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Question: How can Islam be called the religion of ‘Peace’ when it was spread by the sword?Before saying anything, I advise you (reader), to re-read this and think how the question is tricky. The question already assumes that Islam was spread by the sword, i.e. Islam ‘forced’ its way into the lives of these millions of believers and therefore how can this be peace when force was used upon the people and also environment?Let us first think through a strategy to annihilate this statement made and give reasonable answers to win the argument over this. First of all, it is a common complaint among some non-Muslims that Islam would not have millions of followers all over the world if it had not been spread by the use of force, and in accordance to that question, it states the ‘spread of the sword’.However let us reason with this false claim by making it clear, that far from being spread by the sword, it was the inherent force of truth, justice, logic and reason that was responsible for the fast, rapid spread of Islam upon all regions, nations of the world.Point 1 – Define the meaning of ‘Islam’Islam is rooted from the three letters ‘SLM’, which makes up ‘Salaam’ meaning ‘peace’. The true understanding of Islam is within the meaning of the word Islam itself. Islam does not only refer to peace but can be related to submitting one’s will to Almighty Allah (swt). A definition of Muslim means to ‘surrender’ to the will of Allah and seek God’s guidance, forgiveness, blessing etc by readily accepting the laws and commands God has revealed onto his messenger Muhammad (saw). The words Islam and Muslim are combined together; Islam is interpreted by Muhammad (saw) by the help of Allah in its most pure and clear form, the authentic Hadith (teachings of the Prophet), and using the light of the Qur’an (God’s final revelation). By this we can say that Muhammad (saw) taught his people a peaceful lifestyle with accordance to the meaning of the word Islam referring to peace, and of course once a person testifies the ‘Shahadah’, he is considered a Muslim, a person who submits himself to God and living the peaceful lifestyle of Prophet Muhammad (saw).Point 2 – Force Used To Maintain PeaceWhen we look around us; sometimes force is used in order to maintain peace. It is precisely the reason why we have the police who force against the idea of anti-social behaviour and also using force on criminals so that the maintenance of peace is among the country.Same as if we were to apply it to Islam, force can be necessary in order to maintain peace, i.e. if a person is faced with oppression, he must take in mind that force is not the far most clever thing to choose as their first option, however if there is no other option and the person is facing great difficulty, then Islam allows that person to safeguard himself if force is needed, and make the intention of promoting peace rather than vengeance or vendetta.The fight against oppression may, at times, require the use of force; in Islam however, force can only be used to promote peace and justice.Point 3 – An OpinionThe best reply towards the misconception that Islam was spread by the sword was given by the noted historian De Lacy O-Leary in the book “Islam at the cross roadâ€, 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 repeatedâ€.According to this historian, this false claim of Islam being spread at the point of the sword is nothing but a myth with no actual facts or any historical facts; it is ‘absurd’ that historians have been repeating this insane false claim.Point 4 – Spain Ruled By Muslims for 800 YearsHistory has recorded that the mighty Muslims have ruled Spain for approximately 800 years. A historian by the name Stanley Lane-Poole, in his book ‘The Moors in Spain’ writes:"For nearly eight centuries, under the Muslim rule, Spain set all Europe a shining example of a civilized and enlightened state. Her fertile provinces rendered doubly prolific, by the industrious engineering skill of the conquerors bore fruit a hundredfold, cities innumerable sprang up in the rich valleys in the Guadalquivir and the Guadiana whose names, and names only commemorate the vanished glories of their past.â€This quote as seen above is praising the Muslims and how they set a ‘civilized and enlightened state’ across Spain.During these eight centuries, the Muslims in Spain never used the sword to force the non-Muslims to convert; rather the Christian Crusaders came to Spain and wiped out the Muslims. This defeat to the Muslims at the hands of the Crusaders left the Muslim in such distress that not a single Muslim in Spain was able to openly give the adhan (call to prayer).Point 5 – 14 Million Arabs Are Coptic ChristiansMuslims are the champions of Arabia ruling for approximately fourteen centuries. During this reign of Arabia being at the hands of the Muslims, the whole idea of polytheism was destroyed and the people have long embraced Islam due to the good character and nature they saw amongst the previous Muslims; their kindness, hospitality, generosity, etc.Today majority of the people in Arabia are Muslims, yet today statistics suggest that there are approximately fourteen million Arabs who are Coptic Christians, i.e. those who were Christians since generations. If Islam was to be spread at the point of a sword; there would not have been a single Arab who would have remained a Christian.Point 6 – Indonesia and MalaysiaIndonesia is said to hold the maximum number of Muslims in the world. The majority of people in Malaysia are Muslims. However there is no event that took place which history can record that a ‘Muslim’ army went to Indonesia or Malaysia and took control by ‘force’ at the tip of the sword.Point 7 – Invitation received to preach Islam ‘openly’ amongst the great empire of ChinaIslam was introduced to China and Emperor Gao Zong (third emperor of Tang Dynasty in China, ruled from 649 to 683), by the visit of Sad ibn Abi Waqqas (ra) , a companion of Prophet Muhammad (saw) in the year 650. Gao Zong is said to have respected the teachings of Islam greatly, feeling the teachings were compatible with Confucianism, and offered the building of the mosque as a sign of admiration. The emperor himself did not convert, however this did not stop him from allowing Sad ibn Abi Waqqas (ra) and his company to spread the teachings throughout the region.Today China is home to a large population of adherents of Islam. Sources, including the BBC, suggest that there may be as many as 20 million Muslims in China, up to 2 percent of the country's 1.3 billion population. Other sources suggest Muslims in China may number up to 40 million, with new rumors saying there are 10 million more Muslims hiding. Many believe there are over 100 million Muslims in China.After receiving invitation from the emperor himself to preach the religion of Allah (God), why would one hesitate to use force?Point 8 – Islam, the fastest growing religion in the worldToday the fastest growing religion in America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the whole world is Islam. Yet there is no evidence or proof from any group or individual that Islam is converting these large numbers of people at the point of a sword. Which sword is forcing the people in the West to accept Islam in such great numbers?Point 9 – Let there be no force!Muslims regard the Qur’an as their most precious guidance revealed unto Muhammad (saw) through God’s external agent Jibrael (Gabriel) from Allah. Muslims would interpret the Qur’an the way Muhammad (saw) himself did, fourteen centuries ago. As time passes by, the companions of the prophet collected the interpretations and sayings of the noble prophet (saw) and recorded this in what we have now as the ‘hadith. The Qur’an is therefore a way to gain a closer relationship with Allah, spiritually. What the Qur’an says or instructs, Muslims would abide to it, even if their life was at stake. Such a Muslim has firm belief in Allah and is following the footsteps of Muhammad (saw) and how he taught man to live a life of peace and tranquility.Going back to our 9th point, with which sword was Islam spread? Even if Muslims had the slighted thought to force people into religion, they aren’t fully abiding to the rules instructed in the Qur’an, the kalima-tullah (Word of God), because the Qur’an instructs the believers NOT to force people into religion in the following verse:“Let there be no compulsion in religion: truth stands out Clear from error: Whoever rejects evil and believes In Allah hath grasped the Most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks; and Allah hearth and knoweth all things.(Al Qur’an: Surah Al Baqarah, 2:256)Allah is instructing us, telling us in his book, Al Qur’an, NOT to force people into religion, rather the individuals themselves will see the truth itself stand out clear from error. Therefore it would be wrong for any, Muslim or non-Muslim, to force someone onto religion as it’s going against the will of Almighty Allah.Point 10 – Sword of the IntellectThe sword that conquers the hearts and minds of the people is known as the sword of the intellect. The Qur’an mentions in Surah An Nahl, chapter 16, verse 125:“Invite (all) to the way of Thy Lord with wisdom and preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and Most gracious.â€(Al Qur’an: Surah An Nahl, 16:125)This verse suggests that we should ‘invite’ people into the way of the Lord; that is a duty for all Muslims to abide to and therefore all Muslims must be aware that Allah Almighty will question us on the day of Qiyamaat (Judgment) to see whether we invited our fellow non-Muslim friends towards the deen (religion) of Allah.ConclusionSo far we have seen many points and reasons given towards this misconception of Islam being spread at the point of a sword. We noticed that Islam has no space for such ignorant and barbarous act of forcing people onto its side. In many places in the Qur’an, Allah instructs us all to call people towards his religion, to show our hospitality, our kindness, our dignity and come to terms with the people of the book that we must all abide to the rules and commands set by Allah, the one and most absolute eternal being; and live a just life, according to the teachings of Muhammad (saw).Now I shall finish off this topic with a beautiful verse in the Qur’an; Surah Al Imraan, chapter 3, verse 64; this teaches us that not only should Muslims gather together, but also the people of the book, i.e. the bearers of the Tawrat (Torah), Zabuur (Psalms) and Injeel (Bible), and that we should come to some sort of agreement, that we worship none but our Lord Allah who is One, and most absolute in his great attributes and that we must Not associate any partners with him.“Say: "O people of the Book! Come to common terms As between us and you: that we worship none but Allah; that we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah." if then They turn back, say ye: "Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah’s Will).(Al Qur’an: Surah Al Imraan, 3:64
