country were and are prior to her choosing to break the same. In that country, there is a law that forbids unmarried men and women socializing except under exact guidelines that have long been established. She also knew that going "public" or to the media would , in all likelihood, not help her case yet she chose to do the same. Further, she is a Shi'a Muslim living in a mostly Sunni Muslim country, one well known for a lack of tolerance of others and yet she went out of her way to break the laws of the nation she was living in.

Insha'Allah, by Western standards, what is happening to the teacher and to this young woman seems harsh and very unfair. According to the standards of the nations that these two separate events are taking place in, this seem appropraite and just.
One should not judge other nations by the manner and way in which one lives in his or her own country.
When one is a guest in another country, one must abide by the laws of said country.

Insha'Allah, if one looks at the statistics in this nation (USofA) and its legal system, how many false convictions which resulted in both imprisonment and death would one find? How many laws are decried in this country as being too harsh and unjust yet remain unchanged and, for some, unchallenged? The spot light could easily and quickly be turned around to shine on us and our systems. If such should happen, imagaine how we would appear to the rest of the world.

Being an "ugly American" and trying to bully the rest of the world into doing as we want them to do or demonzing them from not doing so simply does not work any longer in the global reality of the moment.
With the means of education at the disposal of most individulas in the Western world and in a large part of the rest of the planet, a lack of cultural knowledge and understanding is simply ridiculous and reflects badly upon the ignorant.
This is especially true when one awakens to the reality of the current means of travel available and the shifting of people, who bring their cultures with them, throughout the globe.

The moral is twofold and it can be summed up in one phrase, "People who live in glass houses should not throw stones!"

Ma'a salaam

Addition:
Your question, as you posted the same, has been answered by many. Unfortunately, you are not receiving the answers you "want". Perhaps it is time to broaden your perspective and to "open your eyes" to the light of reality and wiser persons.
Ma'a salaam

Answer 6

mm. what is the legal punishment for someone who calls the Jews "pigs"?, for example?

Do you know that in some western countries it is a crime to insult the king? So what's wrong with outlawing insults against the Prophet of Islam in a Muslim country? Can you grow up a little?

Answer 7

First of all, I don't agree at all with the Islamic religion, and the punishment ridiculous and cruel for such a thoughtless act.... and that is all it is.....thoughtless. What was she thinking: if she's in a Muslim country, surely she must know something about Islam and the sacredness they attach to Mohammad.

On the other hand, back in England, would this teacher allow her students to name a teddy bear "Jesus Christ"? I think as an educator she would have a bit more discretion.

For whom is Islam a religion of peace? For those who are compliant, unquestioningly obedient to the demands of the Qur'an, and for those who stand firm in the face of their enemies, which are potentially everyone who doesn't.

Islam doesn't pretend to be an "easy to follow" religion. It takes 100% commitment, and once a person takes their "vows", it's a life or death decision. Any "apostasy" is punishable by death. Any "major sin" is punishable by death. One "minor sin" can be redeemed by doing "seven good deeds", but to die in "shirk" is punishable by hellfire. To give your life in destroying the enemy is the surest way to earn eternal life. "Peace" is a relative word in Islam.

Answer 8

Opinion of historian De Lacy OLeary.


The best reply to the misconception that Islam was spread by the sword is given by the noted historian De Lacy OLeary 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."

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 mans 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."



Sword of the Intellect.


It is the sword of intellect. The sword that conquers the hearts and minds of people. The Quran 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-Quran 16:125]

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".

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?

Answer 9

All what is done in Saudi Arabia or Sudan is not Islam. Only what Quran and the tradition of the prophet teaches is Islam. They too are human and are subject to human error!

Same like denying the holocaust in Europe is a crime, degrading the name of our prophet is quite serious.

Answer 10

Is that the extent of your knowledge of Islam? What if all I knew about Christianity was from the KKK? They claim to do what they do in the name of Christ. Would you say that is an accurate portrayal of Christianity?

Clearly, you have a lot of learn.