| Islam is one of the worlds largest religions with | | | | them. |
| millions of followers from every single nation in the | | | | - Muslims must not take anything from the general |
| world. Islam has never been the most accessible | | | | public of the conquered country without paying for it. |
| religion to the West as there are fewer Muslims in | | | | - The corpses of the enemy must not be disgraced |
| the USA then there are in countries in Africa or in the | | | | or mutilated. |
| Middle East for example. This inability for Westerners | | | | - Corpses of the enemy should be returned. |
| to be able to experience Islam from true Muslims has | | | | - Treaties must not be broken. |
| often lead to many misconceptions about this | | | | |
| tolerant religion. | | | | The Prophet Muhammad was fighting for his religion. |
| The title of this article and the fact that you are | | | | He was fighting for mankind to give up worshipping |
| reading it right now shows how little true Islam is | | | | idols, something that had always been done. By even |
| taught around the world as being a major religion. | | | | suggesting for his peoples to give up this worship he |
| According to the Council on American-Islamic relations | | | | had a war thrust unto him and his believers. This is |
| there are approximately 1.2 billion [in 1999] Muslims in | | | | where many of the references to fighting come |
| the world which represents between 19.2% and 22% | | | | from. They are from religious persecution and from a |
| of the world's population. It has become the second | | | | time of religious intolerance. Order was needed to be |
| largest religion in the world. Yet for all its popularity it | | | | brought to a world of chaos. This religious chaos has |
| is still regarded as being a religion of mystique which | | | | long since been resolved but there are always those |
| is simply not the case. | | | | extremists who take historical references and try to |
| Islam is a religion not unlike many of the other major | | | | apply them for the modern day scenarios around |
| religions. The question of whether Islam is a peaceful | | | | them as best they can even though they no longer |
| religion or one of violence is not a simple question | | | | apply. Now there are other means to resolve |
| with a yes or no answer. The short answer is yes to | | | | differences as most countries are willing to speak to |
| both, it promotes peace but then also instructs on | | | | one another peacefully. Below is an extract which |
| defense upon ones person, property, or religion. | | | | was intended for a time long ago when borders and |
| There is a reference: "He who speaks evil of father | | | | treaties and basic human rights were easily discarded. |
| or mother is to be put to death". This is a very | | | | 3:169 "Think not of those who are slain in God's way |
| poignant statement in its condemnation. It seems as | | | | as dead. Nay, they live finding their sustenance in the |
| if the punishment does not seem to fit the crime. | | | | presence of their Lord." |
| Where does this statement come from? The Quran? | | | | Human life is considered sacred and not something |
| No, it is in the Bible, Matthew 15:4. | | | | which is inconsequential. It is taught by the Quran, " |
| As can be discerned, Islam does not hold the candle | | | | Whosoever kills a human being without (any reason |
| as the only religion which speaks of violence. | | | | like) man slaughter, or corruption on earth, it is as |
| Much of what was written in the Quran containing | | | | though he had killed all mankind ... (5:32)." In fact, |
| references to violence were actually references to | | | | there is another saying by the Prophet saying how |
| wars and battles. The religion of Islam began in | | | | the next worse sin other than Polytheism is murder, |
| Mecca in the year 622 A.D and in those days there | | | | ""The greatest sins are to associate something with |
| was no United Nations to settle disputes between | | | | God and to kill a soul (human beings.)" Killing of a |
| rival groups. Battles were commonplace in those | | | | human for without the reasons listed is akin to killing |
| times and an unfortunate reality. The Holy Quran and | | | | all man kind. |
| the Prophets saying strictly prohibited the following | | | | Islam is a religion not unlike the other major religions |
| as examples of Islam’s sense of respect even | | | | which does contain extracts of violence as does the |
| for those who are trying to kill them: | | | | Bible. However, Islam does not practice violence as |
| - Wounded soldiers who are neither unfit to fight, nor | | | | the first or only recourse to take. If it did then the |
| actually fighting, should not be attacked. | | | | streets of the world would be full of blood and but it |
| - Prisoners of war should not be killed. | | | | is not. Patience & forgiveness are the true weapons |
| - It is prohibited to kill anyone who is tied up or in | | | | of a Muslim and not violence. The actions of some |
| captivity. | | | | radicals does not symbolize what Islam is and it never |
| - Residential areas should not be pillaged, plundered or | | | | will so long as the Prophets sayings and the Holy |
| destroyed, nor should the Muslims touch the property | | | | Quran are followed properly as they were originally |
| of anyone except those who are fighting against | | | | intended to be. |