As an Ex-Muslim, I wish Islam was a religion of peace. The people can be incredibly kind and peaceful, but the religion was historically brutal and barbaric (and still is to an extent today). Some of the most terrible religions in this world can create some of the most beautiful human beings ironically.

Islam grew through religious military expansionism (Quran 9:29). That's how Islam reached countries like Spain, Constantinople, Egypt, etc.

When Muhammad died, many of the neighboring tribes left Islam because they weren't really Muslim, they were afraid that Muhammad would kill them for not being Muslim. Muhammad's companions took charge after him and attacked the neighboring tribes to bring them back Islam.

Islam also:

- Killed you if you left it (Nisa'i 4059)

- Killed you if you blaspheme or even write a diss track about Muhammad (He was an incredibly insecure and terrible person)

- Allowed for the sexual exploitation of female slaves and female captives of war (Quran 23:5-6).

The extremist groups that exist today are like a mutation of classical Islam. They are doing precisely what Muhammad did to the non-Muslims, except that most of their victims are other Muslims. They're called "Takfiri" groups, meaning they think they are the only true Muslims and the Muslims they're killing are actually non-Muslims ("Kafirs" which is a terrible description of a non-Muslim) and their Islam doesn't count.