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 %u2018salaam%u2019, which means peace. It also means submitting one%u2019s will to Allah (swt). Thus Islam is a religion of peace, which is acquired by submitting one%u2019s 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%u2019Leary.
The best reply to the misconception that Islam was spread by the sword is given by the noted historian De Lacy O%u2019Leary in the book %u2019Islam at the cross road%u2019 (Page 8):
%u2019History 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.%u2019
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 bearin
RE:WAS ISLAM SPREAD BY THE SWORD?
by Perv Sharma on Apr 01, 2007 03:22 PM Permalink
Your arguments have been replied but you just keep repeating the same and same again.
Regarding Forcefull conversions = it's already clear by the examples of the tortured death of the Sikh Gurus and the death of Shivaji's Son when they refused to convert to Islam. The Forcefull conversions of Kashmiri Pandits and their plea to the Sikh guru's.
Regarding the population conversion - you can can easily understand that most conversions took place in north west India wherein the majority of Muslims live now - called Porkistan. This area is also the one wherein you hardly find any ancient temples because they were destroyed by Islamist invaders.
The other side is North east where again you had high proportion of Muslims because this area also continuously remained under Muslim rule.
Come to West and WEstern south and the situation changes. You get magnificient temples, good ratio of Hindu population only because these regions remained largely under Hindu rulers.
Aurangzeb ruled for 50 years but again I mention that his last 25 to 20 years were spent fighting the Marathas. It was Muslims bad luck that Shivaji was born during Aurangzeb's time and Hindus good luck. Aurangzeb could never defeat the Marathas and thereby his intentions of converting all the Hindu people could not be enforced.
RE:WAS ISLAM SPREAD BY THE SWORD?
by raghav bhatt on Apr 01, 2007 04:24 PM Permalink
if you visit the web site www.faithfreedom.org you will find the list of people who left Islam.& the reason for leaving the horrible religon
RE:WAS ISLAM SPREAD BY THE SWORD?
by rafiuddin farooqui on Apr 01, 2007 10:38 PM Permalink
stephen Knapp a Jewish Sight is it good for you and your knowledge.
RE:WAS ISLAM SPREAD BY THE SWORD?
by rafiuddin farooqui on Apr 01, 2007 04:18 PM Permalink
Shivaji went to Aurangzeb bowed down and kissed his feet and asked for the post in the Army. Aurangzeb appointed him 5000 soldiers Commander. He said his son had 5000 soldiers and I also got 5000 same position. I want more than my son. The Jaya Singh was having 10,000 commanders and Jaswant Sing 7,000. So Aurangzeb said had it now we would see later. He did not get what he wanted he became rebellion. He rebelled against government. He did not rebel because he was Hindu. He did not rebel because he was Maratha. He rebelled because he did not get what he had wanted. You people fooling yourself. Read Carefully the History. You will get the answers of your questions.
