BMZ wrote this in the debate:
"There is no mention of that. In fact, Prophet was told not to force Islam on people as people could distinguish between right and wrong." Really? Then why did the Prophet march into Mecca & smash the idolaters idols, proclaiming that only those who remained indoors would be safe? There were 360 idols' around the kaaba, all smashed by Mo. People were allowed to come out of their houses only after Mo was done with the idol smashing. If someone marched into Saudi Arabia tomorrow, smashed the mosques & the kaaba, asked people remain indoors while he was smashing or threatened to kill them-& only after clearing Saudi of the kaaba & all the mosques allowed people to come out, wouldn't that be forcing?
In fact, not only were people converted to Islam by force, they were also made to remain Muslim by force. As soon as Mo died, ridda(apostasy) wars broke out amongst the converted folks, intent on casting off the yoke of Islam imposed on them by Mo. These wars were ruthlessly suppressed by the early Caliphs.
As for others fighting against the religion of Allah, why wouldn?t they fight when they were treated unequally? They had to pay the jizya taxes to the Muslims.
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YUSUFALI: Fight those who believe neither in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.
PICKTHAL: Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low.
SHAKIR: Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.
Further, a Muslim man could readily marry a Christian or Jewish woman, Quran(5:5), while a non Muslim man would have to convert to Islam to marry a Muslim woman-Quran(2:221)
Other faiths would be discriminated against by Islam, & they?ll have to tolerate it quietly?
Topic: Comments thread for: BMZ vs Skynightblaze on "Contradictions" in Qur'aan