“But, but, but” – Islam Means Peace, Doesn’t It? (NOT BLOODY LIKELY)

From over privileged guilt ridden leftists on college campuses to left leaning media to portentous gasbags in world governments, we hear a steady droning that Islam means “peace” and that it is a nonviolent religion practiced by millions around the world.

Mixed with these proclamations that Islam is peace, we are deluged on a daily basis with news accounts of deaths and horror inflicted on other people of faiths by practitioners of this acclaimed “peaceful” faith. The images and sounds from the news are emotionally gripping, powerful and horrific.

The screens and headlines shout one event after another until we are numb from disbelief … from kidnapping and murder of tourists in the Philippines to the shock of September 11, 2001 to videotaped executions of hostage reporter Daniel Pearl to street gangs in the Palestinian Authority gleefully bathing in the blood of dead Israeli soldiers.

We continue to hear cries of “jihad” from the street. We find ourselves dumbfounded to learn Islamic worshipers enter mosques to pray, and depart with shouts they are ready to kill for the glory of Allah.

What to believe about Islam and its practitioners? I suggest we examine some facts and try to reach some conclusions.

First, let’s start with the impression that the word “Islam” means “peace.” A little research quickly uncovers this is incorrect. The translated Arabic word ‘Islam’ means `submission' or ‘surrender’. The Arabic word ‘salaam’, a close linguistic cousin to the Hebrew ‘shalom” means peace

Second, history shows Muhammad used to send letters to the kings and leaders of the surrounding countries and tribes, inviting them to surrender to his authority and to believe in him as the messenger of Allah. He always ended his letters with the following message … `surrender and you will be safe', or in other words, `surrender or face death'.

Conversion at the point of a sword certainly begs the question of exactly where is the `peace' in all of it. Is it considered “peace” to threaten to kill other people, do away with their customs, and dominate them by whatever means possible? I think not, and thus, a historical review of Islam reveals it to be merely a successful means of conquest and expansion of religious creed but also secular political power.

To the faithful, this is an acceptable means of spreading their faith as well their influence. It also explains its rapid growth throughout the world over the last 5 centuries. A religion that was established by violence and still believes in violence as a chief tenet to growth is not a religion of peace – not by any stretch of the imagination.

Third, through reading secular history and even the Islamic holy books themselves, we find sufficient anecdotal evidence that without violence and conquest, Islam might not have survived.

“But, but, but, how can this be?” you might be asked by people who hadn’t heard this on the Nightly News With Tom Brokaw.

Examining the wars of Al-Riddah (the wars against the apostates) yields powerful verification to support this supposition. This series of conflicts began almost immediately after the death of the prophet Muhammad.

It’s a long story. However, the capsulated version goes like this - after the disappearance of Muhammad the conquered peoples, who have been forced to embrace Islam, refused to pay, imposed religious taxes and revolted.

The first Caliph, Abu-Bakr, knew without tax money he could not sustain his empire. He ordered his army to fight the apostates and after 2 years won out over the rebellious tribes. To justify the massive bloodshed, Abu-Bakr based his claim were necessary to preserve the faith and even went so far as to say he had been instructed by both Allah and the prophet messenger Muhammad to do so.

Thus, we see the beginnings of the religion and state being one using whatever means necessary to survive.

Fourth, the Qur’an itself is full of messages of peace, love, justice, harmony and oneness with the fellow man, but only if that man is Islamic. For all other peoples and nations, the message appearing throughout the Qur’an is clear and consistent – find the nonbeliever, get him to convert or kill him.

" But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an 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.” - Qur'an, 9:5

Conclusions - A religion of peace? Not from a historical perspective regarding its inception. Not from the tactics it used to develop. Not from its own religious text. Not from modern-day examples of real world practices of its followers, and clerics.

Islam is not a religion founded on peace, and its followers today have not done enough to stem the violent sects. Further, Islam is long overdue for a renaissance that can make it religion of peace and in harmony with the world of today.

The rate of these attacks appears to be increasing and all done by Islamics who are described by leftist apologists as mere “fringe” elements. I believe it bears pointing out these “fringe” actions bear a striking similarity to the birth of the Islamic movement, and appears to be continuing the tactics of centuries ago to gain converts or eliminate competing beliefs.

It is not an exaggeration to state Islam has a goal of dominating all other religions, as well as eliminating offensive Western style democracies. This objective has remained unchanged since the prophet messenger Muhammad demanded conversion or death.

Many Muslims, like almost all mankind, wish to live in peace and leave their neighbors alone. However, in current times, we see the overwhelming majority of religious related attacks done by Islamics against Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jews and Buddhists around the world.

Most American Muslims, and indeed other populations of Muslims around the world, appear to be lying low. This is unsettling to the Western world as we are unclear whether or not they merely wish to avoid controversy or whether they are merely unsure which side to cheer.

Many Westerners are wondering aloud if the lack of a strong opposition Muslim voice to terror campaigns as well as mere lip service to anti-terror activities raises one alarming concern.

If the notion of these terrorist actions done by “fringe elements” is in error, are we looking at the revitalization of an Islamic crusade began centuries before.

If so, what will “moderate” Muslims do when they hear the louder calls to join with their brothers in jihad? After all, these “moderate” Muslims are keenly aware any Muslim who fails to heed the call to avenge his brothers, in the long run, will be marked as a traitor and hunted down like dogs.

Will the “moderates” seek elimination of this “fringe” and try to change their faith to become more in tune with modern society? Or are they going to choose war, and the renunciation of Western civilization concepts like democracy and freedom while embracing the religious fanatical tyranny embodied by the Taliban?

There are no quick easy answers. These questions are merely like a storm in the distance. Something to keep in mind as well as to keep an eye on as time and events continue to unfold.

What's the difference between Andrea Yates and Mohammed Atta?

Do you truly believe this is a legitimate comparison????

Without even thinking about it i can give you ONE MAJOR difference.....Yates has/had no desire to DESTROY AMERICA/ISRAEL......

come up with a better comparison.........

I have a hard time believing you and a few others here are legitimate in your beliefs....but are more likely hired propogandist....

How would Muslims react if the Koran was slightly modified so that every reference to Christians and Jews was replaced by "Arabs and Muslims"? It would read like this:

"Then fight and slay the Arabs and Muslims wherever you find them. And seize them, beleaguer them and lie in wait for them, in every stratagem (of war)." (Surah 9, Section 5)

"Those who believe fight in the cause of the God of Jacob; And those who reject the true faith of the God of Jacob fight in the cause of Evil; So fight ye against the Arabs and Muslims, those Friends of Satan ...." (Surah 4, Section 10, Chapter 76)

"The God of Jacob has turned his face from Arabs and Muslims, and Jews, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and Atheists should do the same." (Surah 4, Section 7, Chapter 47)

Any country politically controlled by any religion is a threat to the free world.

Any? So it does not matter what the religion is about? What about the atheist regimes, by your logic they must have been the most free of all?

Islam is not a religion founded on peace. It sounds like it's a religion founded in oppression and "salvary, and legalism." That is, "If you do not surrender to our demands, you die." Makes you wonder why so many afrian Americans have surrendered to this religion?
Thanks MadIvan, this is truly and eye opening article. I find nothung peaceful to what these extemist Islamic types do or say.

But I must take issue with the verse from the Koran you've used.

Not me, but one of our staff writers. But what is he supposed to do - the Koran doesn't say "Ignore this passage, we didn't really mean it."

Regards, Ivan

"Any? So it does not matter what the religion is about? "

Well... any religion I've ever known anyway. They all become intolerably intolerant when drunk on state power.

Read some history, Chief.

Somebody posted on one of the gazillion hate-moslem threads awhile back a series of links that showed American Moslems and other moslems condemning the 9-11 attacks and all the terrorism. So they did speak out but nobody seemed to want to accept it because it didn't fit their arguments.
Don't you feel a little uncomfortable with this level of hatred against an ethnic and religious group?

Andrea Yates is one madwoman. Mohammed Atta was part of a world-wide network (in 70 nations) that specifically preaches that it wants to kill "infidels", Americans and Jews in particular. These people are supported and protected by any number of Muslim states. In addition, Muslim organizations in the United States have been revealed to have ties to terrorist groups. It's pure denial not to admit that there is a strong streak of violence and intention to dominate in Islam. In other religions there are violent types but they are the exception. In many areas of the world, they are the rule in Muslim nations.

I believe their agenda is to make the U.S. government a Muslim government. We are in a long war for the survival of our country. We are up against pure evil. We WILL win this war, but there will be huge losses. The only way to stop terror is with horror. There will be horror.

IMO this "religion" is a political movement based on lies. (ie: There are virgins in paradise for you if you kill your sorry self.)

It's time for honorable Americans to identify the real enemy. It's past time to get rid of the "Muslims are not evil" compassion, OR PROVE OTHERWISE. Lets hear from them. I want to hear the Muslims declare they believe in America, in the American Republic. I want to hear the Muslims vow that they do not wish to destroy capitalism. At least those LIVING IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE MOST WONDERFUL COUNTRY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD--or get the hell out.

Don't you feel a little uncomfortable with this level of hatred against an ethnic and religious group?

Do you feel a little uncomfortable with the level of hatred by the Muslims against the Jews? Remember --they beheaded Pearl right after they had him admit he was a Jews.

In order to prepare the Muslims for Jihad against the whole non-Muslim world, it was necessary to cure them even of that slight weakness of faith from which they were still suffering. For there could be no greater internal danger to the Islamic Community than the weakness of faith, especially where it was going to engage itself single-handed in a' conflict with the whole non-Muslim world. That is why those people who had lagged behind in the Campaign to Tabuk or had shown the least negligence were severely taken to task, and were considered as hypocrites if they had no plausible excuse for not fulfilling that obligation. Moreover, a clear declaration was made that in future the sole criterion of a Muslim's faith shall be the exertions he makes for the uplift of the Word of Allah and the role he plays in the conflict between Islam and kufr. Therefore, if anyone will show any hesitation in sacrificing his life, money, time and energies, his faith shall not be regarded as genuine. (vv. 81-96). by Syed A'la Maududi

Ivan: RE your number 29.

I think the trouble we generally run into when quoting the Old Testament or the Koran is that we forget that there are some passages meant as guidance for all time-- and others that recall a specific historical event or God's edict for a particular situation.

For instance the OT calls for the "slaying of the Caananites", "castration of x,y,z". Similarly, a number of declarations for violence in the Koran are for a specific time and place, or recall a specific event.

According to the Koran, Jihad was supposed to be purely defensive war. Wars of conquest were forbidden. Unfortunately, in the aftermath of Mohammed's death and the murder of his family (House Hashim) by the intellectual ancestors of present day bin Ladenites, Islam was transformed into a military empire.

Why'd they murder the Prophet's household? Becuase they forbade the use of Jihad as a tool of conquest.

"IMO this "religion" is a political movement based on lies. (ie: There are virgins in paradise for you if you kill your sorry self.)"

Just as the Crusades were a political movement. Or the Spanish Inquisition OR the missionary/military campaigns of post Columbian Christianity.

This is a very very old story where the specific religions may come and go but the gist remains the same. Totalitarian rule in the name of God.

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