The idea that Islam was spread through war is a myth. Although the Arabs conquered a large area of the world immediately after the rise of Islam, this does not mean that Islam was forcibly spread through war. The first wars entered into were against Persia and the Roman empire, the two super-powers of the day who were vying for control. These battles were entered into in self-defense to prevent these powers from snuffing out the new Islamic nation. The spread of the Arab conquest was made easier by the fact that many of the peoples of the area were suffering under Persian and Roman oppression and actually welcomed the Arabs with open arms. Once the conquest gained momentum and power, it spread. When Islamic rule was established in a new territory, many of the existing occupants continued to practice their religion. The Quran clearly prohibits coercion in matters of faith and as a result, there were no wholesale forced conversions. Instead, the populations of these areas converted to Islam gradually and voluntarily over a period of decades rather than years. Today, non-Muslim minorities survive and thrive all over the Muslim world, which would not have been possible if their ancestors had been forced to convert to Islam. Historically, interactions through travel and trade have been the greatest factor contributing to the spread of Islam.
As far as the Quran and terrorism, the Quran clearly prohibits killing. The Quran says that the sin of killing a single soul is equivalent to killing the whole of mankind. Muslims are only allowed to make war in self-defense or in a just cause. Senseless or unprovoked aggression is totally forbidden. The Quran does allow for wartime defense, however, killing women, children, the elderly and the unarmed is again totally forbidden. The rights of prisoners of war were set down by Islamic law long before the Geneva convention.
While so-called Muslims from various radical groups have committed acts of terrorism in recent times, culminating in the horror of September 11th, the vast majority of Muslims condemn these acts and consider such terrorists beyond the Muslim pale. Unfortunately, in the media, whenever a Muslim commits a heinous act, he is labeled a "Muslim terrorist". However, when Serbs murder and rape innocent women in Bosnia, they are not called "Christian terrorists", nor are the activities in Northern Ireland labeled "Christian terrorism". Also, when right-wing Christians in the U.S. bomb abortion clinics, they are not called "Christian terrorists".
While I would like to cite quotes from the Quran to support this position, I have been forbidden by the moderators from putting up any posts that contain quotes from the Quran, and that any posts of mine that contain such quotes will be deleted.
[ December 30, 2002, 07:39 PM: Message edited by: Johnv ]
As far as the Quran and terrorism, the Quran clearly prohibits killing. The Quran says that the sin of killing a single soul is equivalent to killing the whole of mankind. Muslims are only allowed to make war in self-defense or in a just cause. Senseless or unprovoked aggression is totally forbidden. The Quran does allow for wartime defense, however, killing women, children, the elderly and the unarmed is again totally forbidden. The rights of prisoners of war were set down by Islamic law long before the Geneva convention.
While so-called Muslims from various radical groups have committed acts of terrorism in recent times, culminating in the horror of September 11th, the vast majority of Muslims condemn these acts and consider such terrorists beyond the Muslim pale. Unfortunately, in the media, whenever a Muslim commits a heinous act, he is labeled a "Muslim terrorist". However, when Serbs murder and rape innocent women in Bosnia, they are not called "Christian terrorists", nor are the activities in Northern Ireland labeled "Christian terrorism". Also, when right-wing Christians in the U.S. bomb abortion clinics, they are not called "Christian terrorists".
While I would like to cite quotes from the Quran to support this position, I have been forbidden by the moderators from putting up any posts that contain quotes from the Quran, and that any posts of mine that contain such quotes will be deleted.
[ December 30, 2002, 07:39 PM: Message edited by: Johnv ]
