Islam is not a religion of terrorism

I thank my partner for challenging me to this debate. It is a great honor to debate with one that has knowlege of the subject we are discussing. -----------------------------I. What is Jihad? My partner claims it is to stop oppression; yet that is simply not the case. (Note that the Online Dictionary is not the same one used in the book). According to the Shorter Encyclopedia of Islam, a Jihad is: DJIHAD, holy war. The spread of Islam by arms is a religious duty upon Muslims in general. It narrowly escaped being a sixth “rukn”, or fundamental duty, and is indeed still so regarded by the descendants of the Kharidjis. The position was reached gradually but quickly. In the Meccan Suras of the Kur’an patience under attack is taught; no other attitude was possible. But at Madina the right to repel attack appears, and gradually it became a prescribed duty to fight against and subdue the hostile Meccans. Whether Muhammad himself recognized that his position implied steady and unprovoked war against the unbelieving world until it was subdued to Islam may be in doubt. Traditions are explicit on the point; but the Kuranic passages speak always of the unbelievers who are to be subdued as dangerous or faithless. Still, the story of his writing to the powers around him shows that such a universal position was implicit in his mind, and it certainly developed immediately after his death, when the Muslim armies advanced out of Arabia. It is now a “fard ‘ala ‘l-kifaya, a duty in general on all male, free, adult Muslims, sane in mind and body and having means enough to reach the Muslim army, yet not a duty necessarily incumbent on every individual but sufficiently performed when done by a certain number. So it must continue to be done until the whole world is under the rule of Islam.” [1] So, according to this, it is a Muslims duty to fight until the entire world is under Islam. Now, as far as my partner's definition of terrorism is concerned, it certainly meets such definitions:Terrorism: The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons. [2]II. What the Qur'an says about unbelievers 3:149-151My partner's claim is that it has no connection with terror. However, this is not true. Let's look again at 151: "We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve..." The Qur'an itself even says that WE [the Muslism] are to CAST TERROR (litterally fear) in the hearts of those who disbelieve. 4:91My partner's claim is that it is talking about those who broke treaties with them or who don't offer peace; yet the Qur'an itself says not to offer or seek peace in Surah 47:35, "So do not falter and cry out for peace when ye (will be) the uppermost (lit. "stronger" or "have the upper hand in war), and Allah is with you, and He will not grudge (the reward of) your actions). How did the Muslims interpret such a verse? Muslim scholar Tafsir Ibn Kathir argues: "[this] means in the condition of your superiority over your enemy. If, on the otehr hand, the disbelievers are considered more powerful and numerous than Muslims, then the Imam may decide to hold a treaty if he judges that it entails a benefit for the Muslims. This is like what Allah's Messenger did when the disbeliever obstructed him from entering Makkah and offered him treaty in which all fighting would stop between them for ten years…"[3] [Emphasis mine] In other words, if the disbelievers are superior in strength, have a 10 year treaty. If you are in the upper hand, destroy them utterly. III. Why should we fight them? My partner claims that there is no compulsion in Islam, yet that is far from the truth! "And an announcement from Allah and His Messenger, to the people (assembled) on the day of the Great Pilgrimage,- that Allah and His Messenger dissolve (treaty) obligations with the Pagans. If then, ye repent, it were best for you; but if ye turn away, know ye that ye cannot frustrate Allah. And proclaim a grievous penalty to those who reject Faith," (9:3)."But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful," (9:5). 9:28-9:30What is this poll tax and why do they have to pay it? It obviously meets the definition of terrosim. We are fighting them until they pay up (force and violence) and they are doing so because they are Christians and Jews! [4]The reality is that after the pagan Arabs converted to Islam, they wanted a way to make money; they did so by fighting the unbelievers. [5] Out of time.Conclusion Islam is a religion of terrorism. ____________Sources 1. “Shorter Encyclopaedia of Islam”, edited by H.A.R. Gibb, published by Brill, Leiden, The Netherlands. Quoted http://www.answering-islam.org...;2. See Pro's round 1. 3. Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged) (Surat Al-Jathiyah to the end of Surat Al-Munafiqun. Quoted http://www.answering-islam.org...;4. Actually, the Qur'an makes a historical error. In no way did the Jews ever say that Ezra was a Son of God! 5. See the David Wood vs. Nadir Ahmed debate on the same topic.