Is Islam a peaceful religion? Let’s not ask the news sources or the Islamic Studies college profs. Let’s just look at what the Quran itself says. You make the decision for yourself.

Before you look at the verses in the Quran, here are three things to consider:

1. Muhammad was a military leader. He was more of a general than a guru. Historical records (Islamic and secular) record the battles and raids of Muhammad. Here’s a Quran verse on that topic: Quran (8:67) – “It is not for a Prophet that he should have prisoners of war until he had made a great slaughter in the land…”
2. In the pattern of Muhammad, leaders of Islam are not immams, pastors, or priests. They are political militaristic leaders. Here’s a Quran verse on that topic: “Quran (47:35) – “Be not weary and faint-hearted, crying for peace, when ye should be uppermost (Shakir: “have the upper hand”) for Allah is with you.”
3. Why did the Crusades (the first pan-Christian wars) begin in the middle east after Islam began invading and attacking Christian settlements in the 8th through 11th centuries? Could it be that Islam introduced something new the euro-asian political sphere that got things out of whack?

Okay, and now for the verses from the Quran
(This were collected from this site.)

The Quran contains a mandate to kill

The first example explains how those who wage war against Allah should be:

• crucified
• murdered
• have their hands cut off
• have their feet maimed
• imprisoned

Quran (5:33) – “The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement.”

Here’s a verse criticizing Muslim’s remain “peaceful” and refuse to fight:

Quran (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.”

Quran (2:191-193) – “And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah [disbelief] is worse than killing…but if they desist, then lo! Allah is forgiving and merciful.   And fight them until there is no more Fitnah [disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah] and worship is for Allah alone.  But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zalimun (the polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.)”

Quran (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. 

Quran (4:74) – “Let those fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the other. Whoso fighteth in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, on him We shall bestow a vast reward.”

Quran (4:76) – “Those who believe, fight in the cause of Allah…”

Quran (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.”

Quran (8:39) – “And fight with them until there is no more fitna (disorder, unbelief) and religion should be only for Allah”

Quran (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.”

So there are words from the Quran. If you want to understand a religion, read its original texts. They will show you the truth on the matter. Again, make your own conclusions.

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