[GrolmangHat27]

It's just that not many Muslims seem to openly talk about the violence in the Koran, focusing more on the ritual aspects of Islam.

So, generally is it okay for Muslims to describe the Koran as being violent or even very violent?

I personally don't know enough about it to comment.

[GreefeWrereon]

It's just that not many Muslims seem to openly talk about the violence in the Koran, focusing more on the ritual aspects of Islam.

So, generally is it okay for Muslims to describe the Koran as being violent or even very violent?

I personally don't know enough about it to comment.

Is Islam a pacifist religion (ie violence is never acceptable under any circumstances)? No. Islam--like any sane religion or philosophy--recognizes the necessity to defend one's life, family, or property should it be required. Even Buddhists--the darling of the liberal Western elite--recognizes this. However, is violence preferable? No, of course not, but a shepherd doesn't keep the wolves at bay by talking with the wolf. The wolf doesn't understand and doesn't care.

[BeksTeene]

Assalam alaykum,

It seems healthy to discuss the types of violence that occurs in the Quran, which most often took place for self defense or the defense of the religion, as Abdel Haleem points out. The Quran also puts some limits on warfare, such as accepting entreaties for peace and limiting retaliation. To put things in perspective, though, the Quran is much less violent than parts of the Old Testament.

Wassalam

[blohannaserri]

The verses you are talking about expres the aspect of Tanzih. Which means that
the human being is a servant/slave of God the King, He does whatever He wants.
We are not real, He is the Real, we are just shadows compared to Him.
These verses express God's attributes like The Supreme, The King, The Majestic, The Destroyer
The Incomparable and so on. He is a distant King and does as He pleases.
(42:11 - Nothing in the universe like Him)

Other verses express Tasbih, the verses people like and see as peaceful.
According to Tasbih the human being is the vicegerent of God on Earth.
They express God's Mercy, Generosity and Compassion. Generally His care for
creation. Tasbih means that God is very near to us and everywhere, He is our Protecting Friend.

Tasbih and Tanzih together express the Oneness of God, Tawhid.
The human being is the slave/servant of God and at the same time also the vicegerent of God.

Tawhid can be found in the Cosmos, in the Human Being and in the Books He sent. All the attributes of God are in the Cosmos and in the Books.
The same attributes can also be found within the human being but they are dimmed.

The Qur'an generally starts with attacking and questioning all other (false) realities you 'worship'.
It towers down every reality except the Real, by expressing Tanzih.
As C.G. Jung said: "You can take away a man's gods, but only to give him others in return."
The Qur'an is destroying the false and placing the Good.

If you forget Tanzih (the distance of God), you'll end up as a polytheist. God is everywhere and He
manifests Himself everywhere and in every form. Hinduism and Christianity are two examples of this.
If you forget Tasbih (the nearness of God), you'll end up as a deist, you'll believe in an impersonal God that does not care about creation.
And eventually you will become either an atheist or agnostic.

If you study the historical context of these verses, they actually prevented bloodshed.
Because of these verses the mushrikeen were frightened, since it meant for them that the
Muslims were no longer acting like pacifist but were willing to defend themselves in any possible way.

If one is still not convinced, then he/she should look at what the Sharia
(based on the Hadith and the Qur'an) has to say about warfare. The military jurisprudence
of the modern world is a barbaric way compared to what the Sharia has to say about it.

Muslims feel today that some countries are invading the Muslim world unjustly.
And they can't lie down like sheep to be slaughtered, they are just trying to defend themselves, any
human being would do that whether a Book tells them that or not.
It's our weakness to blame everything on other's, to seek patterns and see it as a cause.


So I don't think it's wise to call the Quranic verses as violent.

[Blotassefesek]

Assalaamoalaykum-w-w
For the non believer.... yes!!
It is a mercy for the believer!!