Islam peaceful or belligerent?

[passionate]

I am extremely confused regarding the methods of Islamic spread at its beginning, as every Muslim I know tells me that Islam spread through peace, wisdom and love yet all the history books I have read both western and eastern say other wise so I am merely seeking the truth on this matter as I will educate you on how Christianity spread from Judea to fill the entire world as it is today through love and tranquility for those are the hands of god our lord, never steel and war for those are hated by the lord.

Christianity existed several centuries prior to the birth of Islam, and by the time Islam had begun Christianity was well established at its center in Europe. Christianity originally sprouted in the Middle East after Christ’s resurrection in A.D. 30. The church began in Jerusalem and the surrounding area, and it initially preached the Gospel only to the Jews. It grew quite rapidly for a time—in fact; the book of Acts records the conversion of 3000 Jews in a single, extraordinary day. During this early period, however, Christianity did not expand far beyond Jerusalem and its vicinity. That would soon change, after the first few years of relative peace for the church; a terrible persecution broke out following the stoning of Stephen. Jewish leaders hunted down the followers of Jesus and threw them into prison. At this time many in the church scattered to the surrounding countryside of Judea and Samaria. Christianity’s worldwide expansion was beginning. The followers of Jesus Christ continued to teach those things that he had taught them. They taught that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and the Messiah that the Jews had been waiting for. Many people throughout the Mediterranean accepted these teachings, and became known as Christians. Mean while in Rome: Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ who was entrusted with the administration of his church after he died. Traveled to Rome where he is believed to have established a Christian community before he was martyred. All popes are, then, successors of Peter not only as leading the Christian community in Rome, but also as leading the Christian community in general, and they maintain a direct connection to the original apostles. For the next 300 years, Christianity was practiced by many city dwellers in private. Roman officials viewed Christians as a threat, and often had them killed. Christians continued to establish churches, and to spread their religion, but they did so discreetly.
In A.D. 312 an important Roman general by the name of Constantine was converted to Christianity through a spiritual experience he had on the battlefield. That same year, Constantine was made emperor of Rome. Under his leadership, Constantine offered protection to Christians, allowing Christian churches to be built throughout the empire, and allowing Christianity to spread more quickly. By A.D. 392 Christianity had become a powerful force in Rome. It was practiced from border to border. In this same year, the emperor Theodosius declared Christianity the state religion, and outlawed all other religious practices. Christians began to organize their church into parishes, which were overseen by priests. Several parishes formed what was called a diocese.

This was a brief scroll in the early Christian history and as you people can see there was no such thing as wars, blood or violence on the behalf of the holy apostles or the Christians instead they sacrificed every thing they had to spread the word of Jesus Christ our lord who did for their sins and mine, they were being crucified, tortured and abused but that didn’t stop them from spreading the word of the lord. And for over 300 years Christianity was spreading without using blood shed! Truth, love and faith were the weapons of those holy men whom died to spread the words of our lord Jesus Christ.
Now here are my questions regarding the spread of Islam during the early phases of Muhammad and his followers:
-You people say that Muhammad didn’t like the spilling of blood then why do I read in history books that he led 27 battles in which 9 of them he fought him self or so say some of the Arabic history books I have read? Is it possible to fight in 9 battles and not kill one man and hate violence?
-I don’t understand how you people say that Islam is such a peaceful religion and your prophet who is every Muslim's idol fought 27 battles in less then 12 years. Please explain this to me I find my self in a dark room surrounded by voices that I can't understand!
-Did he or did he not order the complete annihilation of an entire Jewish tribe in Medina that had a population of 700 men who were slaughtered like sheep in one day?
- Did he or did he not send over 60 raids after appointing one of his followers to raid and pillage from other none Muslim tribes?
-Why did Muhammad fight only the Christian orthodox Roman Byzantines and not fight against the heretic Persians who were Zoroastrians?

That’s all I have to ask regarding Mohammad now I would like to ask about those who came after him the 4 caliphates (some books say that there were 5 caliphates others say 4 as I am not certain about this I hope you excuse my deficit in historical knowledge) :

-Wasn’t it the caliphates top priority to recruit armies and send them to rage wars on Persia and the Byzantines?
-isn't General Khalid ibn al-Walid considered one of the brightest Islamic idols? Considering that he engaged over 50 battles and never lost making him one of the most ruthless killers of all time.
-didn’t the Muslims fight in numerous battles after Mohammed's death such as the yarmouk and al-Qādisiyyah epic battles resulting in over 200 thousand casualties of troops only not to mansion countless enslavements? In which they conquered all the lands from Morocco west to Pakistan east and Georgia north to Sudan south?

-Why do you Muslims consider what the holy crusaders did to the Muslims in Jerusalem when they first entered city at 1099 A.D an evil massacre, When the Muslims had killed far more Christians in their self raised battles?

Another frontier I would like to discuses;
Why do you Muslims claim that you are the origin of all modern science, when the short Islamic scientific revolution had begun after translation of Greek, roman and ancient Asian scrolls into Arabic for your brightest to study and develop? It was pretty much you feeding on the knowledge of the nations you had conquered and built over it which was mostly Greek philosophy and roman science.

[Mark_W]

speaking to your fundamental question. I would find it hard to believe that a religion that wasn't based on love, peace, and the welfare of all, could have stood the test of time as well as it has for so many centuries. In short there is true Islam and false Islam, just as there is true Christianity and false Christianity. So this distinction needs to be made, because true Islam, just as true Chrsitianity, could never be spread by violent means.
Here's a quote that's attributed to Mohammed that I think explains how this religion got a strong start:
"The most perfect among men is he who loves his neighbor without thinking whether the person is good or bad."

[passionate]

speaking to your fundamental question. I would find it hard to believe that a religion that wasn't based on love, peace, and the welfare of all, could have stood the test of time as well as it has for so many centuries. In short there is true Islam and false Islam, just as there is true Christianity and false Christianity. So this distinction needs to be made, because true Islam, just as true Chrsitianity, could never be spread by violent means.
Here's a quote that's attributed to Mohammed that I think explains how this religion got a strong start:
"The most perfect among men is he who loves his neighbor without thinking whether the person is good or bad."

Unfortunately I would have to disagree with you on this matter. Look at the world today and tell me what you see. Most of the Islam nations today received Islam under the banners of generals leading armies. Only the very Far East islands of Indonesia have abided Islam with out blood shed. As for what Muhammad said well let me tell you some of the things he did, after actions are stronger then words don’t you agree?
In about 584 A.C the Muslim leader Muhammad rounded up an entire tribe of Jews and slaughtered 700 med in one night! Then took all of their women and children as slaves. This is not peaceful; people joined Islam because they rather be Muslims then be under Islamic swords as slaves. The Muslims blame the crusaders for what they did when they first entered Jerusalem in 1099 AC but look at how many they have killed when they first entered our holy lands! Its said that Muslims killed over 150 thousand people in their self raised conquest.

[McCulloch]

Here is the flag of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. He governs according to Islamic law.

Notice the international symbol for peace depicted under the writing.

[opus49]

I would find it hard to believe that a religion that wasn't based on love, peace, and the welfare of all, could have stood the test of time as well as it has for so many centuries.

Judaism?

[Mark_W]

Look at the world today and tell me what you see.

I see both professing Muslims not acting like Muslims, and professing Christians not acting like Christians. Do I see Christians "loving their enemies", "returning good for evil", etc....No. I do see them engaging in war and killing people. So I think if we take an unbiased look around today, we will be quick to point the finger out ourselves rather than at others.
People accuse Jesus of driving the money-changers out of the temple by beating them with a whip. So I don't necessarily believe everything I'm told about mohammed's actions either. The fact is that most Muslims are peaceful people and do not wish to do violence to people of other nations/religions (the "news media" and public opinion may suggest otherwise, but common sense holds that if they were on the whole more violent than peaceful they would not have lasted so long. "He who lives by the sword dies by the sword".)
And if most Muslims are on the whole peaceful, then why would they celebrate the life and teaching of someone who preached a doctrine of violence? Are they just a peaceful people striving to be violent and cruel? As I mentioned before, I would find this hard to believe.

[Catharsis]

Hi passionate,

Please read 'Islam 101' - http://jihadwatch.org/islam101/

I assure you, there are answers to your questions there.

[passionate]

Jesus did in deed attack those who discriminated the house of the lord but did he kill any one? In Muhammad's case I find that imposable not to believe. Would any one elaborate on the issues I have brought up?

Thanks for that link for that link catharsis I will read it but that will make little difference as I have read to much of the Islamic teachings so far to know that this religion is will rage a bloody war if it could.

[passionate]

Jesus did in deed attack those who discriminated the house of the lord but did he kill any one? In Muhammad's case I find that imposable not to believe. Would any one elaborate on the issues I have brought up?

Thanks for that link for that link catharsis I will read it but that will make little difference as I have read to much of the Islamic teachings so far to know that this religion is will rage a bloody war if it could.

[umair]

I am extremely confused regarding the methods of Islamic spread at its beginning, as every Muslim I know tells me that Islam spread through peace, wisdom and love yet all the history books I have read both western and eastern say other wise so I am merely seeking the truth on this matter as I will educate you on how Christianity spread from Judea to fill the entire world as it is today through love and tranquility for those are the hands of god our lord, never steel and war for those are hated by the lord.

Christianity existed several centuries prior to the birth of Islam, and by the time Islam had begun Christianity was well established at its center in Europe. Christianity originally sprouted in the Middle East after Christ’s resurrection in A.D. 30. The church began in Jerusalem and the surrounding area, and it initially preached the Gospel only to the Jews. It grew quite rapidly for a time—in fact; the book of Acts records the conversion of 3000 Jews in a single, extraordinary day. During this early period, however, Christianity did not expand far beyond Jerusalem and its vicinity. That would soon change, after the first few years of relative peace for the church; a terrible persecution broke out following the stoning of Stephen. Jewish leaders hunted down the followers of Jesus and threw them into prison. At this time many in the church scattered to the surrounding countryside of Judea and Samaria. Christianity’s worldwide expansion was beginning. The followers of Jesus Christ continued to teach those things that he had taught them. They taught that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and the Messiah that the Jews had been waiting for. Many people throughout the Mediterranean accepted these teachings, and became known as Christians. Mean while in Rome: Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ who was entrusted with the administration of his church after he died. Traveled to Rome where he is believed to have established a Christian community before he was martyred. All popes are, then, successors of Peter not only as leading the Christian community in Rome, but also as leading the Christian community in general, and they maintain a direct connection to the original apostles. For the next 300 years, Christianity was practiced by many city dwellers in private. Roman officials viewed Christians as a threat, and often had them killed. Christians continued to establish churches, and to spread their religion, but they did so discreetly.
In A.D. 312 an important Roman general by the name of Constantine was converted to Christianity through a spiritual experience he had on the battlefield. That same year, Constantine was made emperor of Rome. Under his leadership, Constantine offered protection to Christians, allowing Christian churches to be built throughout the empire, and allowing Christianity to spread more quickly. By A.D. 392 Christianity had become a powerful force in Rome. It was practiced from border to border. In this same year, the emperor Theodosius declared Christianity the state religion, and outlawed all other religious practices. Christians began to organize their church into parishes, which were overseen by priests. Several parishes formed what was called a diocese.

This was a brief scroll in the early Christian history and as you people can see there was no such thing as wars, blood or violence on the behalf of the holy apostles or the Christians instead they sacrificed every thing they had to spread the word of Jesus Christ our lord who did for their sins and mine, they were being crucified, tortured and abused but that didn’t stop them from spreading the word of the lord. And for over 300 years Christianity was spreading without using blood shed! Truth, love and faith were the weapons of those holy men whom died to spread the words of our lord Jesus Christ.
Now here are my questions regarding the spread of Islam during the early phases of Muhammad and his followers:
-You people say that Muhammad didn’t like the spilling of blood then why do I read in history books that he led 27 battles in which 9 of them he fought him self or so say some of the Arabic history books I have read? Is it possible to fight in 9 battles and not kill one man and hate violence?
-I don’t understand how you people say that Islam is such a peaceful religion and your prophet who is every Muslim's idol fought 27 battles in less then 12 years. Please explain this to me I find my self in a dark room surrounded by voices that I can't understand!
-Did he or did he not order the complete annihilation of an entire Jewish tribe in Medina that had a population of 700 men who were slaughtered like sheep in one day?
- Did he or did he not send over 60 raids after appointing one of his followers to raid and pillage from other none Muslim tribes?
-Why did Muhammad fight only the Christian orthodox Roman Byzantines and not fight against the heretic Persians who were Zoroastrians?

That’s all I have to ask regarding Mohammad now I would like to ask about those who came after him the 4 caliphates (some books say that there were 5 caliphates others say 4 as I am not certain about this I hope you excuse my deficit in historical knowledge) :

-Wasn’t it the caliphates top priority to recruit armies and send them to rage wars on Persia and the Byzantines?
-isn't General Khalid ibn al-Walid considered one of the brightest Islamic idols? Considering that he engaged over 50 battles and never lost making him one of the most ruthless killers of all time.
-didn’t the Muslims fight in numerous battles after Mohammed's death such as the yarmouk and al-Qādisiyyah epic battles resulting in over 200 thousand casualties of troops only not to mansion countless enslavements? In which they conquered all the lands from Morocco west to Pakistan east and Georgia north to Sudan south?

-Why do you Muslims consider what the holy crusaders did to the Muslims in Jerusalem when they first entered city at 1099 A.D an evil massacre, When the Muslims had killed far more Christians in their self raised battles?

Another frontier I would like to discuses;
Why do you Muslims claim that you are the origin of all modern science, when the short Islamic scientific revolution had begun after translation of Greek, roman and ancient Asian scrolls into Arabic for your brightest to study and develop? It was pretty much you feeding on the knowledge of the nations you had conquered and built over it which was mostly Greek philosophy and roman science.

i am sending a personal message to you ,because i thoght that you were not in touch with your topic (islam peaceful or belligerent)

now i simply as a follower of islam , would like to inform you about certain facts regarding the life of the prophet and my religion.

in the quran it has been clearly stated that (the killing of one innocent man is equal to the sin of killing all the men in this world)
from this you can understand that if a man was giving such a teaching was cruel then why would anybody follow such a man.

yes , you are true that the prophet had himself taken part in many battles , among which three were main, but i would like to quote that if you read carefully, then you will find ,that he was always in the position of defending, ie:he never attacked.
and he was defending the truth , and the word of god( the quran).


a brief about quran is that god has revealed many manuscripts and books to his various prophets and messengers, among which the prominent were[the ten commandments(zabur) to abraham, torah to moses , bible to jesus, and the quran to the last and final messenger muhammed] (may peace be upon all of them.)


and yes all the messengers of god were given with laws which were limited , until the next set of laws was sent through another messenger,
and it was only at the time of muhammed that the final set of laws were revealed which are to stay till the earth perishes.
so according to these laws at the time of moses the law was that if someone harms you then you have the right to harm him too.
at the time of jesus , it was turned to the opposite,that if man slaps on one cheek then offer him the other.
but these were the two extremes, so muhammed was given with the final and the most practical law that (if someone hits you,then even you have the right to hit him,but it should be with the same intensity and accuracy[which in practical is not possible],and if you hit him a little harder then you would become a sinner, and if you forgive him then you will get the grace of god, because god loves those who forive others.

now moving to the historical side, if you consider that islam was spread through sword, then please inspect that it is the fastest growing religion of america, and the whole of the world and for more information from the historical point of view you can visit http://www.irf.net/irf/drzakirnaik/dznindex.htm (twenty common questions asked by non muslims)(was islam spread by sword)

i would be waiting for your reply.