Islam is inherently a religion of peace

Preface: - Con has once again not provided any rebuttals whatsoever, thus all my arguments stand. - Also, apparently Con has conceded the debate & moved on, violating thus the structure of the debate. I shall nonetheless continue my case. Rebuttals: - We have yet to see any reliable source brought by Con to support the series of claims he made. Thus, they shall all remain bare assertions, thus dismissed. Part III: the Example of the Prophet. Claim-1: Prophet Muhammad was a wealthy warlord! - Con has provided no proof for this claim. Nonetheless, I shall dispel it anyways: 1. Before his mission begun, Muhammad was not wealthy, he was employed as a merchant by a wealthy businesswoman Khadija, who upon hearing about his noble character (he was called al-Amin, ‘the Trustworthy’), sent her servant Nafisa to propose marriage to him, which he rejected saying: “I have no means to provide for a wife”. It was only when he realised it was Khadija, being capable of providing for herself, who wished to marry him that he agreed [19]. 2. All the wealth of Khadija, the Prophet & his clan was dissipated during the 3 years blockade of Quraysh [20]. 3. During his life in Medina, Muhammad was not wealthy either. This, either due to real lack of means that he used to attach a stone to his belly from severe hunger which often lasts for days [22] ; or, even when the situation of Muslims got better, due to excessive donations [23], that “never was the Prophet asked for a thing to be given for which his answer was ‘no’." [23], he “would not refrain from walking with a widow or poor person and tending to their needs.” [24] & he took it upon himself to pay the debts of his companions: “if a Muslim dies while in debt, I [Muhammad] am responsible for the repayment of his debt” [25], or due to his perpetually ascetic lifestyle, that his family “never ate to the fill the bread of barley for two successive days until he died.” [26] ; the size of his house was 4.8m on its long side & 3.4m on its short side [27]. All that, while being the religious & secular leader of all Muslims. => Regardless, I don’t see how this is related to the resolution! Claim-2: The Prophet spread Islam by the sword! - Here again Con does not provide any evidence for this claim: 1. This is a myth that has been reiterated by some Christians & western historians for centuries, for which they never really provided any proof. Here, De Lacy O’Leary says: “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.” [28]. 2. The Prophet during his military carrier led 29 campaigns (all of which were defensive campaigns, only 9 of which turned into battles [32]) at the end of which he united, for the first time in History, Arabia, the land known for its perpetual warfare. In all these campaigns, there has been a total of 386 deaths recorded on both sides (183 muslims, & 203 non-muslims) [33], while the muslims armies reach up to 30,000 soldiers [34]. As for the unverified (i.e. uncertain) deaths, are estimated at most at 1,000. This is, by far, the least bloody unification in History, especially since it’s a unification of hundreds of ever warring tribes. 3. Most of Arabia came under the command of the Prophet not through war, but voluntarily. In year 9H alone, over 70 tribes came voluntarily to pledge allegiance to him [35]. 3. These myths are sometimes propagated based on misquotations of the Prophet, such as “Paradise is under the shades of swords.”, whereas when these quotes are put in context they defeat these myths: * “Allah's Messenger in one of his military expeditions against the enemy, waited till the sun declined and then he got up amongst the people saying, "O people! Do not wish to face the enemy (in a battle) and ask Allah to save you (from calamities) but if you should face the enemy, then be patient and let it be known to you that Paradise is under the shades of swords.” [36]. It is clear from the context that war is to be avoided & Muslims should pray to be saved from it, but when they have to face it, they should express patient, be brave, & seek martyrdom. 4. Calling to war without just cause & being brave in battle are two different things, the latter being the only noble virtue. The Prophet never initiated a war, but he was the bravest in battle: “When the battle grew fierce, we [the companions], by God, would seek protection by his [the Prophet’s] side, and the bravest among us was he who confronted the onslaught and it was the Prophet (pbuh).” [37]. During the Battle of the Trench (when Quraysh & Ghatafan sieged Medina for weeks) for instance, the Prophet (pbuh) was himself “carrying earth out of the trench till dust made the skin of his `Abdomen out of my sight and he was a hairy man.” [39], while “a stone was tied to his belly for [he] had not eaten anything for three days.” [40]. => Claiming that the Prophet was spread Islam by the sword based on him being brave in battle is the purest form of propaganda. Claim-3: The Prophet was called obliterator: - This is again a misquotation, the original text says: “I am Muhammad (the praised one), and Ahmad (the praising one), and I am the Mahi (the eraser) who erases disbelief [. . .]” [41]. Mahi (eraser of disbelief) stems from: 1.“Islam wipes out all that has gone before it” [42], as in all the misdeeds of a convert are wiped out. 2. “It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion.” (61:9) [*], in the sense that “There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path.” (2:256) [*]. Claim-4: Quraysh were a neutral tribe that was decimated by the Muslims! - Wow! Anyone who has the slightest idea about the Prophet knows the dreadful role that the Quraysh played. 1. Quraysh was the tribe to which Muhammad himself belonged & lived the 53 first years of his life. & Quraysh inhabited the city of Mecca [43]. 2. During his mission in Mecca, the Quraysh persecuted, blockaded, exiled, tortured, abducted & killed many of the Prophet’s followers [44]. 3. Before the Prophet’s migration to medina, Quraysh evicted his followers from their homes & extorted their properties. Which made them migrate to Medina, 1 year later, the permission to fight Quraysh was given [45]: “Permission [to fight] has been given to those who are being fought, because they were wronged. And indeed, Allah is competent to give them victory. [They are] those who have been evicted from their homes without right - only because they say, "Our Lord is Allah .”” (22:39-40) [*]. 4. During his stay in Medina the Quraysh gathered their army to attack the Muslims, especially in the Battle of Badr & the Battle of Uhud [46]. 5. In year 5H, the Quraysh allied with many other Arab tribes & jewish tribes & sieged Medina (the Prophet’s city) for 3 weeks in order to eradicate the Muslims (called the Battle of the Trench) [47], in which they did not succeed. 6. In year 6H the Prophet made a truce with Quraysh. Nearly two years after, the Quraysh breached the treaty & killed some of the Prophet’s allies, thus declaring war on Muslims. 7. Thereupon, the Prophet, & for the first time, marched with his great army towards Mecca. The Meccans surrendered, then Muhammad turning to its people said: * ”O Quraish, what do you think of the treatment that I should accord you?" They said, "Mercy, O Prophet of Allah. We expect nothing but good from you." Thereupon the Prophet, despite all the harm & torture & oppression & suffering they caused him & his followers, he forgave them all saying: "I speak to you in the same words as Y$3;suf spoke to his brothers. This day there is no reproof against you; Go your way, for you are free.” [47]. >> To be continued >>