Islam is a religion of peace

To Continue, 7.Apostasy Before answering Cons Question, I am going to turn this argument back on my opponent, and therefore, it is yet another argument for my case. Let me first think of this Question, would non Muslims have the same right in retaliation to impose the death penalty on any non Muslim who converted to Islam? If the answer is no, then Muslims are operating double-standards, which would be incompatible with the teachings of Islam. Apostasy (riddah) literally means to "to turn back" [10] Quran on Apostasy "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." 2:256 Islam defines clearly in no unambiguous words that there is no compulsion in religion, if Quran clearly says that there is no compulsion in religion, then how could there be punishment for apostasy? If there is, then it goes against the teachings of the above quoted verse. Tafsir Ibn Kathir 3:89-91 Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn Abbas said, "A man from the Ansar embraced Islam, but later reverted and joined the polytheists. He later on became sorry and sent his people to, `Ask the Messenger of Allah for me, if I can repent.' The verse 3:89 (Verily, those who repent after this (after apostasy) and do righteous deeds, then truly Allah is indeed Forgiving, Merciful.) was revealed and his people sent word to him and HE RE-EMBRACED ISLAM.' The hadith clearly shows that there "was" and there "is" NO death penalty for apostates in Islam and further, the person came back to Islam by himself by asking the Prophet Dr Shabbir Ally answers to a question posed at him " A Muslim should be free to leave Islam, if he or she wants [11] Thus, having produced enough Proof to back up my claim, and to finally answer my opponents Question, Death Punishment is not the Standard Punishment for those who leave Islam. And it applies for both men and women. On Salman Rushdie, Khomieni's fatwa, as your source rightly said, under the sub heading"Questions of political motivation"[12] , is not associated with Islam, even in the least bit. As said before, Islam is not what Muslims do, it is what Muslims are supposed to do. Before going further, let me quote what the Quran says about People who,mock the revelations, and messengers "Already has He sent you Word in the Book, that when ye hear the signs of Allah held in defiance and ridicule, ye are not to sit with them unless they turn to a different theme: if ye did, ye would be like them.." 4:140 "That will be their recompense - [their] hell -for having denied the truth and made My messages and My apostles a target of their mockery." 18:106 Again, the Quran doesn't talk of an earthly punishment! 8.Wife Beating The Prophet said I went to the Apostle of Allah and asked him: What do you say about our wives? He replied.., and do not beat them, and do not revile them. (Dawud 11:2139) Under no circumstance is a Muslim allowed to beat his wife Verse 4:34 with its Context ..And those females whose resistance you fear, then admonish them (f) and abandon them (f) in their sleeping places and go away from them (f). Then if they (f) obeyed you, then look not for any way against them (f). Truly, God had been Lofty, Great. [4:34 Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar] ... As for those women from whom you fear a desertion, then you shall advise them, and abandon them in the bedchamber, and separate from them; if they obey you, then do not seek a way over them; God is High, Great. [4:34 Progressive Muslims] The Arabic word used in Noble Verse 4:34 above is "idribuhunna", which is derived from "daraba" which means "beat". The thing with all of the Arabic words that are derived from the word "daraba" is that they don't necessarily mean "hit". The word "idribuhunna" for instance, could very well mean to "leave" them. It is exactly like telling someone to "beat it" or "drop it" in English.[13] Second Round Rebuttals 1.Con said that Islam means 'submission' not 'peace', because allegedly, the root word for Islam is Al-Silm and not Al-Salaam. First of all, I'd like to clarify that there is only one root word from which both words are derived, it is Silm (not Al-Silm - because the Al would mean it's a noun, and not a root word). Silm is the root word for many words in classical Arabic including: Salaam:Greeting (peace be upon you) / also Peaceful in some contexts Istislaam Surrender / Submission Silm Peace Salamah Safety / Well-being[14] 2.In his arguments, Con uses the so called Muslims, to represent Islam. He talks about Rushdies Fatwa, which I have talked earlier, I request my opponent to read the above pasted verses, where people ridiculed and mocked the prophet in front of him. Furthermore, he asks me another question about an Islamic state. To answer him, He has to agree with me with the fact that All Countries are SECULAR. There is no such thing as an Islamic state that Exists now. Therefore his Question is void and insignificant. I mean, there must be an Islamic state to compare with North America. Every single Country in this world is convicted with crimes, and so on, Let me rephrase the Question, and ask Con, to give me a single Country that isn't convicted with Crimes ? If he cant, then this argument, is nothing but , hot air. He then talks about a Muslim man killing his wife for denying sex, With the same conclusion, he should also agree with these people to be followers of their Religion 1.Hindu Man [15] 2.Christian Pastor [16] 4. Finally, my opponent gives a long list of claims, with no references, and falsely attributes them to Islam. Since a Muslim is supposed to follow the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet, I would like to ask my opponent , his references from the Quran and/or from the Sunnah, that made this 73 year old follow Islam by killing his wife , and the other claims he made. Con talks about Discrimination against women, he talks about female circumcision, which is not Islamic, and purely cultural, Many scholars say that ALL the narrations of female circumcision are weak and cant be relied upon [17] ,He then talks about burqa. Let me phrase him a simple Question, "If women are free to choose their ways, why is it a problem, if they choose to cover ?".Con, then talks about Norwegian Muslims, to prove Islam is not Peaceful, I think this debate should have been titled "Muslims are not Peaceful" instead of "Islam- a Religion of Peace" Last but not the least, my opponent brings the question of the Prophet marrying a 9 year old "Child". First of All, a matured adult can't be called as a child. People of those ages matured fast and married earlier. One such example is of the Byzantine Empire [18], List of young mothers[19]. With that list, I am sure, my opponent would find a LIST OF INCESTS and rapes, which includes his so called Peaceful Continent "North America". In Islam, Marriage is legal, when a women attains her puberty and is matured". Thus, to conclude Islam is not What Muslims do, Islam is what Muslims are SUPPOSED to Do, Islam is Perfect and Peaceful, Muslims who claim to follow Islam may not be. Thank you Con for your time and Over to you [10] al-Samari1968; Rahman1972) [11] http://www.youtube.com... [12]http://en.wikipedia.org... [13] http://www.answering-christianity.com... [14] http://en.wikipedia.org... [15] http://criminalrecordsindia.com... [16] http://trendysturvs.blogspot.in... [17] http://www.islamset.com... [18] http://www.roman-emperors.org... [19] http://en.wikipedia.org... WC: 1351