Islam Is a Religion of Peace: part II

To start this debate I would like to introduce the concept of “God’s Purpose”. Whether we speak of Islam, Christianity or Judaism, God’s singular purpose is to invite mankind to seek and worship Him. God does not need to seek his own glory; God simply is glorious and desires his creation to honor him for it. We are called to worship God because he is glorious. To solidify this established point, consider these verses from three scriptures of three separate faiths: "In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, The Beneficent, the Merciful. Owner of the Day of Judgment, Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help. Guide us on the straight path, The path of those whom Thou hast favored; Not (the path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray." – Al Faatihah (Islam) 7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you. 8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. - Psalms 5:7 (Judaism / Christianity) Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.- Philippians 2:9-11 (Christian) Clearly, the purpose of God is NOT to bring peace, but to bring worship. When we speak about the tenants of faith being intrinsically “peaceful” or “love centered”, we cannot approach the issue one-dimensionally, because the purpose of worship is the glory of God, a principle which is also not one dimensional. “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” – Mathew 10:34 (ESV) Jesus Christ makes a remarkable statement. While he is not calling his followers to raise a literal sword, he makes the prophetic prediction that following him will make us outcasts, even in our own homes. It will make us enemies of the world. We are at war and conflict is intrinsic to our faith. The question begs, “Is Islam engaged in a similar model of war with the unfaithful world”? The answer is a resound “yes”. In fact, Islam is not only in a war with unbelievers, it allows its followers to raise a literal sword against the enemies of God. This means, while Christians recognize a conflict between themselves and the world, the Muslim is called to actual battle. In the following scriptures of Quran we see a direct call to war, to defend the faith of Islam against aggressors. Note the varying translations agree and are not provided out of context. YUSUFALI: And slay them (aggressors) wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have Turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith. PICKTHAL: And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. And fight not with them at the Inviolable Place of Worship until they first attack you there, but if they attack you (there) then slay them. Such is the reward of disbelievers. YUSUFALI: And fight them on until there is no more Tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, Let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression. PICKTHAL: And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against wrong-doers. [1] **Note** - K 2.216 teaches that warfare is good for the faithful, even if you don’t want to fight. YUSUFALI: 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.PICKTHAL: Warfare is ordained for you, though it is hateful unto you; but it may happen that ye hate a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that ye love a thing which is bad for you. Allah knoweth, ye know not. Conclusion: As we can clearly see, the purpose of Islam is the glory of God and method of engaging the oppressive unfaithful is ordained war. Even in the holy month, when war is outlawed, the scriptures still ordain the faithful to battle, if the oppressors prevent the Muslims from entering their place of worship. In short, if anyone prevents the Muslim from glorifying God, he directs them to war. To call Islam a religion of peace is flagrantly false. The purpose of Islam is not to bring peace, but to glorify Allah and the methods include violence. Islam does not make apologies for this call to war. According to the Quran, it is a righteous war and therefore “justice”. The next argument will be based on instigation. As previously noted, a Muslim is ordained to engage in warfare when they are attacked or oppressed. What about instigating violence? Is a Muslim called to start a conflict of war? Prophet! urge the believers to war; if there are twenty patient ones of you they shall overcome two hundred, and if there are a hundred of you they shall overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, - K 8.65 Be not fainthearted then; and invite not the infidels to peace when ye have the upper hand: for God is with you, and will not defraud you of the recompense of your works - K 47.035 When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them. - K 8:01 “Make war on them [infidels] until idolatry shall cease and God’s religion shall reign supreme.” - Sura 2:193 “Believers, make war on the infidels who dwell around you.” - Sura 9:123 My opponent may claim that an infidel is a person who oppresses Islam, thus instigating war themselves (which would make Islam the oppressed defender). As we can see, the only offense that is required for a Muslim to make war (as per Sura) is that his enemy be an infidel (not accepting of Islam, therefore not glorifying Allah). in·fi·del -   [in-fi-dl, -del] noun 1. Religion . a. a person who does not accept a particular faith, especially Christianity. b.(in Christian use) an unbeliever, especially a Muslim. c.(in Muslim use) a person who does not accept the Islamic faith; kaffir. 2. a person who has no religious faith; unbeliever. 3. (loosely) a person who disbelieves or doubts a particular theory, belief, creed, etc.; skeptic. Review: The purpose of Islam is the recognition of the glory of Allah through worship. (Called Ibadah) [3] The purpose of Islam is not peace because peace does not glorify Allah. Worship glorifies Allah. (And I did not create the jinn and humankind except to worship Me… [Quran 51:56-58]) If a Muslim is oppressed or attacked in his purpose of glorifying Allah, the response is ordained warfare.(K2:216) If the Muslim encounters an infidel, he is ordained to make war. (S2:123) War continues, for the glory of Allah, until Allah’s religion reigns supreme. (S9:193) Over to you Pro. http://www.cmje.org... [1] http://www.islamtomorrow.com... [2]