How can I tell my non Muslim friends that Islam is non violent?
Question
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am living in the US and many of my friends here are following what's happening in the Middle East from killing ambassadors and attacking embassies.
So I wanted to tell them that our religion doesn't allow the killing of innocent people even if they are non Muslims. Also, I wanted to tell them that our religion instructs us to give safety and security to non Muslims living in Islamic countries. So could you please give me links to Quran verses that assure the thing I have mentioned before in English. Also, do you know a credible website for hadith in English?
Thanks a lot and I am waiting for your reply
Answer
Defending Islam and its true concepts necessitates manifesting them in the correct way away from erroneous radical concepts. This, in fact, is the role of every Muslim who takes it upon himself to represent Islam either by word or deed. It is the duty of all Muslims to follow the true teachings of Islam when dealing with others to illustrate the religion's beauty, tolerance, sublimity and refinement. Likewise, Muslims must abide by good manners and the rights of citizenship and neighborliness. They must represent a role model in coexistence and communication with the other—i.e. sharing with them their good times, consoling them in their times of grief and not blaming those of other faiths for the irresponsible behavior committed by some individuals. This is because in Islam, no one bears the burden of another.
Irresponsible reactions to insults made towards Islam demonstrate a complete ignorance of the faith, blind foolishness and attributing falsities to Islam which displeases Allah Exalted be Him and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Not only this, such actions result in defaming Islam before non-Muslims; rather it may incur insults and doubt upon the religion.
Allah Almighty warned Muslims against following this path as per His words:
And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them about what they used to do. (Al-'An'am, 108).
Islam has never been the sort of religion that calls for violence and terrorism toward such incidents. Rather, it urges its followers to abide by wisdom and good manners in their reactions to manifest its tolerant nature. This way, all the evil plots of the corrupt will be unveiled and their cunning will be in vain.
Muslims' irresponsible actions toward insults have nothing to do with the teachings of Islam. Rather, they are considered taking part in falsehoods, corruption and spreading extremist ideas which are mistakenly interpreted as Islam. This is nothing but taking part in turning people away from following the path of Allah and from the true essence of Islam.