Islam is not a religion of peace

I thank Pro for instigating this debate, I accept his challenge, & I too hope this will prove to be an interesting debate.

Resolution:

- Topic: wether Islam is a religion which promotes Peace.

- Terminology:

> Religion = scripture, law, theology, & thought.

> Islam = the religion founded by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) & revealed through the Qur’an.

> Promote = encourage, advocate, advance, nurture. . .

> Peace, since the concept is broad & abstruse, I’ll define it broadly as = a state of freedom from injustice or oppression. It must thus considered distinctly from ‘pacifism’.

Rules:

- No forfeit, no disrespect & no logical fallacies.

- BOF: the burden of proof is on Pro, as per the fomulation of his resolution.

- Sources: authentic & authoritative.

Best of luck.

I like to thank Pro for posting his opening argument. I shall present my opening case in this round, & proceed with rebuttals in the following rounds.

Case:

I. Proper understanding of scripture is essential for sound judgement

- The linguistic, textual & circumstantial contexts are necessary to properly understand any text (including scripture), lest misinterpretations occur. Take for instance the following passage from the French Constitution: “Anarchy is a frightening but necessary passage, and the only moment when one can establish a new order of things” [1]. Not knowing the textual & circumstantial context of such passages is a serious impairment to the Constitution that contains them as whole, in this example, the consequences could be devastating!

- In the case of the Qur’an, mastery of Classical Arabic, knowledge of the full context of verses & of all the details of the life of the Prophet (pbuh), are, thus, all necessary components to any meaningful interpretation of these verses.

=> These components come with proper qualifications & proper authority, thus interpreting the Qur’an without such qualifications & such authority is too unpredictable & whimsical, & is bound to lead to serious undesirable consequences.

II. Islam teaches universal Equality amongst Mankind

1. In birth

* “Every child is born in the state of Fitrah” the Prophet (pbuh) [2].

2. In humanity

* “Humans are equal, like a set of a tooth-comb” “there is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, nor of a non-Arab over an Arab, nor of a white over a black, nor a black over a white, except by piety” the Prophet (pbuh) [3].

3. In dignity

* "Verily we have dignified the Children of Adam (Mankind)." (17:70).

4. In equity of genders

* “And women shall have rights similar to the rights against them, according to what is equitable” (2:228).

* “Verily, Women are but the equivalent of Men. Those honourable among men will honour them, and those ignoble among men will dishonour them” the Prophet (pbuh), also articulated into: “Women are the counter-part of Men” [4].

=> These directives already lay strong foundations for a universal call to Peace.

III. Islam teaches Brotherhood amongst Muslims

1. Between individuals

* “A Muslim is a brother to a Muslim. He should neither deceive him nor lie to him, nor leave him without assistance. Everything belonging to a Muslim is inviolable for a Muslim; his honour, his blood and property.” the Prophet [5].

2. Between genders

* “And the men believers and the women believers are patrons one of the other” (9:71).

3. Within the community

* ”The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever” the Prophet [6].

=> This brotherhood, enjoining kindness, compassion & assistance, & also equally banning injustice & oppression amongst its members, is proof of the inherent peaceful nature of the message of Islam, amongst Muslims.

IV. Islam teaches Tolerance with non-Muslims

- It has already been established that Islam calls for the equality & dignity of all human beings, Muslims & non-Muslims alike, manifesting thus the primary aspect of Tolerance enjoined on Muslims towards non-Muslims. To the same effect, of Tolerance & Peace, the Qur'an decrees:

1. Pre-ordained difference in Religion amongst Mankind, which Muslims must accept in submission

* ”And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed - all of them entirely. Then, [O Muhammad], would you compel the people in order that they become believers?" (10:99).

2. Freedom of religion in belief & practice

* ”There is no compulsion in religion" (2:256), “And say, "The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve.” “ (18:29).

3. Accountability in religion only to God, on Muslims is only the duty to remind

* “So remind, [O Muhammad]; you are only a reminder. You are not over them a controller.” (88:21-22), “But if they turn away - then We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], over them as a guardian; upon you is only [the duty of] notification”, “and upon Us is the account.” (43:48)(13:40).

4. Clear unambiguous distinction between hostile & peaceful non-Muslims

i. Fairness & Kindness must prevail in dealing with peaceful non-Muslims:

* "Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity.” (60:8-9).

ii. Justice in self-defence & Patience must prevail in dealing with hostile non-Muslims:

* “Allah only forbids you from those who fight you because of religion and expel you from your homes and aid in your expulsion - [forbids] that you make allies of them. And whoever makes allies of them, then it is those who are the wrongdoers.” (60:9), "And if you punish [an enemy, O believers], punish with an equivalent of that with which you were harmed. But if you are patient - it is better for those who are patient". (16:126).

5. Mutual understanding is one of the ultimate goals of human diversity

* “O you mankind, surely We created you of a male and a female, and We have made you races and tribes that you may get mutually acquainted. Surely the most honourable among you in the Providence of Allah are the most pious” (49:13).

6. Prohibition of initiating hostilities or transgression, sanction of fighting only in self-defence against the persecutors, halt of hostilities once the persecutors desist, & call to Peace as the ultimate objective

* “Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Verily, Allah does not like transgressors. And kill them (those who fight you) wherever you overtake them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you, for persecution is worse than slaughter. but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers. But if they cease, then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And fight them on until there is no more Tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, Let there be no hostility except to those who practise oppression.” (2:190-193).

=> The above cited directives & countless others plainly speak for a religion that promotes, in the most unambiguous way, Peace between Muslims & non-Muslims, in enjoining universal equality & mutual understanding ; tolerance with non-Muslims: fairness & kindness to those peaceful, justice & patience to those hostile.

V. Islam teaches Mercy for all beings

1. For All

* “Be merciful on the earth, and you will be shown mercy from Who is above the heavens.” the Prophet (pbuh) [7].

2. For Mankind

* “He will enter Heaven only he who possesses Mercy. It is not the mercy that one has for his friend, but the Mercy for all mankind.” the Prophet (pbuh) [8].

3. For Animals

* “There is a reward for serving any animate (living being).” the Prophet (pbuh) [9].

4. For Nature

* "Eat and drink from the provision of Allah, and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption." (2:60).

…etc.

=> The mercy ordained in Islam, thus, extends to all creatures. It would be hard to conceive that the same religion advocates mercy to mere plants & animals, & doesn’t extend the same right to innocent human beings!

Sources:

[*] verses: http://quran.com...

[1] http://goo.gl... p. 198

[2] http://goo.gl...

[3] http://goo.gl... / http://goo.gl...

[4] http://goo.gl... / http://goo.gl...

[5] http://goo.gl...

[6] http://goo.gl...

[7] http://goo.gl...

[8] http://goo.gl...

[9] http://goo.gl...

Preface:

- It should be noted that, although Pro has the burden of proof, he ignored the bulk of my case against his resolution & provided no sources for most of his claims. Unless Pro succeeds in fulfilling both these conditions, his burden of proof may not be met.

Rebuttals:

“Islam is a monotheistic religion, with Allah being the sole deity. Surely this requires the destruction and purging of all other Gods”

- One: Pro is contradicting himself here! Allah being the sole deity & there being other gods is a contradiction. Two: as established in R2 (IV. 1.) , Allah (God) pre-ordained the existence of different religions, thus contradicting the supposition that He also commanded their destruction.

3:32 "Allah loveth not the disbelievers.”

- No, He does not, as manifest by the fact that ingrate disbelievers (kafireen) are promised Hell Fire. Regardless, this is irrelevant to the current discussion, for it only involves this life, not the afterlife.

8:39 "Fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is all for Allah.”

- Pro seems to be confirming my resolution here. Fighting to alleviate persecution is literally fighting for a state of freedom from injustice or oppression, thus fighting for Peace.

28:86 "Never be a helper to the disbelievers.”

- Yes, in their disbelief & polytheism [10], as is also clear from the context of the verse, explained just right after the statement:

* “… And never let them avert you from the verses of Allah after they have been revealed to you. And invite [people] to your Lord. And never be of those who associate others with Allah.” (28:87)

=> Muslims can’t be expected to advocate for disbelief or help in empowering it! That would be theologically incoherent.

- As for ordinary assistance, that has already been established in R2 (IV. 4.), which Pro has yet to disprove.

“How can Islam be a religion of peace, if it seeks to purge the World of all other faiths?”

- It doesn’t! That would be against the decree of the Qur’an in the pre-ordained difference of religion.

- As for Pro’s examples. Well, Muslims happen to be human beings, thus prone to the entire spectrum of human behaviour, including occasionally becoming criminals & fanatics. Pro fails to prove how Islam allegedly advocates for the purge of other religions.

“the use of capital punishment in many countries where the political system is closely linked to Islam.”

- Pro’s statement here is very ambiguous, as we can’t see how this is related to the resolution. How is Islam being a religion which allegedly doesn’t promote Peace related to capital punishment in political systems closely linked to Islam?! Pro has yet to make any argument that needs refutation. Until he does, I shall ignore this.

“In Muslim countries, homosexual people are persecuted on a routine basis.”

- Bare assertion, straw-man, & no arguments.

“in Saudi Arabia, they are classed as terrorists if they drive cars.”

- Bare assertion, straw-man, & no arguments.

“In Iran, in 2004, Atefeh Sahaaleh was executed for “infidelity”…”

- Straw-man. Not that this has anything to do with the current resolution, but it’s clear that it’s a case of miscarriage of justice by a vengeful rogue judge. Cases of wrongful execution are not that uncommon in the US either [11].

“It seems to me as if women are second-class citizens in Islam.”

- Bare assertion, already disproven in R2 (II. 4. \ III. 2.), which Pro has yet to refute. Pro’s emotions & personal impressions about the subject hold no weight in the soundness of any his arguments.

“Seeing as I have now been declared totally void of any understanding of the Q'uran whatsoever because Con assumes that I can't speak Arabic,”

- I am not in any better situation that Pro. The interpretations I provided for mentioned verses aren’t mine, they are taken from authentic & authoritative sources, mainly the 30-volumes Exegesis of the Qur’an: at-Tahrir wat-Tanwir, complied by the great scholar Ibn ‘Ashur, considered one of the Mujadidin of the Maliki school.

“I will not mention any verses in the Q'uran from now on!”

- The issue is not in mentioning such verses, it’s in whimsically interpreting them without proper qualification.

“ "Except by piety” This implies that those who are non pious are inferior to people who are pious. This quote then, does not teach that Mankind is equal. It teaches that those who are not Muslims are inferior to those who are. “

- Straw-man! Superiority in “Piety” evidently refers to benefits in the afterlife, not this life, which is the only relevant part to the resolution. Islam does indeed teach Equality in Humanity, not in everything, for that would be totally senseless. Humans aren’t really equal in everything, people differ in wealth, in status, in age, in knowledge…

- Being inferior in Piety does not entail being inferior in Humanity.

* “a bier passed before the Prophet (pbuh) and he stood up. He was told that the dead man was a Jew. Upon this he remarked: “Was he not a human being or did he not have a soul?!” “ [12].

=> Being an unbeliever does not diminish one’s humanity or one’s dignity.

“First of all, it does not explicitly say that women are equal to men.”

- Indeed. The Qur’an is pretty clear about that:

* “And the male is not like the female.” (3:36)

=> That doesn’t say that males are inherently superior to females, or that females are inherently superior to males! Men aren’t really equal to Women, in any strict sense, for that would entail a contradiction.

“It states that "Women shall have rights SIMILAR to men", implying that they do not have the same rights. It does not say that their rights are exactly the same.”

- Indeed. Islam decrees equality between genders, in the sense of Equity (justice & fairness) of genders, NOT strict equality. Men & Women are, by definition, unequal in gender. Treating two unequal entities the same is necessarily unjust to at least one of both. Thus, the type of equality Pro seeks is necessarily unjust, which as established is not what Islam teaches, for it seeks a state of freedom from Injustice.

“There is clear ambiguity here.”

- There really isn’t. It is what it is.

“”the first part of the verse and the context of the word in the verse clearly suggests that the second definition is more accurate … pertaining to the system of equity, as distinguished from the common law.”

- WHAT!!! Is Pro suggesting that “equitable” in the verse refers to Equity Law as per the English common law?!!! That’s like saying, “women” in the verse refers to the English women’s magazine titled: “Women”! No conceivable relation whatsoever.

“Yes, it says "Let him disbelieve" but that does not prove to me that Islam does promote freedom of religion”

- Pro is, again, contradicting himself. Permission to chose disbelief IS, by definition, freedom of religion. Besides, Pro chose to ignore the dozen other verses mentioned to that effect, which he has yet to disprove.

“It does not describe the consequences of disbelieving. If someone does disbelieve, what will happen to him/her”

- It does indeed, just in the afterlife, not this life, which is irrelevant to the current resolution. The verse reads:

* “And say, "The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve." Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them.” (18:29)

“it leaves the consequences of disbelieving open to interpretation.”

- No, it clearly doesn’t; especially, since there is an abundance of verses that enjoin over & over freedom of religion, which Pro chose to ignore entirely. That's why it's a good idea to have proper qualification before attempting to interpret such important texts.

Sources:

[10] http://goo.gl...

[11] http://goo.gl...

[12] http://goo.gl...