is islam a religion of peace?

[cyberpi]

Originally Posted by taijasi

People are GOOD. We are born Good, and our opportunity in life is to increase this Good. Not even having read the Koran, I'd bet my left arm that this is something taught in Islam.

Not quite... don't bet your arm. a) Gambling, b) You might need it to hold and read the Quran. Children are more innocent but it says some people you can't help... some are even guided away by Allah (swt).

[Abdullah]

[quote=aburaees]

Originally Posted by Abdullah

"Go to war in adherance to the religion of God. Never touch the elderly, women or children. Allways improve their situation and be kind to them. God loves those who are sincere" [Ahmad, diya'al-Din. alKamushKhanawi, Ramuz al-Ahadith. vol 1, 84/8]

The Messenger of Allah [sm] also clarified the attitude a Muslim soldier must adopt, even in the middle of a raging battle, in the following terms:

"Do not kill children. avoid them people who devote themselves to worshiping in churches! Never murder women and the elderly. Do not set trees on fire or cut them down. Never destroy houses!" [Ahmad, Diya'al-Din alkamushKhanawi, Ramuz al-Ahadith, vol 1, 76/12]

"...in Islam, the only wars that are permitted are between armies and they should engage on battle fields and engage nobly...The Prophet Muhammed [sm] said: "Do not kill women or children or non-combatants, and do not kill old people or religious people", and he mentioned priests, nuns and rabbi's. And he said "Do not cut down fruit bearing trees and do not poison the well of your enemies. ...".


Abdullah

Thank you for posting these, I had come across the following Hadith before;




Though comparing this lone Hadith with those that you have just shared with us, it is apparent which should be the weightiest opinion in Islam.

Thanks again bro,
Salaam.

You are welcome brother Aburees, glad to be of some help.

I've heard about the Hadith that you quoted and the interpretation that I heard of it is that, it refers to the women and children being exposed to danger due to the poor visiblity at night; it was/is in no way giving permission to be careless about killing women and children, nor was it giving permission to intentionally killing women and children. It basically reffered to the women and children who may be killed as a mistake, due to the poor visibilty at night.

hope that helps.

Salaam

[DT Strain]

Thank you Abdullah, for your very detailed response to my questions. They were most appreciated.

[Zaakir]

islam does teach peace and is a religion of peace, somebody got it right, when they said, its the people, although there is a very very small minority of them. i thought the actions that people carried about, about the pope was bad and was disgusted. then i heard what he said, i still think they went about it the wrong way completely. the pope, to get where he is must be a very intellegent man, saying something like what he said was disgusting, muslim leaders and christian leaders always got on, and in history they did, the old pope john paul, had respect from many muslims i knew becasue of his strength in his faith, and his actions.but the new pope has started his career with a bad image, being in a catholic family, i am really really annoyed, all this talk of people saying islam is evil and bad etc, as far as i am concerned catholism and christianity as a whole to some extenmet has been shown up, and can never earn back the respect that it had with me. the pope knew what he said, and deliberately did it to enfuriate people, because he kew what would have happened. maybe catholism willsee what muslims ahve to experience, becasue a few people are 'bad' we all get blamed. your leader said something bad, now you will all get blamed too.i mean, being a man of his status, why would he even think of doing that?

[inhumility]

All religions are for peace including Islam.
In the first place the Pope should have not spoken the words he spoke.
If the Pope as some think wanted to have dialogue with Muslims he should have invited for a dialogue plainly. What he preferred he got it.

There is no tradition of taking out processions and resorting to killing the innocent people or putting on fire the public property or burning of the effigy of a person or flag of a respectable country, there is no verse in Quran or anything in Sunnah and Hadith for doing such things. Absolutely nothing
So the Muslim reaction, unfortunately, was not suited to the teachings of their religion, hence religion is not to be blamed.
This is politics pure; processions are the normal culture of the democracy, nobody takes notice if there are no processions, killings or lootings; one does not come into the news if there are no such measures adopted.
Pope wanted to be IN for a controversy to rally around him the Christians, who don’t come to church, and to widen his power base and to put them in confrontation against Muslims like the Europeans did, if I am not mistaken, in Crusades. Popes had been ruling Europe, he cannot forget those golden moments, and perhaps time was ripe for such a move.
I understand sentiments of taijasi, he loves humanity and he loves peace in the world but the politicians won’t understand. They love power and to rule the world, they won’t care a million innocents dead as a collateral damage. Sorry I go into sentiments.
Those who want to know of a peaceful response by a peaceful Ahmadi – a faith in Islam, please access if they like the link, and they would get a true picture of Islam, Muhammad and Quran on the issue:
A Response to the Pope's Remarks about Islam an elaboration of a sermon by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Thanks

[BlaznFattyz]

perhaps a better question is "is violence inherant in islam?"

[shadowman]

or is violence inherent in god. remember

i come with a sword - jesus

dont forget the old testament. you remember it whenever it suits your argument, label it "twisting of scripture" whenever it doesnt

[BlaznFattyz]

aside from that not making any sense, this discussion is about islam.

[Postmaster]

Did you get that? Chesterton, as a Christian, had the understanding that the world does not have a hunger problem or pollution problem or money problem or war problem or disease problem, but instead a people problem. People are whats wrong with the world. I am the problem, you are, and on and on. The indwelling sin in us makes us the problem Read romands 3 and Jesus' words..."There is NONE Good, no not one!" The most peaceful people on this planet are those fortunate sinners who have come to recornize the evil in them and have come to Christ whereby He may change them into His own image (like mr. Smith in the matrix movies).

The problem seems to be we are fighting pointlessly over ideology and theology. As far as I know all humans are going to function the same way regardless. This has been seen time and time again throughout history, no masses of people within a certain race or religion have been seen to be morally superior. Sooner everyone gets this into there minds, the better.

[Abdullah]

Originally Posted by BlaznFattyz

perhaps a better question is "is violence inherant in islam?"

Hi Blazenfattyz,

Violence is not inherent in Islam, but self-defence is, with the strictest and most humane guidelines ever.

Violence [that which violates] has nothing to do with Islam.

Peace.

[BlaznFattyz]

Originally Posted by Abdullah

Hi Blazenfattyz,

Violence is not inherent in Islam, but self-defence is, with the strictest and most humane guidelines ever.

Violence [that which violates] has nothing to do with Islam.

Peace.

i must admit it is hard to say violence is not part of islam when it is going on at the same time we are posting these threads. perhaps there are socio-cultural factors involved in addition to or besides islam, such as dictatorships, education, discrimination, peer pressure, misinterpreted scriptures, etc.
what is the definition of islamic self defense where one acts as a martyr? and are those people rewarded for it?

[Zaakir]

firstly,small mindedness isnt something you can possess this day in age.islam is nothing to do with violence.a martyr in islam can be of many reasons.such as someone dying with an illness, in some circumstances can be classed as a martyr.in christianity there are many martyrs taht were killed fighting for your religion and for their cause,this is the same in islam.some muslims are violent shall we say,but i dont think its becasue they are muslim,its the way they are brought up,there has only actaully been 2 attacks right?by muslims.nothing is mentioned of their race.the country they are from may have many issues with places like america,hence 911.how many white muslims have you seen involved,how many somalis,how many malaysians,how many africans.the people were from some countries where the government isnt running properly,thus there is some confusion in the countrys and leads to such recent events

[17th Angel]

Every, every... Religion/way of life can be of peace..... Just sometimes there are a few bad apples.

[Snoopy]

I think there can be found reasons / excuses for violence in many things if one looks through the right eyes; the Koran, the Bible, zen, the lyrics of heavy metal albums…

Perhaps the distinction needs to be made between an Islamist, prepared to use violence for political ends and associated with Islam, and a Muslim who presumably denounces random violence against civilians, whatever their race or religion. I realise it is a complex issue, but maybe an appropriate analogy might be with the IRA. Its membership may have all been Catholics but that didn’t mean that this made people question if Roman Catholicism was (or was not) a “religion of peace.”

s.

[Muslimwoman]

Originally Posted by BlaznFattyz

perhaps a better question is "is violence inherant in islam?"

Hi Blazn

This is a subject dear to my heart and one I try to read as much as I can about. For me the answer is a resounding No, as with many things it is about context and interpretation. I bookmarked a piece on Jihad which I found really interesting, it is informative and not an apologists opinion, a bit long but a good read. If anyone is interested it is here:

IslamOnline - Contemporary Section

Salaam