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".
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