FACTS:
This is perhaps the most widespread myth about Islam
*Islam considers protection
of human lives a priority
*War is not preferred but is allowed when there is no other alternative
under two specific
circumstances:
1. Someone attacks us, we defend ourselves
2. Someone uses force to interfere with the free
decision of people to follow Islam or know about it (i.e. forces people against Islam)
Forcing people into Islam is not a valid reason for war
*Islam imposes strict war regulations
and ethics
*Unlawful attacks on human lives or property (currently described as TERRORISM) or even just threatening people
is a major crime in Islam
WHAT EMPIRE IN HISTORY STARTED BY ONE MAN AND, USING VIOLENCE, REACHED HALF OF THE WORLD IN 30 YEARS?
IN ITS EARLY YEARS, ISLAM WAS PHYSICALLY MUCH WEAKER THAN THE OTHERS. IT SPREAD THROUGH BEING CONVINCING TO PEOPLE WHO
HEARD ABOUT IT, THROUGH ITS LOGIC AND THROUGH THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE MUSLIMS WITH OTHERS. ISLAM WAS RESISTED AND FOUGHT AND
HAD TO DEFEND ITSELF.
WHEN ISLAM REACHED MOST OF THE WORLD, NOBODY COULD CLAIM IT WAS UNJUST TO ANYONE. AND WHEN ISLAM BECAME PHYSICALLY WEAKER,
WHY DIDN'T PEOPLE LEAVE IT IF THEY HAD FOLLOWED IT BY FORCE?
REMARKS:
Early years of Islam:
Islam has been attacked and fought and it did not initiate war. Most Middle Eastern countries were occupied by Persian
or Roman troops who treated the citizens of these countries badly even when at times they had the same religion (as in Egypt).
Muslims did not fight the citizens of these countries but they fought the occupants who maltreated the land owners and were
preventing information about Islam from reaching the people.
People of these countries welcomed the Muslims and saw justice and reason in their beliefs and acts. Many of the
people in these countries remained christians
while others were convinced to follow Islam.
When Islam reached the whole world:
It was an era during which Moslems, Christians and Jews lived together peacefully, freely followed their religions, and
Justice prevailed. Muslims needed to be able to dissiminate the message of Islam so everyone knows about it
so he or she
can make an informed decision. This is NO WAY forcing people into Islam. Similarly, the Muslims have NOT stolen the resources
of any country. Occupation has never been the aim.
Rules of war in Islam:
Not to damage the environment (burn plants, destroy houses, etc)
Not to attack children, women or elderly
Not
to attack civilians who have not shared in the battle
Not to kill a wounded
Those who would not attack the Muslims should
not be killed nor captured
Those who would not follow Islam but would not fight it or allie against it are not attacked
