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October 1, 2007
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Was Islam Spread by The Sword?

It is a common complaint among many non-Muslims that Islam would not have millions of adherents all over the world had it not been spread by the use of force. The following points will make it clear that far from being spread by the sword, Islam was the inherent force of 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. Not each and every human being in this world is in favor 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 police who use force against criminal and anti-social elements to maintain peace in the country. Islam promotes peace. At the same time, Islam exhorts its 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. Historian De Lacy O'Leary's opinion: De Lacy O'Leary in the book "Islam at the Crossroad" (page 8) gives the best reply to the misconception that Islam was spread by the sword: "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 myths that historians have ever repeated."

4. Muslims ruled Spain for 800 years. The Muslims 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 who could openly give the Azan, which is the call to 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. Christian for generations. If the Muslims had used the sword, there would not have been a single Arab who would have remained Christian.

6. The Moghuls ruled India for about 1,000 years. If they wanted, they could have had converted each and every non-Muslim of India to Islam. Today, more than 80 percent of the population of India is non-Muslim. All these non-Muslim Indians bear witness that Islam was not spread by the sword.

7. Indonesia and Malaysia: Indonesia is a country that has the greatest number of Muslims in the world. The majority of people in Malaysia are Muslim. One may ask, "Which Muslim army went to Indonesia and Malaysia?"



Answers provided by Dr. Zakir Naik, an Indian Islamic scholar. Compiled by Mahrukh Naeem.

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