Is Islam a religion of violence

Thank you. And that's an interesting reply. How do Muslims view themselves according to the Quran? Indeed, God does see us as those who believe in him and do righteous deeds. "You enjoin what is right and forbid what's wrong", here we can see that it refers to those who actually do that. A person who calls himself Muslim, yet does a so called "honor killing", goes against the teachings of God altogether and doesn't enjoin what's right but instead promotes it. The people of the scripture refers to the Jews and the Christians, who, of course, are considered believers according to Islam. UNLESS someone believes Jesus is God, which does go against the teachings of Islam because God is one. How do Muslims view people who do not believe in Islam? That isn't how Muslims view them, that's how God views them. The Quran is considered to be God's words. And yes, according to Islam those who don't believe in the oneness of God will go to Hell. But Muslim doesn't mean "those who follow every rule of the Quran". Muslim is someone who fully submits to the will of God. If you believe in the oneness of God, but you're a Christian, chances are that you will go to Heaven. Because according to God, you are a Muslim then. Same goes for a Jew. Because those people believe in God and the greatness of God. Are Muslims commanded to fight those who disbelieve? Not quite. Islam isn't a pacifist religion. It allows war, in cases of self defense and killing any innocent person is considered a great sin. Those specific verses refer to the war that happened during the time Prophet Muhammad lived. The people had attacked him and his people, humiliated him and even killed his own people. So the war happened. Islam allows war in cases of self-defense only and anything else is considered oppression. Quran 1:192-193 shows us that if the others stop the war, you need to stop too. You're only allowed to fight against the oppressors and not the innocent. @367; @368; @369; @370; @371; @372; @373; SAHIH INTERNATIONAL And if they cease, then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. @374; @375; @376; @377; @378; @379; @380; @381; @382;@383; @384; @385; @386; @387; @388; @389; @390; SAHIH INTERNATIONAL Fight them until there is no [more] fitnah and [until] worship is [acknowledged to be] for Allah . But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression except against the oppressors Can Muslims be friends with unbelivers? Of course, they can, but not in situations of war. It's not allowed and for obvious reasons. Like God says in the Quran, you're forbidden to befriend those who fight you because of your faith and opress you. As for such [of the unbelievers] as do not fight against you on account of [your] faith, and neither drive you forth from your homelands, God does not forbid you to show them kindness and to behave towards them with full equity: for, verily, God loves those who act equitably. (Quran 60:8) God only forbids you to turn in friendship towards such as fight against you because of [your] faith, and drive you forth from your homelands, or aid [others] in driving you forth: and as for those [from among you] who turn towards them in friendship; it is they, they who are truly wrongdoers! (Quran 60:9)