Peace...
I know I am very late in joining this thread but I saw a few things that confused me. I'll list them below for discussion:
In the beginning of this thread Muslimah you stated:
<i>"We learn that this life is not but a transit stop before we depart taking the same plane but the destination is what we work for all our lives."</i>
If this is the case, that this life is temporary, why is it obligatory for muslims to spread Islam by the sword? I'm not understanding how the two ideals are resolved with one another.
I'm seeing what appears to me to be a contradiction in teaching. In the beginning of this thread you stated:
<i>"For Muslims to fit the description given by Allah as the best people, we must enjoin good and forbid evil. But this does not mean doing so with non Muslims in a violent manner."</i>
However under the teaching of jihad we read:
<i>“And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism, i.e. worshipping others besides Allaah), and the religion (worship) will all be for Allaah Alone [in the whole of the world]. But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allaah), then certainly, Allaah is All-Seer of what they do”</i>
[al-Anfaal 8:39]
A non-muslim worships others besides (instead of) Allah, so for that reason the muslim is obligated to fight them until there is no more disbelief, either by death or forceful conversion.
I am asking for help in understanding the above and how they resolve in Islam.