Islam and Violence

name = Arafat
Question = Asalamualykum,

I am having problem with the so called violent verses in the Quran that many non muslims claim.

If you would explain me the context of them shortly so that I can respond to people about them, it would be great.
Thanx in advance


answer =

walaikum salam akhee

the haters always like to say that Islam is a violent religion. then they will often point to ayahs of the Koran which promote violence. for example one of the most popular verses that is quoted is the following

Surah 2:191 And slay them wherever ye find them...

but lets read this in the whole verse and the verse before it

Surah 2:190 Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not, aggressors

Surah 2:191 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

wow. amazing isn't. when you read it in context it doesn't sound bad at all. when a person reads or quotes anybody or anything they should always do so in context. but we live in a time of prejudice and bias. the person has already decided what to think and then they will try to manipulate the situation for their purpose

notice that Allah says in ayah 2:190 that you are not to begin hostilities. in other words we can't start the fight, we can't only end it. Allah does not love the aggressors. those who start wars and cause fitna in the land are not loved by Allah

there is only two situations where fighting is permitted. number one is if you are a soldier and an invading army comes to conquer your land. number two is to if you are a solider in the army and you are sent to liberate a people from an oppressive ruler

sometimes the haters like to quote from Surah 8 or 9. these Surah were revealed during times of war and therefore pertain to war. Surah 9 specifically deals with those whom you have a peace treaty with and they break their treaty. refer to the first 4 verses of that Surah

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 258: Narrated Ibn 'Umar:

....Allah's Apostle forbade the killing of women and children