Actually, not obviously
bullshit. Islam preaches freedom of religion. Verse 256 of the second chapter of the
Qur'an translated roughly reads:
Let there be no compulsion in religion, truth stands out clear from error
However, Islam is not a pacifist religion by any stretch; and we make no bones about it. Muslims believe in a just war; a war fought to protect the Muslim community, a war fought to defend Muslim property, or a war fought to remove injustice. But there are rules even to war, which we will leave to another node.
Now, with regards to fighting, the verses of the Qur'an are very clear (Chapter 60, verse 8 and 9):
8. Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just.
9. Allah only forbids you, with regard to those who fight you for (your) Faith, and drive you out of your homes, and support (others) in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship and protection). It is such as turn to them (in these circumstances), that do wrong.
Now, let's have a look at Hizbullah's activities, shall we? If we assume for the moment that the media is reporting without bias, (yeah right!), then at least from their perspective, the Israelis fall into the second category (yes, Israel has exactly done what is suggested: they drive Muslims out of their homes -- Israelis admit this). So why shouldn't they fight them? Do you expect Hizbullah to fold its arms while Israel kicks Palestinians out of their houses?
A reply to
Spuunbenda's comments and questions:
I quoted the above verse to you clearly; Islam is not a religion that forces anyone to accept the creed. Have a look at history. Within their own areas, other religions were allowed to consume alcohol; have their own marital rules, etc. There are special rules with regards to non-Muslims living within an Islamic state; and one of them is that they are allowed to be there, to have their own laws within themselves and to exist peacefully. This is not just theory. There have been non-Muslim societies living within Muslim ones; historically mostly Jewish and Christian ones. For example, how do you think that Egypt has a native ten per cent Christian minority that traces its history back to the Gnostics, if the Muslims used this strategy of "accept or die"? There are letters of the Prophets not just to Christians, but to Christian monasteries, guaranteeing them religious freedoms. Several Christian monasteries have writings indicating that they preferred to be under the protection of just Muslim leaders, than the unjust and barbaric Christian leaders.
Ok, let's take just one of your cases. Algeria: Learn some history. In 1992, there was a democratic election. The FIS (Islamic Salvation Front) won by a landslide ... something like 67 per cent in favour. But there was a military coup, supported by French petrodollars, removing the democratically elected Muslim government. Anything said by "democratic" countries, say, the United States? Later "terrorist" attacks have been shown to have been done in many cases by the government itself, to drum up sympathy. Sounds strange? This is what a UN inquiry found. The Algerian government refused an enquiry into the issue. I wonder why. All the attacks seem to occur within 50km or military bases.
Be careful where your information is coming from; the media, for whatever reasons, finds it easy to demonise Islam. I did a recent survey on Muslim nations in a national newspaper and out of 30 articles, 27 were about war or oil. Now, you have 1 billion Muslims in the world, there's got to be other interesting things that they are involved in ...