In the 23 years of prophethood, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) engaged in twenty-seven battles/wars of which eighteen were defensive in nature. The total casualties from both sides in these wars were only around 1000. This is a significantly lower number of casualties considering the fact that Muslims won most of the wars with clear and manifest victory. And among the losers in the wars were their blood thirsty enemies who had caused them lots of trouble in the past and were now presented before the victorious Muslim army but were forgiven and given just treatment. At the time of Conquest of Mecca, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) ordered for around twenty people to be executed (for their war crimes and treachery) and even out of those only a few were executed, and rest all were forgiven. 

Needless to mention that after the Conquest of Mecca, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had absolute control over the holy land and among its inhabitants was a lady, Hinda, who got Hamzah (ra) [the uncle of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)] martyred and then mutilated his body and even chewed his liver. When Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) got control over the whole of Mecca, he could have given her the harshest punishment but instead he (pbuh) forgave her. This is enough of an example for people of intellect to understand that Islam never promotes violence or intolerance. 

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "Do not desire an encounter with the enemy; but when you encounter them, be firm."

Wars are allowed in Islam as a last resort when all other methods of negotiation have failed and that too with strict protocol and regulations, like: 

1) Do not kill children. 

2) Do not kill women. 

3)Do not kill an aged person.

4)Do not kill infirm person. 

5) Do not kill other religious leaders. 

6) Leave those people who have devoted their lives to monastic services.  

7) Do not cut down fruit bearing trees.

8) Do not destroy an inhabited place.

9) Do not slaughter sheep or camels except for food. 

10) Do not burn bees and do not scatter them. 

11) Do not mutilate the dead bodies.

12) Do not be treacherous. 

13) Do not steal from the spoils of war.

_{[Sahih Muslim 1741; Book 32, Hadith 22, Sunan ibn Majah, 2857/Book 24, Hadith 105, Muwatta Malik, Book 21, Hadith 10]} 

A religion which even considers the lives of animals and insects important and disallows their killing, how could it promote the killing of fellow humans. Islam is the religion of peace; it always was, and it will always be.

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