is islam 'really' peaceful?

[groves200]

Apart from what we see in the news. Apparently muhammed slaughtered and beheaded a countless number of people and they worship him? isn't that alone bad enough? and I know there's many peaceful Muslims but are they not going against their own faith because in the Quran it talks about how those who don't follow their faith should be punished. There's a lot more to the story than this, but it seems to all narrow down to islam not being a peaceful religion.

I know Christians are not innocent, that's heard about whenever a topic like this is raised but I'm not comparing religions here. So there's no use even mentioning any others.

It's also a bid scary when islam makes big claims for itself, such as they are the only religion and all others will burn in hell, the whole would should turn to islam and islam will rule the world..and...so on... and somehow I don't dout that will happen.

 

[LuisDantas]

While those are valid questions, one should point out that reverence for military leaders is not unusual in other communities.

 

[Sees]

Islam is like a massive ball of energy with potential to be very good, very bad, or somewhere in between - depending on the person or group's interpretation of the Qur'an, hadith, life story of Muhammad and early Muslims, etc. It is by nature standoffish with other religious traditions and it is not just a religion but political, judicial, etc. system that dominates and controls by design...i.e. "Submission"

It is my least favorite religion personally, but there are beautiful Muslims with an admirable spiritual path they have made with it.

 

[ametist]

for your first sentence.. muhammed isnt worshipped in islam.
before islam, i am responsible for myself. if i try to put the camel through the eye of a needle, I sure cant be peaceful.
if i insist, i at least will break the needle or hurt the camel or neither camel will anymore be a camel nor needle will be a needle and it will only be a pretendence that i put the camel through the eye of the needle.
Happy days to you and yes, yours.

 

[Pegg]

the problem is not really the religion...the problem is the people in the religion.

Same goes for every other religion who's adherents break universal laws and kill others for their own selfish reasons.

 

[LuisDantas]

the problem is not really the religion...the problem is the people in the religion.

What is the point of a religious doctrine if it does not take responsibility for its results?

 

[ametist]

What is the point of a religious doctrine if it does not take responsibility for its results?

taking responsibilty of results cant be a trait of doctrines. they are simply things that are interpretted and implemented by human.
taking responsibility is a human trait.
a human cant take responsibilty of anything if he is not taking responsibility of his own attitudes,thoughts,manners. the world today is fast and ready enough to give you all sorts of information from all different sources to add to your knowledge.

 

[Matemkar]

In the name of God. Salam.

You are right about studying a faith with her own texts and especially with the doings of the founder of that religion (as per us Muslims, though, the person who continuated/perfected it, i.e. Prophet Muhammad).

Because the doings of so-called subscribers of a faith may not represent that faith. And yes, you are right, Christianity is not immune to this tragedy. And we can't judge Christianity with the doings of extremist Christians in the Central African Republic or Nigeria for instance. Because their actions may not be according to the Bible and teachings of Jesus. And likewise, the actions of some Muslims may not be in unison with the teachings of Quran and Prophet Muhammad.

Now, I believe the problem can be solved by studying Quran and actions of the Prophet Muhammad (and as per shias Ahlulbayt also) who were the embodied Qurans, meanings that they were criptures of God in flesh. And studying both the "recited scripture" (Quran means "Recited" btw) and the speaking and living scriptures (Prophets and Ahlulbayt, but as per shared/agreed history by Muslims of all denominations) would help us have a clear and unbiased view.

And, I call every non-muslims and muslims as well to study Quran but with different outlooks. (For a concise study, please refer to: .:: www.Maaref-Foundation.com ::.**** The Holy Qur'an (Suras) For a detalied study you can refer to Tafsir al-Mizan ) And to study the Life of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.a) but again with different, namely, shia sources. (e.g. The Message | Books on Islam and Muslims | Al-Islam.org & http://www.iranianmovies.org/index.php?topic=305.0 & The Life of Muhammad The Prophet | Books on Islam and Muslims | Al-Islam.org etc. )

And as for your questions on selected/highlighted Quranic verses and actions of Prophet Muhammad. It really is about the way one studies them. If we have an agenda to see and interpret things in a bad way (rather to distort the faith to fit in our agenda, as some Muslim arrogants have done. or to reject the religion of Islam totally, as some non-Muslims have done), we can do it. And if we have only the aim of studying unbiased in order to come to a healthy conclusion, we can do it also. The question is, which one do we choose. For a scholarly study of this issue, please, see "A Secular Jewish Scholar" (as Lesley Hazleton describes herself) speaking on it in a shia islamic centre:

[youtube]2-hTxDvRVlo[/youtube]
Lesley Hazleton: "Prophet Muhammad : Where did Humanity Go Wrong?" - YouTube

Now, to me, (speaking of the version of interpretation of Quran and lives of Prophets and Ahlulbayt I studied and embraced) ; Islam is the religion of peace and justice. But, sometimes, the way people describe peace and justice differs. For instance, the way you describe the actions of Prophet Muhammad, which probably you studied or saw highlighted examples in sunni version of Islamic history, might be a bit violent. And though, not everything narrated about him in sunni sources might be true, I need to say that, sometimes we can see even the correctly narrated things different. Thus, to me, again, Islam is the religion of love and peace. But, the understanding of love in Islam is not hypocrite. Islam could not and can not love all. Thus Prophet Muhammad couldn't allow those who buried their daughters alive for instance. He needed to stop them by preaching. And such things if considered crimes, then let us all be criminals. Thus, I believe, we need to study the history, especially with shia sources and try to be unbiased and we will see it more clear. Thanks. ma salam

What did Jesus and Muhammad teach us ? - Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah (r.) - YouTube

 

[sandandfoam]

Apart from what we see in the news. Apparently muhammed slaughtered and beheaded a countless number of people and they worship him? isn't that alone bad enough? and I know there's many peaceful Muslims but are they not going against their own faith because in the Quran it talks about how those who don't follow their faith should be punished. There's a lot more to the story than this, but it seems to all narrow down to islam not being a peaceful religion.

I know Christians are not innocent, that's heard about whenever a topic like this is raised but I'm not comparing religions here. So there's no use even mentioning any others.

It's also a bid scary when islam makes big claims for itself, such as they are the only religion and all others will burn in hell, the whole would should turn to islam and islam will rule the world..and...so on... and somehow I don't dout that will happen.

If you are serious about your question I would suggest that you visit a mosque and ask.

 

[groves200]

If you are serious about your question I would suggest that you visit a mosque and ask.

no thanks i want to live to see my next birthday.

 

[sandandfoam]

no thanks i want to live to see my next birthday.

That's not a reason. Your answer reveals you are a slave to your fears and your mind is closed. Your 'question' is merely a rhetorical expression of blind and closed minded prejudice.
That is quite sad.

 

[groves200]

That's not a reason. Your answer reveals you are a slave to your fears and your mind is closed. Your 'question' is merely a rhetorical expression of blind and closed minded prejudice.
That is quite sad.

you are welcome to come here and try that. no one without a death wish will go to that place near me where the muslims live, so many people have been beaten just for riding their push bike down there.. or had their bikes stolen if their're lucky.. so yes i guess i do have just a little bit of fear :/

 

[Phil25]

you are welcome to come here and try that. no one without a death wish will go to that place near me where the muslims live, so many people have been beaten just for riding their push bike down there.. or had their bikes stolen if their're lucky.. so yes i guess i do have just a little bit of fear :/

You are from Oulu, Finland, right? I didnt know that Finland had a large Muslim population.

 

[Estro Felino]

Islam means submission to God, who is the Law.
Yes, it is a peaceful religion. A religion about Love, tolerance and pacific dialog.

Unfortunately the Muslim world is very large and full of diversities.
so there are people who, instead of decontextualizing the Qur'an, turn it into an instrument of hatred.
and they become murderers.

I think that any Muslims would say that these people act against God's will.
A Muslim friend of mine told me: God never justifies homicide. Never, never, never

 

[outhouse]

Islam means submission to God, who is the Law.
Yes, it is a peaceful religion. A religion about Love, tolerance and pacific dialog.

Unfortunately the Muslim world is very large and full of diversities.
so there are people who, instead of decontextualizing the Qur'an, turn it into an instrument of hatred.
and they become murderers.

I think that any Muslims would say that all people act against God's will.
A Muslim friend of mine told me: God never justifies homicide. Never, never, never

While I do agree.

It is seeming to me that typical muslims are fundamentalist in nature, about their own religion.

Not all fit this stereotype.



People have died over its interpretation since the books first appeared and the killing and murders have not stopped to this day.

 

[outhouse]

for your first sentence.. muhammed isnt worshipped in islam.
.

And yet draw a picture of him, and people will murder you for it.

 

[groves200]

You are from Oulu, Finland, right? I didnt know that Finland had a large Muslim population.

yes i'm from oulu and live there but i am currently at turku .. the people here don't like muslims so much and vice versa but this way no single person targeted instead of everyone has to suffer the hatred as a whole.. whats the word.. plural? whatever anyway it's not so nice here.

 

[Phil25]

yes i'm from oulu and live there but i am currently at turku .. the people here don't like muslims so much and vice versa but this way no single person targeted instead of everyone has to suffer the hatred as a whole.. whats the word.. plural? whatever anyway it's not so nice here.

Well the situation in Europe is getting out of control. Recently Sweden introduced a law, that criminalizes the criticism of Islam. I know Sweden is a different country from Finland, but how far is Finland from adopting the same law? Especially with the never stopping Muslim Illegal Immigration and astronomical birth rates of Muslims.
Sharia in Sweden: New Law Criminalizes Criticism of Islam | Pamela Geller, Atlas Shrugs

 

[ametist]

And yet draw a picture of him, and people will murder you for it.

what am i suppose to say? this doesnt change the fact he isnt worshipped.
it is their fault that they cant control themselves. it is their fault they dont think enough, it is their fault they arent theologically balanced, it is their fault that they see themselves as the only defender of dignity of a prophet as if god alone who is the creator of everything, owner of the judgement day, isnt enough for that.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Having the absolute truth of God on your side tends to incite certain types of people to extreme acts of violence and aggression. Some religions paint themselves as having the absolute truth to a greater degree than others.