Islam is a religion of peace

Pro repeats the argument from verse 4 which excludes those with whom they had a treaty. As I already pointed out, that verse is clearly going on the earlier battle of verse 3. After the clause of verse 4. A second battle is mentioned "Then when the Sacred Months have passed, then kill the Mushrikun (disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah)wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and prepare for them each and every ambush." They were already told to kill "those who have failed you...". If so those referred to in verse 5, are the rest, those who have not attacked. Furthermore if it was in self defence, they wouldn't put it off until "the Sacred Months have passed". My opponent mentions verse 13, which reads "Will you not fight a people who have broken their oaths..." "we see that the non-Muslims attacked first in 9:13" Even if some did doesn't mean that they all did. It is clear that verse 5 is going on all pagans that don't convert. Verse 13 is a speech about doing the 1st battle. Finally my opponent quotes: "And if they incline towards peace, incline thou also towards peace, and put thy trust in Allah. Surely, it is He who is all-hearing and all-knowing." 8:61. That verse isn't even in the same chapter, it is not refering to the battle of 9:5. If it does relate to chapter 9 it's going on verse 3, the 1st battle, for I showed the 2nd battle, verse 5, was not restricted to self defence. Here are more verses of violence in the quaran from: http://www.thereligionofpeace.com... (They list many more, I selected & added comments.) Koran (2:216) - "Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not." Not only does this verse establish that violence can be virtuous, but it also contradicts the myth that fighting is intended only in self-defense, since the audience was obviously not under attack at the time. From the Hadith, we know that this verse was narrated at a time that Muhammad was actually trying to motivate his people into raiding merchant caravans for loot. Futhermore, If all the battles are defensive why do we find that they constantly have to be convinced to fight, if it's a matter of self defence, they have no choice. Koran (3:56) - "As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help." Koran (3:151) - "Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers... Koran (4:76) - "Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah"" "Cause of Allah". That doesn't sound like self defence to survive. Koran (4:89) - "They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks." Koran (4:95) - "Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt, and those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their goods and their persons. Allah hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home). Unto all (in Faith) Hath Allah promised good: But those who strive and fight Hath He distinguished above those who sit (at home) by a special reward,-" This passage criticizes "peaceful" Muslims who do not join in the violence, letting them know that they are less worthy in Allah's eyes. It also demolishes the modern myth that "Jihad" doesn't mean holy war in the Koran, but rather a spiritual struggle. Not only is the Arabic word used in this passage, but it is clearly not referring to anything spiritual, since the physically disabled are given exemption. (The Hadith reveals the context of the passage to be in response to a blind man's protest that he is unable to engage in Jihad and this is reflected in other translations of the verse). Koran (4:104) - "And be not weak hearted in pursuit of the enemy; if you suffer pain, then surely they (too) suffer pain as you suffer pain..." Is pursuing an injured and retreating enemy really an act of self-defense? Koran (8:12) - "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them" No reasonable person would interpret this to mean a spiritual struggle. Koran (8:15) - "O ye who believe! When ye meet those who disbelieve in battle, turn not your backs to them. (16)Whoso on that day turneth his back to them, unless maneuvering for battle or intent to join a company, he truly hath incurred wrath from Allah, and his habitation will be hell, a hapless journey's end." Koran (8:39) - "And fight with them until there is no more fitna (disorder, unbelief) and religion should be only for Allah" Some translations interpret "fitna" as "persecution", but the traditional understanding of this word is not supported by the historical context (See notes for 2:293, also). The Meccans were simply refusing Muhammad access to their city during Haj. Other Muslims were allowed to travel there - just not as an armed group, since Muhammad had declared war on Mecca prior to his eviction. The Meccans were also acting in defense of their religion, since it was Muhammad's intention to destroy their idols and establish Islam by force (which he later did). Hence the critical part of this verse is to fight until "religion is only for Allah", meaning that the true justification of violence was the unbelief of the opposition. According to the Sira (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 324) Muhammad further explains that "Allah must have no rivals." Koran (8:57) - "If thou comest on them in the war, deal with them so as to strike fear in those who are behind them, that haply they may remember." Koran (8:59-60) - "And let not those who disbelieve suppose that they can outstrip (Allah's Purpose). Lo! they cannot escape. Make ready for them all thou canst of (armed) force and of horses tethered, that thereby ye may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy." Koran (8:65) - "O Prophet, exhort the believers to fight..." Again if all the battles are defensive why do we find that they constantly have to be convinced to fight, if it's a matter of self defence, they have no choice. Koran (9:29) - "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued." Koran (9:123) - "O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness." Koran (17:16) - "And when We wish to destroy a town, We send Our commandment to the people of it who lead easy lives, but they transgress therein; thus the word proves true against it, so We destroy it with utter destruction." Koran (25:52) - "Therefore listen not to the Unbelievers, but strive against them with the utmost strenuousness..." "Strive against" is Jihad - obviously not in the personal context. It's also significant to point out that this is a Meccan verse. Koran (48:29) - "Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard (ruthless) against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves"