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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

WAS ISLAM SPREAD BY THE SWORD?

Question:
How can Islam be called the religion of peace when it was spread by the sword?
Answer:
It is a common complaint among some non-Muslims that Islam would not have millions of adherents all over the world, if it had not been spread by the use of force. The following points will make it clear, that far from being spread by the sword, it was the inherent force of truth, reason and logic that was responsible for the rapid spread of Islam.

1.   Islam means peace.
Islam comes from the root word ‘salaam’, which means peace. It also means submitting one’s will to Allah (swt). Thus Islam is a religion of peace, which is acquired by submitting one’s will to the will of the Supreme Creator, Allah (swt).

2.   Sometimes force has to be used to maintain peace.

Each and every human being in this world is not in favour of maintaining peace and harmony. There are many, who would disrupt it for their own vested interests. Sometimes force has to be used to maintain peace. It is precisely for this reason that we have the police who use force against criminals and anti-social elements to maintain peace in the country. Islam promotes peace. At the same time, Islam exhorts it followers to fight where there is oppression. The fight against oppression may, at times, require the use of force. In Islam force can only be used to promote peace and justice.

3.   Opinion of historian De Lacy O’Leary.
The best reply to the misconception that Islam was spread by the sword is given by the noted historian De Lacy O’Leary in the book "Islam at the cross road" (Page 8):
"History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myth that historians have ever repeated."

4.   Muslims ruled Spain for 800 years.
Muslims ruled Spain for about 800 years. The Muslims in Spain never used the sword to force the people to convert. Later the Christian Crusaders came to Spain and wiped out the Muslims. There was not a single Muslim in Spain who could openly give the adhan, that is the call for prayers.

5.   14 million Arabs are Coptic Christians.
Muslims were the lords of Arabia for 1400 years. For a few years the British ruled, and for a few years the French ruled. Overall, the Muslims ruled Arabia for 1400 years. Yet today, there are 14 million Arabs who are Coptic Christians i.e. Christians since generations. If the Muslims had used the sword there would not have been a single Arab who would have remained a Christian.

6.   More than 80% non-Muslims in India.
The Muslims ruled India for about a thousand years. If they wanted, they had the power of converting each and every non-Muslim of India to Islam. Today more than 80% of the population of India are non-Muslims. All these non-Muslim Indians are bearing witness today that Islam was not spread by the sword.

7.   Indonesia and Malaysia.
Indonesia is a country that has the maximum number of Muslims in the world. The majority of people in Malaysia are Muslims. May one ask, "Which Muslim army went to Indonesia and Malaysia?"

8.   East Coast of Africa.
Similarly, Islam has spread rapidly on the East Coast of Africa. One may again ask, if Islam was spread by the sword, "Which Muslim army went to the East Coast of Africa?"

9.   Thomas Carlyle.
The famous historian, Thomas Carlyle, in his book "Heroes and Hero worship", refers to this misconception about the spread of Islam: "The sword indeed, but where will you get your sword? Every new opinion, at its starting is precisely in a minority of one. In one man’s head alone. There it dwells as yet. One man alone of the whole world believes it, there is one man against all men. That he takes a sword and try to propagate with that, will do little for him. You must get your sword! On the whole, a thing will propagate itself as it can."

10.   No compulsion in religion.
With which sword was Islam spread? Even if Muslims had it they could not use it to spread Islam because the Qur’an says in the following verse:
"Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error"[Al-Qur’an 2:256]

11.   Sword of the Intellect.
It is the sword of intellect. The sword that conquers the hearts and minds of people. The Qur’an says in Surah Nahl, chapter 16 verse 125:
"Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious." [Al-Qur’an 16:125]

12.   Increase in the world religions from 1934 to 1984.
An article in Reader’s Digest ‘Almanac’, year book 1986, gave the statistics of the increase of percentage of the major religions of the world in half a century from 1934 to 1984. This article also appeared in ‘The Plain Truth’ magazine. At the top was Islam, which increased by 235%, and Christianity had increased only by 47%. May one ask, which war took place in this century which converted millions of people to Islam?

13.   Islam is the fastest growing religion in America and Europe.
Today the fastest growing religion in America is Islam. The fastest growing religion in Europe in Islam. Which sword is forcing people in the West to accept Islam in such large numbers?

14.   Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson.
Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson rightly says, "People who worry that nuclear weaponry will one day fall in the hands of the Arabs, fail to realize that the Islamic bomb has been dropped already, it fell the day MUHAMMED (pbuh) was born".

7 comments:

  1. good...but stil lot of hindus in India feel that Hindus converted to Islam at the sword and that million of their temples where razed to ground and converted to mosques.Babri masjid being the greatest example for that.Have u ever looked at the babri masjid issue and given a retrospective, since the verdict is coming out in two days? Should muslims give away the land to hindus, or should a mosque be re-built on the land, Please suggest a good way according to sharia and hadith, if their is any example of such incident

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  2. ASAK, this document is the best validation to the fact that islam was not spread using sword. The logistics show it and the global view presented in this artical itself comprehend the fact that Islam does not need any weapon to attract people. Its a religion and a way of life. I am praying for all the people to know the truth and one day join us in glorifying the Lord of the day of judgement. 'AMEN'

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  3. i would like to share something .i have many hindu friends, one of them told me that in kaliyug there is one avatar to come and his recognition will be that he will have sword in his hands and will kill the evil doers.i asked him isnt this refer to muhammad.

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  4. Abid, I don't think I have the authority or the right to answer your question. But I have a novel idea, a temple or a mosque doesn't matter, it's the intent. And if I go to a mosque and pray in any language, it's God who I am talking to and not to some political parties, and the political party could be the one that dominates our government, or the one which proclaims itself as our cultural guardian. If I go to a temple, mosque, church or gurdwara, it's only my feeling for the Almighty that counts. So I guess it could be a common ground to pray for people from all faiths and probably a community welfare center. We should pick the pieces from dust and build a new edifice of equality.

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  5. ASWK,

    Dear Brother Naik,

    On the link http://www.islam101.com/religions/hinduism/commonFAQ.htm
    you statement
    "Allah" in Rigveda Book 2 Hymn I verse II
    Even in the Rigveda which is the most sacred scripture of the Hindus, one of the attributes given to God Almighty in Book no 2 Hymn no I verse II, is ‘Ila’ which if pronounced properly is the same as Allah.

    When we read the translation, ILA does not refers even near to ALMIGHTY GOD.
    Having just a similar pronunciation does not make the word stand for what it means right?!

    Please clarify your point on this.

    Regards,
    BISMI

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  6. Why do we read and see in the media that Christians and Jews are being run out of countries and churches and temples closed? Non-Muslims are taxed to practice other faiths? Turkey, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya had major Christan populations, yet today there are very few. I respect the Islamic religion but facts seem to contridict your statements.

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