Is Islam a Religion of Peace?

KORAN commands to kill infidels:

Allah is an enemy to unbelievers. - Sura 2:98

On unbelievers is the curse of Allah. - Sura 2:161

Slay them wherever ye find them and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. - Sura 2:191 [this one refers to those who commit violence against Muslims, but later verses do not make this distinction.]

Fight against them until idolatry is no more and Allah's religion reigns supreme.
(different translation: ) Fight them until there is no persecution and the religion is God's entirely. - Sura 2:193 and 8:39 [Again, this refers to those who initiate violence against Muslims, but as stated before other verses do not qualify the idea, but target every non-Muslim.]

Fighting is obligatory for you, much as you dislike it. - Sura 2:216
(different translation: ) Prescribed for you is fighting, though it is hateful to you.

..... martyrs.... Enter heaven - Sura 3:140-43

If you should die or be killed in the cause of Allah, His mercy and forgiveness would surely be better than all the riches they amass. If you should die or be killed, before Him you shall all be gathered. - Sura3:157-8

You must not think that those who were slain in the cause of Allah are dead. They are alive, and well-provided for by their Lord. - Sura 3:169-71

Let those fight in the cause of God who sell the life of this world for the hereafter. To him who fights in the cause of God, whether he is slain or victorious, soon we shall give him a great reward. - Sura 4:74

Those who believe fight in the cause of God, and those who reject faith fight in the cause of evil. - Sura 4:76

But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever you find them. - Sura 4:89

Therefore, we stirred among them [Christians] enmity and hatred, which shall endure till the Day of Resurrection, when Allah will declare to them all that they have done. - Sura 5:14

O believers, take not Jews and Christians as friends; they are friends of each other. Those of you who make them his friends is one of them. God does not guide an unjust people. - Sura 5:51

Make war on them until idolatry is no more and Allah's religion reigns supreme - Sura 8:39

O Prophet! Exhort the believers to fight. If there are 20 steadfast men among you, they shall vanquish 200; and if there are a hundred, they shall rout a thousand unbelievers, for they are devoid of understanding. - Sura 8:65

It is not for any Prophet to have captives until he has made slaughter in the land. - Sura 8:67

Allah will humble the unbelievers. Allah and His apostle are free from obligations to idol-worshipers. Proclaim a woeful punishment to the unbelievers. - Sura 9:2-3

When the sacred months are over, slay the idolaters wherever you find them. Arrest them, besiege them, and lie in ambush everywhere for them. - Sura 9:5

Believers! Know that idolators are unclean. - Sura 9:28

Fight those who believe neither in God nor the Last Day, nor what has been forbidden by God and his messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, even if they are People of the Book, until they pay the tribute and have been humbled. - Sura 9:29
(another source: ) The unbelievers are impure and their abode is hell.
(another source: ) Humiliate the non-Muslims to such an extent that they surrender and pay tribute.

Whether unarmed or well-equipped, march on and fight for the cause of Allah, with your wealth and your persons. - Sura 9:41

O Prophet! Make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites. Be harsh with them. Their ultimate abode is hell, a hapless journey's end. - Sura 9:73

Allah has purchased of their faithful lives and worldly goods, and in return has promised them the Garden. They will fight for His cause, kill and be killed. - Sura 9:111

Fight unbelievers who are near to you. Sura 9:123
(different translation: ) Believers! Make war on the infidels who dwell around you. Let them find harshness in you.
(another source: ) Ye who believe! Murder those of the disbelievers....

As for those who are slain in the cause of Allah, He will not allow their works to perish. He will vouchsafe them guidance and ennoble their state; He will admit them to the Paradise He has made known to them. - Sura 10:4-15

Allah has cursed the unbelievers and proposed for them a blazing hell. (another source: ) Cursed: wherever they are found they shall be seized and murdered, a (horrible) murdering. - Sura 33:60 or 61

When you meet the unbelievers, smite their necks, then when you have made wide slaughter among them, tie fast the bonds, then set them free, either by grace or ransom, until the war lays down its burdens. - Sura 47:4
(different translation: ) When you meet the unbelievers in the battlefield, strike off their heads, and when you have laid them low, bind your captives firmly.

Those who are slain in the way of Allah - he will never let their deeds be lost. Soon will he guide them and improve their condition, and admit them to the Garden, which he has announced for them. - Sura 47:4-6

Muslims are harsh against the unbelievers, merciful to one another. - Sura 48:25

Muhammad is Allah's apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another. Through them, Allah seeks to enrage the unbelievers. - Sura 48:29

Prophet! Make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites and deal sternly with them. Hell shall be their home, evil their fate. - Sura 66:9

The unbelievers among the People of the Book and the pagans shall burn forever in the fire of hell. They are the vilest of all creatures. - Sura 98:1-6

KORAN promises of houris in heaven:

Single-minded slaves of Allah... will be honored in the Gardens of delight, on couches facing one another; A cup from a gushing spring is brought round for them, white, delicious to the drinkers, wherein there is no headache nor are they made mad thereby. And with them are those of modest gaze, with lovely eyes, pure as they were hidden eggs. - Sura 37:40-49

Lo, for those who ward off evil is a happy journey's end, Gardens of Eden, whereof the gates are opened for the[m], wherein, reclining, they call for plenteous fruit and cool drink therein. And with them are those of modest gaze, companions. This it is that ye are promised for the Day of Reckoning. - Sura 38:50-54

Lo! Those who kept their duty will be in a place secure, amid gardens and water-springs, attired in silk and silk embroidery, facing one another.... And we shall wed them unto fair ones with wide, lovely eyes. They call therein for every fruit in safety. They taste not death therein, save the first death. And He hath saved them from the doom of hell, a bounty from thy Lord. That is the supreme triumph. - Sura 44:51-57

Lo! Those who kept their duty dwell in gardens and delight... reclining on ranged couches. And we wed them unto fair ones with wide, lovely eyes... and we provide them with fruit and meat such as they desire.... - Sura 52:17-22

...Reclining upon couches lined with silk brocade, the fruit of both the gardens near to hand.... Therein are those of modest gaze, whom neither man nor jinni will have touched before them.... - Sura 55:54-56

Those are they who will be brought nigh, in gardens of delight... reclining therein face to face. There wait on them immortal youths... and fair ones with wide, lovely eyes, like unto hidden pearls, reward for what they used to do.... Lo! We have created them a creation, and made them virgins, lovers, friends. - Sura 56:11-37
(Different translation) Companions with beautiful, big and lustrous eyes... virgin-pure and undefiled.

Koran "sharia" punishments:

As for the man who steals and the woman who steals, cut off their hands as punishment for what they have earned, an exemplary punishment from Allah. - Sura 5:38

Thank you to AJS and Dr. Frank.

Comment:

I have personally checked out each of these verses in the "original" and vouch that they are mostly accurate, but a few are taken out of context. The overall picture, however, in my opinion, is toward violence against the unbelievers.

Please note: the references to houris do not appear to be linked directly with the duty to slay unbelievers, but the implication seems to be that those who are faithful (including in slaying unbelievers) will be so rewarded.

Here is the complete text of the Quran in English: Quran. You can read the verses in context. One thing that makes the situation so difficult is that some verses of the Quran were written in Mecca and some in Medina. There is a decided difference between the degree of militancy of the writings from the two different places. Because of the apparent contradictions, Muslims are probably free to choose which way they want to view all of this. Verses are NOT presented in chronological order, so this makes it very difficult to tell which is which. Rather, the Sura's are arranged in order according to their length. Mohammed started out in Mecca, and was driven out, and went later to Medina. The peaceful verses are from Mecca and the warlike verses from Medina. The verses from Medina are generally taken to abrogate the verses from Mecca where there is contradiction, according to The Sword of the Prophet by Serge Trifkovic.

Many Muslims repudiate these ideas, and we should respect them for having the courage to do so. Also, there is one Islamic state that grants and guarantees freedom of religion, and where different religions live beside each other in relative harmony and peace. I am talking about Malaysia. If one Islamic state can do this, it has been demonstrated that it is possible and that Islam does not have to be a religion of violence. But it is an uphill battle, in my opinion, given the evidence above. So judge for yourself. Let us insist that the international community recognize the peaceful nature of Malaysia, and demand the other Islamic states follow their excellent example.

Your webmistress is a Christian. As such, I believe the Christian faith is true. By implication, this means that any religion that denies that Jesus, Who is true God, is the only way to salvation, is false. That said, I want to urge you that no one can be saved through violence. Rather, the best opportunity for salvation is when people are free to discuss these things and to decide for themselves. I realize that it is often true that Christianity thrives and is at its purest when we are the victims of persecution. But much of that is our own fault. We are perverse, and require this kind of refinement in the fire to sift out the ones who only pay lip service from those who have a true faith. But the Bible charges us to live peaceably with all men. This means that we should never be the perpetrators of violence for any reason.

What should we as Christians do about the passages quoted above? Let us encourage people to repudiate any idea in Islam that violence toward innocent people is ever required. I am glad I don't have to face the question of these Suras. Are they genuine? The Muslim community will have to decide. I urge the community of Islam to reject the apparent message here. I don't know what will be required, but it must be dealt with. Violence is not beneficial to anyone. That includes Islam. Let people go in peace, and let people decide freely what they choose to believe. If a Muslim decides to embrace another religion, let him go in peace. If one of our people decides to embrace Islam, let him also go in peace. It is up to God to show people the truth. It's not our responsibility. Our responsibility is limited to giving people information, and what they do about it is between them and God.

For a voice from Islam urging peace, please see here.