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Violence & War

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Islam is violent and spread by the sword.

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Islamic Response:

Qur'ān 2:190 forbids aggression; armed jihad is defensive and governed by strict ethics (no harm to civilians, property, or worship places).

  • Qur'ān 5:32 equates killing one innocent with killing all mankind.
  • Prophet's conquest of Mecca ended with a general amnesty, not massacre.
  • Verses often cited as "sword verses" are context-specific responses to persecution.
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Biblical / Talmudic comparison:

  1. Deuteronomy 20:16-17: "leave alive nothing that breathes" in conquered Canaanite towns.
  2. 1 Samuel 15:3: Saul ordered to kill "men and women, children and infants" of Amalek.
  3. Numbers 31:17-18: Moses instructs killing Midianite boys/non-virgin women, keeping young girls alive.
  4. Luke 19:27: parable concludes with "bring them here and slay them before me", showing violent imagery even in the New Testament.
  5. Qur'ānic contrast: Qur'ānic warfare rules are explicitly limited: fight only those who fight you (2:190) and cease if the enemy inclines to peace (8:61).
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If context is granted to Biblical wars, why deny it to Qur'ānic verses that explicitly limit combat?