Peaceful Islam?

Islam makes it incumbent on all adult males, provided they are not disabled or incapacitated, to prepare themselves for the conquest of [other] countries so that the writ of Islam is obeyed in every country in the world. . . . But those who study Islamic Holy War will understand why Islam wants to conquer the whole world. . . . Those who know nothing of Islam pretend that Islam counsels against war. Those [who say this] are witless. Islam says: Kill all the unbelievers just as they would kill you all! Does this mean that Muslims should sit back until they are devoured by [the unbelievers]? Islam says: Kill them [the non-Muslims], put them to the sword and scatter [their armies]. Does this mean sitting back until [non-Muslims] overcome us? Islam says: Kill in the service of Allah those who may want to kill you! Does this mean that we should surrender [to the enemy]? Islam says: Whatever good there is exists thanks to the sword and in the shadow of the sword! People cannot be made obedient except with the sword! The sword is the key to Paradise, which can be opened only for the Holy Warriors! There are hundreds of other [Qur’anic] psalms and Hadiths [sayings of the Prophet] urging Muslims to value war and to fight. Does all this mean that Islam is a religion that prevents men from waging war? I spit upon those foolish souls who make such a claim. -----  Ayatollah Khomeini

It is important to note that this notorious and important quotation comes from Amir Taheri’s book, Holy Terror: Inside the World of Islamic Terrorism, Adler & Adler, 1987, pp. 241-3.

Quran 9: 29
 Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low.

 Ibn Kathir, The Battles of the Prophet, pp. 183-4—Allah, Most High, ordered the believers to prohibit the disbelievers from entering or coming near the sacred Mosque. On that, Quraish thought that this would reduce their profits from trade. Therefore, Allah, Most High, compensated them and ordered them to fight the people of the Book until they embrace Islam or pay the Jizyah. Allah says, “O ye who believe! Truly the pagans are unclean; so let them not, after this year of theirs, approach the sacred Mosque. And if ye fear poverty, soon will Allah enrich you, if He wills, out of His bounty, for Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, from among the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” Therefore, the Messenger of Allah decided to fight the Romans in order to call them to Islam.

 "Failure to pay the jizya was commonly punished by house arrest and some legal authorities allowed enslavement of dhimmis for non-payment of taxes.^{[122][123][124]} In South Asia, for example, seizure of dhimmi families upon their failure to pay annual jizya was one of the two significant sources of slaves sold in the slave markets of Delhi Sultanate and Mughal era." <sup>[125][126] 
                                                      ------------- Wikipedia 

For more please click here :
 http://www.answeringmuslims.com/2012/05/quran-in-context-1-fight-those-who-do.html</sup>

^{Now  even though Muslims try to interpret the passage in multiple ways other than this to avoid others from thinking they are violent, nevertheless there are interpretations which condone a literal version of the verse and therefore it is not clear what is really meant there even for Muslims. Quran, contrary to it's claim that is it clear is not clear and  has been used by Satan to produce violence and spread hatred and false religion. Quran is a confusing book with lots of contradictory passages and which also believes in ideas such as 'Taqqiya' and 'abrogation'. They is no agreement over which verses abrogate which verse. The verses which the earlier Muslims thought were abrogated and the verses which the modern Muslims think are abrogated are not the same.} 

^{It is good that many Muslims don't take these passages literally and think Islam is peaceful but that may be because they not in Muslim majority countries, where Sharia is implemented. In most Islamic countries, oppression of non-muslims is a reality and on which there is no disagreement. This is based on interpretations of Quran and Hadith.} 

^{Even when Muslims say that Islam allows those violent verses to be interpreted in certain contexts only, it does allow them to practice them under those contexts. It opens a way to violence. In this fallen world, there is always reason which allow for violence, such as oppression or betrayal etc. But can we not still pursue peace and try to bring people settle things by peaceful means? Yes. But those are the places where Islam advocates violence or retaliation.}

^{The concept of forgiving and loving the enemy is foreign to Islam. It is a very Christian concept and stays within the core Christian teachings. Jesus is his most famous sermon on the mount, proclaimed it.} 

^{43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."}   

^{Politically these teachings have been applied by MK Gandhi in India and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, in American to bring an end to tyranny and oppression, to fight colonialism and Racism respectively.} 

^{So Islam counter to it's claim as the 'Religion of Peace' has resulted in more wars and those were in line with the teachings of it's prophet Mohamed, even if rightly interpreted. Christianity on the other hand, the political and cultural versions which did involve in Wars, did it in contradiction to the teachings of Christ.} 

^{A major difference between Christianity and Islam is the presence of people like Father Damien, Mother Theresa or Staines family, who served the poor and established hospitals in line with the teachings of Christ. All the Christian hospitals, schools, universities, orphanages and aid agencies easily outnumber the Islamic ones, if there are any.} 

^{So in conclusion, Christ offers a better way, a really peaceful way than Islam does.}