islam a religion of peace.

Islam is a religion of peace in the fullest sense of the word. The Quran calls its way ""The ways of peace"" [Quran: 5:16] It describes reconciliation as the best policy [Quran: 4:128], and states that God abhors any disturbance of peace [Quran: 2:205] The root word of Islam is 'Silm', which means peace. So the spirit of Islam is the spirit of peace. The first verse of the Quran breathes the spirit of peace; it reads: "In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate." This verse is repeated in the Quran no less than 114 times. It shows the great importance Islam attaches to such values as Mercy and Compassion. One of God's names, according to the Quran, is As-Salaam, which means Peace. Moreover, the Quran states that the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam (may Allaah exalt his mention) was sent to the world as a mercy to mankind. [Quran: 21:107] A perusal of the Quran shows that most verses of the Quran (and also the Hadeeth) are based on peace and kindness, either directly or indirectly. The ideal society, according to the Quran is Dar As-Salaam, that is, the house of peace [Quran: 10:25] The Quran presents the universe as a model, which is characterised by harmony and peace [Quran: 36:40] When God created heaven and earth, He so ordered things that each part might perform its function peacefully without clashing with any other. The Quran tells us that "It is not allowable [i.e., possible] for the sun to reach the moon, nor does the night overtake the day, but each, in an orbit, is swimming." [Quran: 36:40] For billions of years, therefore, the entire universe has been fulfilling its function in total harmony with His divine plan. According to Islam, peace is not simply an absence of war. Peace opens doors to all kinds of opportunities which are present in any given situation. It is only in a peaceful situation that planned activities are possible. It is for this reason that the Quran says: ""And settlement is best"" [Quran: 4:128] Similarly, Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam has observed: "God grants to gentleness (Rifq) what He does not grant to violence ('Unf). [Abu Daawood] According to Islam, peace is the rule and war is only an exception. Even in defensive war we have to analyse its result; if the result is doubtful, Muslims should avoid war. Stray acts of aggression are not enough for Muslims to rush into war. They have to assess the whole situation and adopt a policy of avoidance when war is not certain to achieve a positive result. In actual fact, the mission of all the Prophets from Aadam (Adam) to 'Eesaa (Jesus), may Allaah exalt their mention, was one and the same - of establishing the ideology of monotheism in the world, so that man might worship the One God alone. As we know, there came a large number of Prophets in ancient times but the message of monotheism remained at the initial stage; it could not culminate in revolution. In ancient times, the system of monarchy was entrenched throughout the world. The kings, in order to secure their political interests, adopted the course of religious persecution. These kings suppressed all religious movements that were different from the state religion. They would nip all 'apostasy' in the bud since they saw religion as a matter of affirming one's loyalty to the state. If a person adhered to a religion other than the state religion, he was regarded as a rebel. That is why in ancient times, prophetic movements could go no further than the state of Da'wah, or invitation to Islam. No sooner would a movement based on monotheism arise than the coercive political system would be activated to pull it out by its roots. The reason for the absence of any historical record of Prophets (besides the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) in antiquity is traceable to the intense opposition of these coercive political systems. From Hadith and Sunnah The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Every believer who consoles his brother in distress will be dressed by God in an apparel of honor on the Day of Resurrection." Fiqh-us-Sunnah:V4N80a The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "If anyone transgresses and receives punishment in this world, God is too just to repeat the punishment of His servant in the next. And if anyone transgresses and God conceals it and forgives him, He is too generous to go back upon a thing He has forgiven." Al-Tirmidhi:1023 The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Do you know who will go first on the Day of Resurrection to the shade of God"Those who when given what is right accept it, when asked for something give freely and who judge in favor of others as they do for themselves." Al-Tirmidhi:1042 The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The best charity is that given to a relative who does not like you." Fiqh-us-Sunnah:V3N100 The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "A man has sinned enough if he neglects to feed those in need." Fiqh-us-Sunnah:V3N100 The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Religion is very easy, and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded." Bukhari:V1N38 The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "O God, grant me life as a poor man, cause me to die as a poor man and resurrect me in the company of the poor.." His wife asked him why he said that, and he replied: "Because (the poor) will enter Paradise (before) the rich. Do not turn away a poor man"even if all you can give is half a date. If you love the poor and bring them near you..God will bring you near Him on the Day of Resurrection." Al-Tirmidhi:1376 The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was asked what type of earning was best, and he replied: "A man"s work with his hands and every (lawful) business transaction." Al-Tirmidhi:846 The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "On the Day of Resurrection I will intercede and say, "O my Lord! Admit into Paradise (even) those who have faith equal to a mustard seed in their hearts.'" Bukhari:V9N600 A funeral procession once passed in front of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and he stood up out of respect. When he was told the person in the coffin was Jewish and not Muslim, he said: "Was it not a living (soul)?" Bukhari:V2N399 The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once saw the corpse of a woman who had been killed in a military action, and he disapproved of it and forbade the killing of women and children.Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and his successor as head of the Muslim community, advised one of his military commanders: "Do not kill women or children or an aged, infirm person. Do not cut down fruit-bearing trees. Do not destroy an inhabited place." Al-Muwatta:V21N9-10 When asked what the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) did while in his house, his wife Ayesha relied: "He used to keep busy serving and helping members of the household."Anas bin Malik related that: "(Even the humblest) maid servant of Madinah would take the Prophet"s hand and take him to any place (for the redress of her grievances)." Riyadh-us-Salaheen:605-606 The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God has forbidden you to be undutiful to your mothers, to withhold (what you should give) or demand (what you do not deserve), or to bury your daughters alive (a pre-Islamic practice)." Bukhari:8:6 The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The learned are heirs of the prophets, and the prophets do not leave any inheritance in the form of (monetary wealth), but they do leave knowledge as their legacy. A person who acquires knowledge, acquires his full share (of this legacy)." Riyadh-us-Salaheen:1388 This is enough information with citations to tell my opponents that he and his self created ideology is totaly baseless i am ending my debate with islam is peaceful religion..