Answer:It is a common complaint among some non-Muslims that Islam would not havemillions of adherents all over the world, if it had not been spread by the use offorce. The following points will make it clear, that far from being spread by thesword, it was the inherent force of truth, reason and logic that was responsiblefor the rapid spread of Islam.
1. Islam means peace.Islam comes from the root word ‘salaam’, which means peace. It also meanssubmitting one’s will to Allah (swt). Thus Islam is a religion of peace, which isacquired 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 peaceand harmony. There are many, who would disrupt it for their own vestedinterests. Sometimes force has to be used to maintain peace. It is precisely forthis 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 thesame time, Islam exhorts it followers to fight where there is oppression. Thefight against oppression may, at times, require the use of force. In Islam forcecan 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 bythe 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 sweepingthrough the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered racesis 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 thesword to force the people to convert. Later the Christian Crusaders came toSpain and wiped out the Muslims. There was not a single Muslim in Spain whocould 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 Britishruled, and for a few years the French ruled. Overall, the Muslims ruled Arabiafor 1400 years. Yet today, there are 14 million Arabs who are Coptic Christiansi.e. Christians since generations. If the Muslims had used the sword there wouldnot 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 hadthe power of converting each and every non-Muslim of India to Islam. Todaymore 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 thesword.
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 Muslimarmy went to Indonesia and Malaysia?”
8. East Coast of Africa.Similarly, Islam has spread rapidly on the East Coast of Africa. One may againask, if Islam was spread by the sword, “Which Muslim army went to the EastCoast 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, butwhere will you get your sword? Every new opinion, at its starting is precisely ina minority of one. In one man’s head alone. There it dwells as yet. One manalone of the whole world believes it, there is one man against all men. That hetakes a sword and try to propagate with that, will do little for him. You must getyour 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 useit to spread Islam because the Qur’an says in the following verse:“Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear fromerror”[Al-Qur’an 2:256]
11. Sword of the Intellect.It is the sword of intellect. The sword that conquers the hearts and minds ofpeople. 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 ofthe increase of percentage of the major religions of the world in half a centuryfrom 1934 to 1984. This article also appeared in ‘The Plain Truth’ magazine. Atthe top was Islam, which increased by 235%, and Christianity had increasedonly by 47%. May one ask, which war took place in this century which convertedmillions 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 growingreligion in Europe in Islam. Which sword is forcing people in the West to acceptIslam in such large numbers?
14. Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson.Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson rightly says, “People who worry that nuclearweaponry will one day fall in the hands of the Arabs, fail to realize that theIslamic bomb has been dropped already, it fell the day MUHAMMED (pbuh) wasborn”.
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