I had hoped you would respond to the verses I shared in this regard. Maybe you still will. I am interested in knowing your thoughts, especially since your answer to me has no personal commentary.
I am glad you took the time and effort to quote that which you find troubling as to God's commands to the Muslims to fight against the unbelievers. Perhaps you won't mind taking a closer look, as I would like you to see that these commands are not what some people would have you think, namely that Muslims must kill all unbelievers, at all times and in all places:
"O Prophet! Make war against the unbelievers [ all non-Muslims ] and the hypocrites and be merciless against them. Their home is hell, an evil refuge indeed." (Koran, 9:73)
Please read the next few verses so you will know what unbelievers and hypocrites are being talked about here:
"They swear by Allah that they said nothing (wrong), yet they did say the word of disbelief, and did disbelieve after their Surrender (to Allah). And they purposed that which they could not attain, and they sought revenge only that Allah by His messenger should enrich them of His bounty. If they repent it will be better for them; and if they turn away, Allah will afflict them with a painful doom in the world and the Hereafter, and they have no protecting friend nor helper in the earth.Amongst them are men who made a covenant with Allah, that if He bestowed on them of His bounty, they would give (largely) in charity, and be truly amongst those who are righteous. But when He did bestow of His bounty, they became covetous, and turned back (from their covenant), averse (from its fulfilment). So He hath put as a consequence hypocrisy into their hearts, (to last) till the Day, whereon they shall meet Him: because they broke their covenant with Allah, and because they lied (again and again)." --Qur'an 9:74-77These verses were revealed after the Campaign of Tabuk, which you can read about here: http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/maududi/mau9.html The historical context is quite interesting and will help explain the above quite a bit more.
"When you meet the unbelievers in jihad [ holy war ], chop off their heads. And when you have brought them low, bind your prisoners rigorously. Then set them free or take ransom from them until the war is ended." (Koran, 47:4)
I would repeat that 2:190 makes clear that we are to fight only the unbelievers who fight and oppress us, not just any old unbeliever.
"The punishment of those who wage waragainst Allah and his messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be to be killed or crucified, or to have their hands and feet chopped off on opposite sides, or to be expelled out of the land. Such will be their humiliation in the world, and in the next world they will face an awful horror." (Koran, 5:33-34)
Again the enemy is described, here as "those who wage war against...and strive after corruption in the land." Do you perhaps feel that the things sanctioned in war in these verses are more horrifying and barbaric than what happens in war now? Or are you against all war, even defensive war? Or is it only Muslims who have no right to defend themselves? I do not know you, so I am asking your feelings on this.
"When we decide to destroy a population, we send a definite order to them who have the good things in life and yet sin. So that Allah's word is proven true against them, then we destroy them utterly." (Koran, 17:16-17)
?
"In order that Allah may separate the pure from the impure, put all the impure ones [ all non-Muslims ] one on top of another in a heap and cast them into hell. They will have been the ones to have lost." (Koran, 8:37)
In the 8th Surah, Believers are described as "those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a tremor in their hearts, and when they hear His signs rehearsed, find their faith strengthened, and put (all) their trust in their Lord; Who establish regular prayers and spend (freely) out of the gifts We have given them for sustenance." The "impure" of the above verse are those who, in previous verses, are described as ones who "contended against Allah and His Messenger: If any contend against Allah and His Messenger, Allah is strict in punishment.... Remember how the Unbelievers plotted against thee, to keep thee in bonds, or slay thee, or get thee out (of thy home)....But Allah was not going to send them a penalty whilst thou wast amongst them; nor was He going to send it whilst they could ask for pardon. But what plea have they that Allah should not punish them, when they keep out (men) from the sacred Mosque - and they are not its guardians? No men can be its guardians except the righteous; but most of them do not understand....The Unbelievers spend their wealth to hinder (man) from the path of Allah, and so will they continue to spend; but in the end they will have (only) regrets and sighs; at length they will be overcome: and the Unbelievers will be gathered together to Hell."These are not people who simply don't believe what Muslims believe, but who act strongly and unrelentingly against them.
"How many were the populations we utterly destroyed because of their sins, setting up in their place other peoples." (Koran, 21:11)
Both this and the one above at 17:16-17 are speaking of societies in the past, visited by Messengers from Allah, because they were living very bad lives, usually at the expense of other people, and who would not accept guidance and correction, would not change their ways, and so were wiped out by forces of nature at the command of their Creator, Allah. It is a warning to us to seriously consider the message brought by the final Prophet, and to consider how we are living.
