Islam is a religion of peace

Let me start of by saying that a peaceful religion does not equal a pacifist religion, rather Islam is also a religion of realism that recognizes that there is indeed evil in this world. In regards to your quoting, I already mentioned that they had to do with the taking of Mecca or they had to do with other battles (e.g. The Battle of Badr). The first verses you mentioned starting with slay them wherever you find them are meant for war. The Holy Mosque you mentioned is Masjid Al-Haram (https://en.wikipedia.org...). There was a battle at this Mosque and it was commanded that if the non-Muslims would cease, the Muslims should cease. At the victory of Makkah, Muhammad SAW made it quite clear that those who put down their weapons as well, shall not be touched or harmed. When it is said that you should not take the disbelievers/Christians or Jews as friends it is meant that they couldn't be taken as allies (Especially during war). We can also see that Muhammad SAW had non-Muslims as neighbors and friends. I have already proven to you that there is no compulsion in religion when it comes to Islamic rules. http://www.answering-christianity.com... "But if they (the enemies) incline to peace, then you (also) incline to it, and put your trust in Allah"" (Surah al-Anfal, 8:61) 99.9% of Muslim scholars disagree with these forms of terrorist attacks. Again, I have proven that these kind of terrorist attacks are considered as extremely major sins. All of these terrorist attack include the killing of innocent people and killing one innocent soul is like killing all of mankind. On top of that, one of the principles of Sharia is that you follow the law of the land that you live in. Isn't killing illegal? I've already shown you that killing someone illegally will put you outside the fold of Islam. What Hadith or Qur'anic text speak about hostage taking? The answer is none and yet the " Islamic extremists" are doing that. Why is that? "Whosoever kills a person without any reason (of murder or mischief in the earth), it is as though he has killed all the people. And whosoever saves a single life, it is as though he has saved all the people." (Surah al-Maaida, 5:32) Notice how saving people is also mentioned, that is what you call Jihad and martyrdom. I find it funny that you talk about events where only a few dozen people were killed while the United States is still murdering, bombing and slaughtering millions and millions of Muslims with the help of Israel and Britain. Why did general Allenby declare that the crusades are over when he entered Jerusalem? Isn't it weird for a secular state to continue the crusades that was started by the Pope a 1,000 years before? The US has been at war for 212 of the 238 years of its existence and they're supposedly not at fault? Let's take a look at Qur'an 25:63: And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace, So even if you insult me with the most disgusting statement, we're commanded to respond peacefully. Scrolling further down in this chapter we can find how merciful God is again. Qur'an 24:68-70: And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right [lawfully by Islam and by state], and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. Before you might add Jizyah to the discussion let me talk about it. Jizyah is a tax for non-Muslims under Sharia Law, but hang on. Why do the non-Muslims have to pay this tax while the Muslims don't? First off, the Muslims already pay their Zakah for the poor. Secondly, only healthy non-Muslim men paid the Jizyah, women, elderly and the sick didn't. Thirdly, all of the Jizyah goes to the poor (including poor non-Muslims). Lastly, Muslim men were obliged to fight in war, non-Muslim men weren't because of the Jizyah. https://www.quora.com... http://www.answering-christianity.com... Islam is a religion of peace, when we greet each other we say "May peace be upon you" and not "May death be upon you", which a woman used to say to Muhammad SAW in a poem. "Allah does not love corruption". (Surah al-Baqara, 205) Wherewith Allah guideth all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety, and leadeth them out of darkness, by His will, unto the light,- guideth them to a path that is straight. (Al-Ma'idah 5:16) With the laws I presented it is clear that Islam does condemn terrorism and that Islam commands Muslims to be kind and forgiving towards others. A man asked the Messenger of Allah (A018;): "Which act in Islam is the best?" He (A018;) replied, "To give food, and to greet everyone, whether you know or you do not." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. The Prophet (A018;) passed by a mixed company of people which included Muslims, polytheists and Jews, and he gave them the greeting (i.e., saying As- Salamu 'Alaikum). [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. The Jews used to intentionally sneeze in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (A018;) hoping that he would say to them: 'Yarhamukum-ullah (may Allah have mercy on you),' but he would respond with: "Yahdikum-ullahu wa yuslihu balakum (may Allah guide you and render sound your state of affairs)." [Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi]. Muhammad SAW clearly lived with non-Muslims in peace.