Re-Tom Norton

Submitted by B. Mustapha (Nigeria), Feb 22, 2006 at 06:40

Mr. Tom Norton, you talked on the history of Jihad that took place during the period of the best people of the religion of Islam as "Notice how closely Islam's inception is associated with war. From 623 to 777, a span of 154 years, there are 83 military conflicts involving the Muslims..."

Since you did not talk on the motives, casualties etc of the Jihads fought by the early muslims, I too will not go into details. But for an Islamic state under Muhammad and Caliphs to have associated with about 83 military conflicts in a span of 154 years seems Islam is not a peaceful religion.

Mr. Norton, mind you that most of the battles you mentioned were just a simple expedition sent to control an up-rising. In Arabic there is what is called AS-SARIYYA, AL-MA'ARAKA, AL-GAZUWA etc which each has its own meaning & where to apply.

And you said 'Notice how closely Islam's inception is associated with war',
I think this is something which is natural (I mean it is applicable everywhere). For instance read the history of Moses from the inception or that of the Christianity from the inception. Read how Poul was converted & how the doctrine of Trinity was established & imposed on people.

Or follow the trend of War on Terrorism, Globalisation, the Democratisation & the so-called giving freedom to the oppressed people of the world under some tyrant leaders. Didn't we notice & be notising military conflicts in these processes? If we take US in Iraq as a case study & count the number of military conflicts it encountered within the span of 3 years & compare it with that of our beloved Prophet, you will definately appreciate Islam. Mind you, almost everyday the US army faces a Military conflict in Iraq. And Iraq is only one place US is doing such kind of JIHAD.
Prophet Muhammad said "say the truth, for the truth is bitter"

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".