islam : the just, the peace-loving

the British historian Karen Armstrong, a former nun and an expert on Middle East history, in her book "Holy War", which examines the history of the three divine religions, she makes the following comments:
"...The word 'Islam' comes from the same Arabic root as the word 'peace' and the Qur'an condemns war as an abnormal state of affairs opposed to God's will... Islam does not justify a total aggressive war of extermination… Islam recognises that war is inevitable and sometimes a positive duty in order to end oppression and suffering. The Qur'an teaches that war must be limited and be conducted in as humane a way as possible. Mohammad had to fight not only the Meccans but also the Jewish tribes in the area and Christian tribes in Syria who planned on offensive against him in alliance with the Jews. Yet this did not make Mohammad denounce the People of the Book. His Muslims were forced to defend themselves but they were not fighting a 'holy war' against the religion of their enemies. When Mohammad sent his freedman Zaid against the Christians at the head of a Muslim army, he told them to fight in the cause of God bravely but humanely. They must not molest priests, monks and nuns nor the weak and helpless people who were unable to fight. There must be no massacre of civilians nor should they cut down a single tree nor pull down any building..."

in "The Genuine Islam", Sir George Bernard Shaw described Prophet Mohammad's superior traits:
"I have always held the religion of Mohammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him... he must be called the Savior of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness..."

since the Prophet Mohammad, true Muslims have always brought with them an atmosphere of freedom and tolerance wherever they have gone. they have enabled people whose religions, languages and cultures are completely different from one another to live together in peace and harmony under one roof, and provided peace and harmony for its own members. within this multinational structure, all ethnic and religious groups have been free to live according to their own religions, and their own rules.

barbarism and radicalism in the name of religion, that is so preoccupying the world at present, is the work of ignorant and fanatical people, completely estranged from Qur'anic morality, and who have absolutely nothing to do with religion. the solution to these people and groups who try to carry out their savagery under the mask of religion is the teaching of true Qur'anic morality.

Islam and Qur'anic morality are solutions to the scourge of bigotry, barbarism and terrorism; not supporters of it.