Islam is a peaceful religion: A positive argument

This writeup is part of a series of debates where I was presenting the argument in favor of the motion that Islam is a peaceful religion.

What is the first word that comes to your mind when you hear the word terrorists? Muslims, right? Good Morning to the house at large. Today, I would like to talk about how Islam has been marked wrong for years as a religion of violence and war, and how people think that Muslims are all terrorists. When we talk about violence, Islam as a religion is what we blame. is one of the most prominent religions of the world and has been since the time of the Prophet Muhammad, its founder. Islam is an Arabic word meaning peace, security, and surrender. There are over 1.8 billion Muslims (people who follow the religion Islam) throughout the world, all who believe in a single Islam God called Allah. In the Quran, the religious text of Islam, it states that the choices to engage in Islam and to become a Muslim has to be a free one and has to be devoid of compulsion. Did you know, that the first hundred and thirteen chapters out of one hundred and fourteen chapters of the Quran begin by introducing God of Islam as a god of mercy and compassion. Islam does not talk about violence and war, but of peace which is destroyed by a minority of Muslims. Terrorism does not have any religion. It is all a game of power played by terrorist groups or the powerful leaders of different countries, propagating hatred and difference between common people and different religions. Riots happen around the world all the time, including our own country. For example, just last year, there were riots in the country involving JNU students that caused loss of life and damage to property. Isn’t that terrorism? Why do we always target and highlight Muslim propagated activities only? Because this is what some of our leaders want. They do it to satisfy their own agenda to spread hatred and divide; it is not something a common Muslim or a common man wants, is it? India is a secular country and what all a common man wants is to live in peace. Resting my case here, and ending with a quote by Ibn Qayim, “Islam is a mercy. If you see it opposite, cruelty, then know that it is not Islam”. Thank You.