Islam is a religion of peace

Before starting, I thank Con for his time, and the well laid points he has put forth. I agree with his method of Criticizing the Subject, to know more about it. It is known as Critical Scholarship. I find it necessary, to explain the Sources of Islam and terms, as I see them being misrepresented or in other terms "misunderstood" 1."ISLAM"- In Arabic, "Islam" means submission or surrender – however, it is also derived from another root word "salam", Meaning peace and safety. [1] 2."Muslim" – A Muslim is a PERSON, who acts Islam, In other terms, Muslims act themselves as Muslims when they follow Islam. Thus, Islam is Perfect, but Muslims aren't. If a Muslim, doesn't act upon Islam, then he isn't acting as a Muslim at that Point of time. Hence, Islam is NOT what Muslims do, It is what Muslims are supposed to do. For Example, Hitler, who claimed to be a Christian, said "I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator: by defending myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord.." Page 60, Mein Kampf [2] These words, are straight and clear, he adheres himself to Christianity, while unjustly killing the Jews. Do you believe in his testimony? I don't ! 3.Sharriah- is the Divine law, has two Sources 1.Primary Sources- Quran, and the Authentic Teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), referred to as the Sunnah 2.Secondary Sources- Ijma (Consensus of the Muslim Community) and the qiyas ( Jurisprudence based on Analogy) [3] Therefore, Quran is NOT the Only major Source of the Sharriah. Hence, any Scholar, before making a FATWA, has to cite from either one or both of the Major Sources, to implement the same 4.Fatwa- is a legal Opinion [4], given by an Islamic scholar, basing his Opinion on the Quran, and/or the Sunnah. It is to be noted that, the opinion may be valid or invalid based on the evidences one gives to support it. In this Round, I will be giving my arguments for the Topic "Islam is a religion of Peace" 1.Living Peacefully with All Nations and People •"O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full Knowledge and is well-acquainted (with all things)." (Surah 49, Verse 13). 2.No Room for Racism The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "O people! Your God is one and your forefather is one. An Arab is not better than a non-Arab and a non-Arab is not better than an Arab, and a red person is not better than a black person and a black person is not better than a red person,except in piety." 3.There is no Compulsion in Religion. "Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects Evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things." (Surah 2, Verse 256). 4.Islam Doesn't permit to Kill Civilians Islam prohibits the targeting and killing of all civilians, especially women, children, the elderly, and religious clergy. Enemies, even at time of war, must be treated justly. Prisoners of war have basic human rights,and must be provided and cared for and not humiliated in any way. •"O Prophet! say to those who are captives in your hands: If Allah findeth any good in your hearts, He will give you something better than what has been taken from you, and He will forgive you: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Surah 8, Verse 70). •And they feed, for the love of Allah, the indigent, the orphan, and the captive, (Saying), We feed you for the sake of Allah alone: no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks." (Surah 76, Verses 8-9). In addition, the following were the instructions of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) to Muslims who are forced to fight a war: •"Do not kill women or children or non-combatants and do not kill old people or religious people,' and he mentioned priests, nuns and rabbis. And he said, "Do not cut down fruit-bearing trees and do not poison the wells of your enemies. [6] "Stop O people, that I may give you ten rules to keep by heart: Do not commit treachery, nor depart from the right path. You must not mutilate, nither kill a child or aged man or woman. Do not destroy a palm tree, nor burn it with fire and do not cut a fruitfull tree. You must not slay any of the flock or herds or the camels, save for your subsistence. You are likely to pass by people who have devoted their lives to monastic services; leave them to that which they have devoted their lives. You are likely, likewise, to find people who will present to you meals of many kinds. You may eat, but do not forget to mention the name of Allah". [7] 5.When are Muslims Permitted to Fight? 1.For Persecution and Injustice "Permission [to fight] is granted to those who are being persecuted, since injustice has befallen them, and God is certainly able to support them [with victory].They were evicted from their homes unjustly, for no reason other than saying, "Our Lord is God." If it were not for God's supporting of some people against others, monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques - where the name of God is commemorated frequently - would have been destroyed. Absolutely, God supports those who support Him. God is Powerful, Almighty." (Surah 22, Verses 39-40). 2.For Retaliation "Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, and do not transgress; for Allah loveth not transgressors." (Surah 2, Verse 190) 6.Islam Prohibits Violence and Aggression , and stands for Peace and Justice "Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, and do not transgress; for Allah loveth not transgressors." (Surah 2, Verse 190) "But if they cease (fighting you), Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Surah 2, Verse 192). "But if the enemy incline towards peace, do thou (also) incline towards peace, and trust in Allah: for He is the One that Heareth and Knoweth (all things)." (Surah 8, Verse 61). "God advocates justice, charity, and regarding the relatives. And He forbids evil, vice, and transgression. He enlightens you, that you may take heed." (Surah 16, Verse 90). "Nor can Goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better: then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate!" (Surah 41, Verse 34). "O ye who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do." ( Surah 4, Verse 135) The Prophet (PBUH) said "The first cases to be adjudicated between people on the Day of Judgment will be those of bloodshed." [8] I will continue further, with my arguments, and rebuttals, in the next Round, To Sum up Former President George Bush: "The English translation is not as eloquent as the original Arabic, but let me quote from the Koran, itself: "In the long run, evil in the extreme will be the end of those who do evil. For that they rejected the signs of Allah and held them up to ridicule." The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That's not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists don't represent peace. They represent evil and war" [9] [1] http://muslimvoices.org... [2] http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org... [3] http://thisissunnah.com... [4] http://www.thefreedictionary.com... [5] Narrated in Mosnad Ahmad #22978 [6][Ahmad, Diya'al-Din alkamushKhanawi, Ramuz al-Ahadith, vol 1, 76/12] [7] [Tabari, Ta' rikh, 1, 1850] [8] Muslim and Al-Bukhari [9]http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov...