Is Islam peaceful?

Just on your doorstep you've got Buddhists conducting ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslims and you're asking if Islam is peaceful. Why not ask how Buddhism managed to fool people into thinking it's a peaceful religion when in reality it's incredibly violent and fascistic?

Islam itself can't be "peaceful" — it's just the name given to a particular faith. The practitioners of the faith can be peaceful or they can be violent. There have been many Muslim societies which lived in peace and even allowed Christians and Jews to practice their religions without persecution. As Izzy points out, you can't say that about current Burmese Buddhists. Socio-politcal factors have infected many contemporary Muslim societies with virulent strains of violent Islamic fundamentalism but it would be ignorant to paint the entire religion as violent — or peaceful. It depends on the people who identify with the religion and the actions they feel inspired to do.

I was going to say NO Islam is not a peaceful religion. How can it be peaceful when it's doctrine seems to say death to the infidels. But I have to agree with Hightor. There is probably not a religion group out there that has not at one time or another committed atrocities in the name of their religion. Peace seems to have more to do with what is in the hearts of its members.

Says the Holocaust denier who supports the child murdering scum of the NRA.

If it wasn't for Islam we wouldn't have had the Renaissance, which has improved the lives of countless millions even if it did pass you by.

If nothing else this thread shows that only bigoted far right extremists attack Islam, the rest are far too intelligent and decent.

Why are you dishonest? Do you enjoy attempting to lie about my actual position? You show me where I "denied" the holocaust. You are SO delusional it is comical. People have called you out on your behavior so many times and yet you have NEVER learned anything from it. What is it like to be SO delusional?

Revisionist history from the vision-less.

http://www.mmisi.org/ir/41_02/fernandez-morera.pdf

Islam, a religion of mercy, and peace. There is no doubt about it if you read the Quran. But does it mean all Muslims are peaceful then answer is no because not all Muslims are practicing Muslims.

In the Quran, God has said:
“God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes.  God loves just dealers.” (Quran 60:8)

The Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, used to prohibit soldiers from killing women and children, and he would advise them: “...Do not betray, do not be excessive, do not kill a newborn child.”  And he also said: “Whoever has killed a person having a treaty with the Muslims shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance is found for a span of forty years.”
Also, the Prophet Muhammad has forbidden punishment with fire.
He once listed murder as the second of the major sins,  and he even warned that on the Day of Judgment, “The first cases to be adjudicated between people on the Day of Judgment will be those of bloodshed.”

Muslims are even encouraged to be kind to animals and are forbidden to hurt them.  Once the Prophet Muhammad said: “A woman was punished because she imprisoned a cat until it died.  On account of this, she was doomed to Hell. While she imprisoned it, she did not give the cat food or drink, nor did she free it to eat the insects of the earth.”

He also said that a man gave a very thirsty dog a drink, so God forgave his sins for this action.  The Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, was asked, “Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals?”  He said: “There is a reward for kindness to every living animal or human.”

Additionally, while taking the life of an animal for food, Muslims are commanded to do so in a manner that causes the least amount of fright and suffering possible.  The Prophet Muhammad said: “When you slaughter an animal, do so in the best way.  One should sharpen his knife to reduce the suffering of the animal.”

In light of these and other Islamic texts, the act of inciting terror in the hearts of defenseless civilians, the wholesale destruction of buildings and properties, the bombing and maiming of innocent men, women, and children are all forbidden and detestable acts according to Islam and the Muslims.  Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the vast majority have nothing to do with the violent events some have associated with Muslims.  If an individual Muslim were to commit an act of terrorism, this person would be guilty of violating the laws of Islam.

Absolute bullshit.

Also verse 60.8 is an abrogated verse. Try harder.

There is the verse that takes it place. No friends from other religions are allowed.

God does not forbid you, as regards those who do not make war against you on account of your Religion, nor drive you away from your homes, to be kindly to them, and act towards them with equity. God surely loves the scrupulously equitable. (60:8)

You see problem is this verse when Allah is commending Muslims to be kind to those who are not Muslims and rage no war against Muslims?



Tell me which verse is that? People like you claim to be an expert in understanding Quran by searching in google for a minute? This attitude will only lead you to hate others which I am sure is bad in any ethical religion.

Muslims will not take any Non-Muslim who oppresses and hates human being as their friend. As mentioned in the verse above, Muslims have no problem in being friend with peaceful non-Muslims.

Again, you are lying.

More examples (verses) at link.
https://thereligionofpeace.com/pages/articles/quran-hate.aspx

In case you dd not look at the link, a few more verses that say you are lying to people here.
https://thereligionofpeace.com/pages/articles/quran-hate.aspx

I think you are looking at these verses from a different point of view. As I mentioned before that Islam ordains Muslims to treat kindly to non-Muslims, however warns against imitating them.
Islamic moral teaches Muslims to “treat kindly and justly” to people no matter where they are from or what they believe as long as they do not fight against them:

“Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity.
It is only as regards those who fought against you on account of religion, and have driven you out of your homes, and helped to drive you out, that Allah forbids you to befriend them. And whosoever will befriend them, then such are the Zalimoon (wrong-doers those who disobey Allah).” (Quran 8-9)

Many religious minorities lived under Muslim rule for years and they thrived under Muslims rule. For example, Muslims ruled in sub continent for more than 1000 years and Hindu population under them was free to practice their religion and today we know Hindus in sub continent are way more than Muslims. If it was a matter of hate to non Muslims, Muslims would have killed all Hindus. Another example is Coptic Christian in Middle East which are free to follow Christianity for centuries under Muslim rule.

Now I think what you are confused with is that why don't Muslims become very close friends with non Muslims and adopt non Muslim culture and traditions? Well some Muslim actually do go that far, however, Islam has principles to preserve the “Islamic belief, identity and Islamic consciousness of Muslims” as well. 

In other words, while Islam ordains Muslims to “treat kindly, peacefully and friendly to all people without discrimination except those who are hostile to Islam”, it also tells Muslims to “take care in their relations with non-Muslims in order not to weaken in their Islamic belief, consciousness and identity ”, puts some limits, states principles  and warns against imitating them.
 
Being friend with a person is different from being friendly and kind to him
Each Muslim, as being a representative of Islam, should be kind to the non-Muslims; however, in terms of being friend and confidant with non Muslims, there are some limits as a conclusion and a necessity of the principle “A person is upon the religion of his friend.” (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi).

It is stated in the 118. Verse of the surah al-Al-I Imran that:
“O ye who believe! Take not for intimates others than your own folk, who would spare no pains to ruin you; they love to hamper you. Hatred is revealed by (the utterance of) their mouths, but that which their breasts hide is greater. We have made plain for you the revelations if ye will understand.”

This ayah was revealed as a warning to Muslims who didn’t cut their relations with their Jewish friends in the period of jahiliyyah (ignorance). They still had relations of neighborhood, friendship and deal with them. The word “bitaana” mentioned in the ayah is translated as “intimate” that comes to the meaning “a person having a close, friendly, familiar relation knowing your secrets and internal information.

Besides, prophet Muhammad (pbuh) stated about this issue that: “Do not illuminate with the fire of mushrik (polytheists, idolaters).” (Bayhakii)

This hadith is interpreted as “do not consult with them; do not choose any of them as consultants and advisors.  There are a great deal of ayahs and hadiths supporting these interpretations. In view of all these facts, the fiqh scholars stated the following explanations about the relations between Muslims and non Muslims:
 
a.       Food
About the food issue, non Muslims who are “people of book”, in other words Jews and the Christians differ from the non Muslims who are atheists, majusis (Zoroastrians), and idolaters:
A Muslim can eat anything cooked and slaughtered by the people of book, the Jews and the Christians unless they are haram. Today’s Jews and the Christians, if they believe in the essences of the Judaism and Christianity are also people of book.

However, according to another opinion which is more appropriate to taqwa (God consciousness), it is better not to eat the meat slaughtered by non Muslims if it is not known how they slaughtered and it is not permissible to eat those which are slaughtered in the name of Messiah and those which is impure. Besides, it is makruh (abominable) to eat their food in general.

It is not permissible to eat the meat slaughtered by non Muslims who are not the people of book. However, it is permissible to eat the food that do not include slaughtering so that do not differ according to the religions; such as bread, fruit, fried food and dish as long as that they do not include haram.  
 
b.      Marriage
It is stated in the 221. Verse of Surah al-Baqara that:

“Wed not idolatresses till they believe… and give not your daughters in marriage to idolaters till they believe… These invite unto the Fire, and Allah inviteth unto the Garden, and unto forgiveness by His grace…”

 There is a consensus among the salaf (predecessors) that it is permissible to marry the Jewish and Christian women. This ruling bases on two different opinions. According to the first opinion it is permissible; because they are not idolatresses since they are the people of book. According to the other opinion, it is permissible; because, as well as they are idolatresses; they have been excluded from the ayah above by the 5th verse of surah al-Maida [that says “And so are the virtuous women of the believers and the virtuous women of those who received the Scripture before you (lawful for you)”]

Besides, there are some companions of Prophet Muhammad PBUH such as Othman, Talha and Huzayfa who married women of the people of the book.

However, according to another opinion, marrying Jewish and Christian women is disliked because of the risks about raising the children and it is not any halal to marry the ones whom are fought against.

There is a consensus that it is not permissible to marry idolatresses, atheists and majusis (Zoroastrians). There is no doubt that the prohibition mentioned in the 221th ayah of surah al- Baqara includes these. The hadith of the Prophet (pbuh) about the Majusis saying “Behave them as you behave the people of the book excluding marrying them and eating the meat slaughtered by them.”  indicates that the women of people of book can be married while the Majusis cannot be.

 c.       Neighborhood relations
It is permissible to perform all kinds of transactions between a Muslim and a dhimmi (a non-Muslim living under the protection of an Islamic state).

A Muslim cannot pray for the forgiveness of the dhimmis, because Allah declared that the idolaters will never been forgiven. Asking for their forgiveness despite knowing this declaration will mean accusing Allah of giving a wrong ruling. However, a Muslim can pray for their guidance.

A Muslim can visit a Jewish and a Christian patient. Visiting a Majusi patient is controversial. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did visit. He also visited his uncle.

There is no harm in putting an infidel up in case of a necessity or a travel.

It is not permissible for a Muslim to receive a present from an infidel if it will damage his Islamic strength and if it will make him get into debt. Otherwise, it is permissible.

In case a Christian invites a Muslim to his house for dinner, according to some opinions, it is halal to accept this invitation if they don’t have a friendship and togetherness except trading with each other; because it is a kind of favor which is recommended.

As a conclusion, Muslims are asked to treat peaceful non Muslims with kindness but you are right in the sense that Muslims can't be close friends to non-Muslims because it will be at the risk of loosing Muslims identity and faith. Being kind and friendly in behaviors is the duty of Muslims in respect of being the representative of Islam and showing other people the beauty of the best path. 
 

The worst massacre by Islam was against the Hindus. It is a historical fact.

You are lying again and I see you have no intention of doing anything else.
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=hindu+massacres+under+Islam&t=ffnt&atb=v162-1&ia=web

Read article below to enlighten your mind.

https://www.dailyo.in/politics/hindus-muslims-mughals-narendra-modi-british-brahmins-sanskrit-persian-islamic-rule-2002-gujarat-riots/story/1/6255.html

Besides this article, you should also use common sense if there is any left. Muslims ruled over India for 1000 years, that is more than enough time to wipe out any religion or nation under their rule. Muslim rule ended in 1857 when British colonized sub-continent. It is impossible to have Hindu population 10 times more than Muslims in just 163 years. The facts that we find so many Hindu temples not only in India but also in Pakistan show that Hindus were allowed to practice their religion peacefully. The problem with you is that you only want to hear and see what you like and that makes you a narrow minded person who can't investigate things with an open mind.

You are ignoring historical facts and continue to lie about Islam. Anything else?

The link goes on and explains these conclusions with Islams own words. Anyone can pick what they wish to dispute. I do not expect any sort of answer with any substance, but I have been wrong before.
https://thereligionofpeace.com/pages/articles/quran-hate.aspx

Where have you gone? The post above has facts about Islam. You insist Islam is something it is not. This is your chance to explain that the obvious hate is not hate.

You disappear when confronted with the truth. Do not think no one has noticed?

I discussed many time with you and gave you the facts and proofs but you are not willing to listen. I really cant help much if you are not willing to help yourself.

I also asked you that if you have personal experience in dealing with Muslims? How many Muslims you have interacted with on personal level?