Is Islam a Religion of Peace?

Many Christians attack Islam and by saying it is not a religion of peace.

Any discussion of peace should begin with the definition of peace. Biblical peace is rooted in the person and work of Jesus. Peace begins with our relationship with God (Romans 5:1-11).

The Dhu al-Faqar sword was one of Muhammad’s nine swords. It is believed that Muhammad took Dhu al-Faqar as booty at the Battle of Badr. Muhammad gave the sword to Ali ibn Abi Talib. It is said that Ali returned from the Battle of Uhud covered with blood from his hands to his shoulders, having Dhu al-Faqar with him. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the sword bore an Arabic inscription meaning, “No Muslim shall be slain for [the murder of] an unbeliever”…in Muslim countries, fine swords have traditionally been engraved with the phrase lā sayfa illā Dhū al-faqār (“there is no sword but Dhū al-faqār”), often with the addition wa lā fatā illā ‘Alī (“and there is no hero but ‘Alī”).” —“Dhū al-faqār.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2011. Web. Dec. 29, 2011. — The Dhu al-Faqar sword was one of Muhammad’s nine swords. It is believed that Muhammad took Dhu al-Faqar as booty at the Battle of Badr. Muhammad gave the sword to Ali ibn Abi Talib. It is said that Ali returned from the Battle of Uhud covered with blood from his hands to his shoulders, having Dhu al-Faqar with him.
According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the sword bore an Arabic inscription meaning, “No Muslim shall be slain for [the murder of] an unbeliever”…in Muslim countries, fine swords have traditionally been engraved with the phrase lā sayfa illā Dhū al-faqār (“there is no sword but Dhū al-faqār”), often with the addition wa lā fatā illā ‘Alī (“and there is no hero but ‘Alī”).”
—“Dhū al-faqār.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2011. Web. Dec. 29, 2011.

When peace is understood in terms of the cross, salvation from sin and God’s wrath, then we can ask whether Islam… and its eternal consequences there is a vast difference between Muhammad and Jesus:

“…[N]or know I what will be done with me or with you” (Qur’an 46:9); “By Allah, though I am the apostle of Allah, yet I do not know what Allah will do to me” (Bukhari, Hadith 5.58:266; cf. 7.70:577; 8.75:374–88; 8.76:470). Muslims do not even see Muhammad as saved. Whenever they mention his name, they are to plead, “Allah, pray for him and give him peace” (Qur’an 33:56). Although many Muslims are ignorant of it, Muhammad admitted his sins (Qur’an 40:55; 47:19; 48:1f; 94:1–3; Bukhari, Hadith 6.60:3; 7.70:577; 8.75:374, 378–82, 386, 388; 9.93:482) and his powerlessness to save others (Bukhari, Hadith 4.51:16).

If Muhammad did not have a sword, would there be Muslims today?

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