When Muhammad (saw) conquered Makkah why didn't he just remove the idols instead of destroying them? I understand that the Kaabah is a place of worship for Muslims but removal would have been a valid option too. Doesn't that conflict with no compulsion in religion and freedom of non-muslims? P.S I'm a believing and practicing Muslim engaged in a debate with an ex-muslim

I’m pretty sure a lot of people know about what is happening in France. What I wanted to know was can Islam really exist with freedom of expression/choice because for example caricatures of religion are not allowed, certain drawings ways of life etc. With things like this in western countries it just won’t work as it will implement a more religious model which will cause an outrage and I feel like religion or Islam in general can’t coexist with this value. Especially in the West were even law has higher value than religion I feel like if you restrict things like freedom of speech or expression due to religion it could be considered illegal or against the nations values.

I'm still new to Islam. I am trying to get my head around it, but I sometimes end up feeling so angry because my head is filled with some many questions, etc... For example Islam prohibits us from: - Sex before marriage (and other sexual things that you may want to do as a young hormonal guy) - If we run our own business or sell something or what ever for profit, Islam does not allow us to have more than 5% profit.... - We have to pray 5 times a day. - We have to only care about Allah and nothing else. - Islam does not allow us to give money to family members even if they are poor and need pur help. - We have to fast once a year (although I like this one, as itds great for health). - We can only marry people who are also Islamic. - Woman have to cover themselves. - Woman can do the things that they want like makeup (or what ever it is that woman like). - Islam does not allow us to eat pork or drink Alcohol. etc etc .... the list goes on.... I agree that one should be honest, kind respectful and work hard to achieve the things they want in life and not do bad things like for example corrupt leaders do. But I just find it annoying that there are all these other petty rules that we have to follow to. God is the almighty, perfect, wise and powerful one. Why an earth would he care if two people who are not married have sex? Why would he care if I don't pray or if I like to work hard and get the best living I can in life (through HONEST work). If anyone can help me out here, that would be much appreciated. I just get so frustrated sometimes...... I believe in God, but thats it. I have never done anything else. I want to learn more and maybe even prey and fell better. But I can't because iI get so angry by just thinking about these issues. Thanks, Dan.

The call towards Islam in most of the prophet stories is not to follow what your father or forefathers worshiped blindly. My fathers and forefathers were following Islam and I think they are following it blindly just because their parents did it. Now, it is almost impossible to figure out the true religion because there is so much literature in different religions and most of it is hard to understand including the Quran. Reading the Quran and some of the other religious books confuses me more than making me understand as I cannot completely agree with one or other. Here are some of the choices and there may be more: 1. I am Muslim and just follow Islam blindly believing it is true religion. 2. Research all religions and try to figure out true religion. With my own limits, I believe it is almost impossible for me. 3. Believe in humanity and do not think about any religion. This is an easy thing to do but not sure it is right to do. I may sound weird with this question but I believe the scholar/people here will provide some good perspective and clear some of my confusion.

Why does Allah punish unbelievers with hellfire for eternity, especially when he doesn't need to have anyone recognize or worship him? Edit:The real question is why did it Allah make it such that we must worship him or burn eternally?

As of now, I am a boy but want to be a father when I grow up and want my child to have some freedom. Is this allowed?

What is stronger in Islam: freedom of belief (2:256) or a call to exterminate the Pagans (9:5) and jihad? Sorry, if I did somehow misunderstand or asked.

I want to give my child the freedom to choose religion by his own and want him to have a broad concept of religion. So I want him to study both Quran, Bible, Gita and many other of this kind. Is it sinful for me if I do so? Is it sinful for me if he don't choose Islam?

I know this question has been asked before, but I have to search for the proof. In Islam, why are those who apostate from Islam executed, while Islam is based on the free will and freedom in choosing religion? What about those who are born Muslims yet are not convinced? And even Qur'an doesn't say to kill them, and Allah guides whoever he wants. And I am not even sure about the hadiths from the prophet (PBUH) as he never killed an apostate in his life nor he ordered any one to kill them? Any idea if it's right to execute the apostates? And if it is right, why?

I was reading the Qur'an in English, when I came to verse 62 of Surat Al-Baqara I was really confused with the verse. As the English translation of the verse says - > Verily! Those who believe and those who are Christians, Jews and Sabians who believe in one god and perform good deeds, they will surely be rewarded and they should not fear The above sentence is so clear that those who believe in oneness of god and do good deeds can go to heaven (I am emphasizing its BELIEVE not BELIEVED and its WHO ARE CHRISTIANS.. and not WHO WERE CHRISTIANS...) So why we (Muslims) attempt to convert other religious people to Islam? We can ask them to follow the oneness in God, that's enough for them? *I read in many sites but answers were not convincing.*

Are there any verses in the Koran/Quran/Qur'an's that speak about religious freedom? If so, which themes are given? And what are these verses?

The issue of freedom of belief has been a recurrent topic of debate in Islam. For example, [Qur'an 10:99](http://quran.com/10/99) states: > And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed - all of them entirely. Then, [O Muhammad], would you compel the people in order that they become believers? Which clearly shows the futility of coercing people to believe. Meanwhile a Hadith reported by Bukhari and Muslim (Bukhari 8:387 and Muslim 1:33) provides a very different view: > I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Apostle,..., then they save their lives and property from me except for Islamic laws and then their reckoning (accounts) will be done by Allah. Of course there are other verses, but let's concentrate on these two. Context is important in understanding the Hadith and the verses of the Qur'an of course but both these cases appear to be general, and there appears to be no context attached. How do you reconcile these two seemingly 'contradictory' views?

Why should we do something only because it's in religious? Suppose rights between men and women. Did anyone decide to be a man or woman himself/herself ? Then why should we separate their rights? Beside this fact that equality of rights are executed in western world without any problem. Also suppose expressions about have dog, eat pig, drink wine and so many other things that are currently usual in western world and NOTHING wrong happen about that. Living in this way and obey only because ISLAM say so is completely opposite the freedom of thinking. It's a Blind Life. Does Islam have any defense for its incompatibility with facts and things that we do opposite its rules but has no harm and mistake in it? If Islam base is on thinking, why should we obey them only because it says so?

Do people take birth in other religions by Allah's will? Is it by Allah's will that people of other religions exist in such large numbers? Or is it against Allah's will that this state of affairs exists and continues?