Most Common Questions asked by Non-Muslims
Q4. How can Islam be called the religion of peace
when it was spread by the sword?
WAS ISLAM 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” (Page8):
“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.”
“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 1934to 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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