Was Islam Spread by the Sword?
All praise is due to Allah and May His Peace and Blessings be upon the Last Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and all those who follow the path of righteousness until the Last Day. One of the most widely believed and spread myths about Islam in the West, is that Islam was spread by sword. Many non-Muslims believe that Islam is so widespread in the world by a "holy campaign of terror" carried out by the early Muslims where Non-Muslims were offered to choose either Islam or death. It is one of the most favorite remark of Islamophobes to humiliate Islam and Muslims. But the truth is something different. Muslims were often seen as liberators of the oppressed people everywhere and people converted to Islam witnessing Islam’s amazing blend of simplicity and rationality.
Islam is a very simple but also very rational at the same time. Besides its simple and rational creed, Islam offers an impressive and simple lifestyle. Also Islam established equality and justice in the society. These impressed the non-Muslims and subsequently they converted.
After the death of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the Muslims gradually conquered Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Egypt and Iran. Many Western historians look at the conquests of the rulers who came after the Prophet as a proof of “conversion by force to Islam”. However, we have a different perspective on these conquests made by Muslims after the Prophet's death. It is true that Muslims conquered these neighboring lands and countries but this does not mean that Islam, as a religion, was spread by force.
Islamic expansion truly began in the early 630s, AD. Campaigns against the Byzantine and Sassanid (Persian) Empires were initiated which pitted this new religion of Islam, with its desert Arabian warriors against the established and ancient empires centered in Constantinople and Madain.
During the caliphate of Abu Bakr ra, Iraq was conquered in 633 CE. During the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab ra, Syria was conquered in 635 CE, Palestine in 637 CE, Egypt in 642 CE, and also two-thirds of Persia was conquered. The rest of Persia, Syria and Northern Africa was conquered during the caliphate of Uthman bin Affan ra. (Najeebabadi)
Abu Bakr, the first caliph of Islam, gave Muslim armies rules which were so much ahead of the time.
“Stop, O people, that I may give you ten rules for your guidance in the battlefield. Do not commit treachery or deviate from the right path. You must not mutilate dead bodies. Neither kill a child, nor a woman, nor an aged man. Bring no harm to the trees, nor burn them with fire, especially those which are fruitful. Slay not any of the enemy’s flock, save for your food. You are likely to pass by people who have devoted their lives to monastic services; leave them alone.” (Najeebabadi)
Beforehand Persians and Byzantines had fought a decades-long war that left lands from Syria to Iraq in ruins. Abu Bakr ra made it clear that Muslim armies do not operate by the same principles and restrict their fights to the armies and governments of the enemy. Islamic Shariah law legislated by Allah and His Messenger ﷺ clearly forbids the use of force against anyone except in legitimate cases of war against a clearly defined enemy.
Though Muslim army begun to capture cities after cities, the general people was not forced or induced to convert to Islam. They were encouraged to continue living their lives as they had for centuries before. In the example of the conquest of Jerusalem, the caliph at the time, Umar ibn al-Khattab, wrote in the surrender treaty with the patriarchs of city:
“He has given them an assurance of safety for themselves, for their property, their churches, their crosses, the sick and healthy of the city…Their churches will not be inhabited by Muslims and will not be destroyed…They will not be forcibly converted.” (Unal)
No other empire or state in the world history ever before had such ideas about religious tolerance. Umar ra, being a companion of the Prophet, sets a precedent in this treaty about the treatment of conquered peoples in Islamic law. All the conquered lands, in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Persia had similar treaties. Whether the citizens of the conquered lands were Christian, Jew, Sabians, or Zoroastrians, they were allowed to keep their religious traditions. There exists not one example of forced conversion in these early conquests. (Lapidas)
But the confusion raised when Western writers and historians tried to interpret the expansion of the Muslim Empire as the expansion of Islam, the religion. Though the territory of caliphate spread by military force, it began with defensive fights. Romans and Persians tried to destroy the Islamic State from the earth. And subsequently lost their lands to Muslims. Though they were defeated nobody tried to convert them to Islam at the point of sword.
There can be no force in accepting Islam because Islam wants sincere believers, not hypocrites. By forced conversion, the numbers of hypocrites increase, not the number of true believers.
Allah says, “There is no compulsion in religion” (Surah al-Baqara: 256)
“Therefore, you remind (them), for you are only a reminder; you are not a watcher over them.” (Surah al Ghaashiya: 21-22)
In majority of conquered cities, the inhabitants continued to follow their own religions. The Muslim conquerors signed treaties guaranteeing to the conquered people the freedom of practicing their religion as long as they paid the required tribute to the caliph's treasury.
Islam spread there only through Muslim traders and missionaries. Non-Muslims amazed by the character and behavior of the Muslim traders that they were attracted to Islam. Lapidus mentions three theories to explain the acceptance of Islam in the Far East: the role of merchants, the importance of the missionaries, and the value of Islam to the common people rather than to the ruling elites (Lapidas).
Indeed, it is a historical fact that Islam spread much faster during periods of peace than in periods of war. Islam continued to spread, as it does now, when Muslims were not prevailing economically, socially or politically.
Islam is too strong to be self-assured and does not need any force to convert people to it. The moral and intellectual superiority of Islam over all religions has manifested itself clearly throughout the history. In spite of all propaganda, Islam continues to be the fastest growing religion on earth. Professor Huston Smith said, "In some areas where Islam and Christianity are competing for converts, Islam is gaining at a rate of 10 to 1." (Smith)
Ambassador Herman Ellis said, "The Muslim community of the globe today is in the neighborhood of one billion. That is an impressive figure. But what to me is equally impressive is that Islam today is the fastest growing monotheistic religion. This is something we have to take into account. Something is right about Islam. It is attracting a good many people." (Islam spread by the sword? The myth and the reality)
Despite numerous agendas, it is clear fact that the religion of Islam was not spread through violence, coercion, fear, or bloodshed. There is no proof of people being forced to convert to Islam under any circumstances. While the political and military control of Muslim leaders did in fact spread through defensive warfare. In fact Muslims went out of their way to protect the rights of other religious groups. (Was Islam spread by the sword?)
Although Westerners claim that religious tolerance and freedom are first seen in “Western” civilization in the Enlightenment of the 1600s and 1700s, Muslims have shown first examples in history of religious tolerance and have practiced religious freedom since the 600s AD. The arguments made by some propagandist about Islamic belief spreading violently and through warfare clearly have no historical basis. On the other hand, religious tolerance of Islam has influenced the history of mankind and established peace and justice on the earth.
Islam is a very simple but also very rational at the same time. Besides its simple and rational creed, Islam offers an impressive and simple lifestyle. Also Islam established equality and justice in the society. These impressed the non-Muslims and subsequently they converted.
After the death of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the Muslims gradually conquered Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Egypt and Iran. Many Western historians look at the conquests of the rulers who came after the Prophet as a proof of “conversion by force to Islam”. However, we have a different perspective on these conquests made by Muslims after the Prophet's death. It is true that Muslims conquered these neighboring lands and countries but this does not mean that Islam, as a religion, was spread by force.
Islamic expansion truly began in the early 630s, AD. Campaigns against the Byzantine and Sassanid (Persian) Empires were initiated which pitted this new religion of Islam, with its desert Arabian warriors against the established and ancient empires centered in Constantinople and Madain.
During the caliphate of Abu Bakr ra, Iraq was conquered in 633 CE. During the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab ra, Syria was conquered in 635 CE, Palestine in 637 CE, Egypt in 642 CE, and also two-thirds of Persia was conquered. The rest of Persia, Syria and Northern Africa was conquered during the caliphate of Uthman bin Affan ra. (Najeebabadi)
Abu Bakr, the first caliph of Islam, gave Muslim armies rules which were so much ahead of the time.
“Stop, O people, that I may give you ten rules for your guidance in the battlefield. Do not commit treachery or deviate from the right path. You must not mutilate dead bodies. Neither kill a child, nor a woman, nor an aged man. Bring no harm to the trees, nor burn them with fire, especially those which are fruitful. Slay not any of the enemy’s flock, save for your food. You are likely to pass by people who have devoted their lives to monastic services; leave them alone.” (Najeebabadi)
Beforehand Persians and Byzantines had fought a decades-long war that left lands from Syria to Iraq in ruins. Abu Bakr ra made it clear that Muslim armies do not operate by the same principles and restrict their fights to the armies and governments of the enemy. Islamic Shariah law legislated by Allah and His Messenger ﷺ clearly forbids the use of force against anyone except in legitimate cases of war against a clearly defined enemy.
Though Muslim army begun to capture cities after cities, the general people was not forced or induced to convert to Islam. They were encouraged to continue living their lives as they had for centuries before. In the example of the conquest of Jerusalem, the caliph at the time, Umar ibn al-Khattab, wrote in the surrender treaty with the patriarchs of city:
“He has given them an assurance of safety for themselves, for their property, their churches, their crosses, the sick and healthy of the city…Their churches will not be inhabited by Muslims and will not be destroyed…They will not be forcibly converted.” (Unal)
No other empire or state in the world history ever before had such ideas about religious tolerance. Umar ra, being a companion of the Prophet, sets a precedent in this treaty about the treatment of conquered peoples in Islamic law. All the conquered lands, in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Persia had similar treaties. Whether the citizens of the conquered lands were Christian, Jew, Sabians, or Zoroastrians, they were allowed to keep their religious traditions. There exists not one example of forced conversion in these early conquests. (Lapidas)
But the confusion raised when Western writers and historians tried to interpret the expansion of the Muslim Empire as the expansion of Islam, the religion. Though the territory of caliphate spread by military force, it began with defensive fights. Romans and Persians tried to destroy the Islamic State from the earth. And subsequently lost their lands to Muslims. Though they were defeated nobody tried to convert them to Islam at the point of sword.
There can be no force in accepting Islam because Islam wants sincere believers, not hypocrites. By forced conversion, the numbers of hypocrites increase, not the number of true believers.
Allah says, “There is no compulsion in religion” (Surah al-Baqara: 256)
“Therefore, you remind (them), for you are only a reminder; you are not a watcher over them.” (Surah al Ghaashiya: 21-22)
In majority of conquered cities, the inhabitants continued to follow their own religions. The Muslim conquerors signed treaties guaranteeing to the conquered people the freedom of practicing their religion as long as they paid the required tribute to the caliph's treasury.
Islam spread there only through Muslim traders and missionaries. Non-Muslims amazed by the character and behavior of the Muslim traders that they were attracted to Islam. Lapidus mentions three theories to explain the acceptance of Islam in the Far East: the role of merchants, the importance of the missionaries, and the value of Islam to the common people rather than to the ruling elites (Lapidas).
Indeed, it is a historical fact that Islam spread much faster during periods of peace than in periods of war. Islam continued to spread, as it does now, when Muslims were not prevailing economically, socially or politically.
Islam is too strong to be self-assured and does not need any force to convert people to it. The moral and intellectual superiority of Islam over all religions has manifested itself clearly throughout the history. In spite of all propaganda, Islam continues to be the fastest growing religion on earth. Professor Huston Smith said, "In some areas where Islam and Christianity are competing for converts, Islam is gaining at a rate of 10 to 1." (Smith)
Ambassador Herman Ellis said, "The Muslim community of the globe today is in the neighborhood of one billion. That is an impressive figure. But what to me is equally impressive is that Islam today is the fastest growing monotheistic religion. This is something we have to take into account. Something is right about Islam. It is attracting a good many people." (Islam spread by the sword? The myth and the reality)
Despite numerous agendas, it is clear fact that the religion of Islam was not spread through violence, coercion, fear, or bloodshed. There is no proof of people being forced to convert to Islam under any circumstances. While the political and military control of Muslim leaders did in fact spread through defensive warfare. In fact Muslims went out of their way to protect the rights of other religious groups. (Was Islam spread by the sword?)
Although Westerners claim that religious tolerance and freedom are first seen in “Western” civilization in the Enlightenment of the 1600s and 1700s, Muslims have shown first examples in history of religious tolerance and have practiced religious freedom since the 600s AD. The arguments made by some propagandist about Islamic belief spreading violently and through warfare clearly have no historical basis. On the other hand, religious tolerance of Islam has influenced the history of mankind and established peace and justice on the earth.
Bibliography
"Islam spread by the sword? The myth and the reality." n.d. Ed. Sherif Mohammed. 8 Dec 2015. <http://www.themodernreligion.com/convert/sword.html>.
Lapidas, Ira M. A History of Islamic Societies. n.d.
Najeebabadi, Akbar Shah. The History of Islam. Vol. 1. Abdul Malik Mujahid, n.d. 3 vols.
Smith, Huston. The Religions of Man. n.d.
Unal, Tarik. Umar Ibn Al-Khattab. Tughra Books, n.d.
"Was Islam spread by the sword?" n.d. IslamQA. 01 Dec 2015. <http://islamqa.info/en/43087>.
Lapidas, Ira M. A History of Islamic Societies. n.d.
Najeebabadi, Akbar Shah. The History of Islam. Vol. 1. Abdul Malik Mujahid, n.d. 3 vols.
Smith, Huston. The Religions of Man. n.d.
Unal, Tarik. Umar Ibn Al-Khattab. Tughra Books, n.d.
"Was Islam spread by the sword?" n.d. IslamQA. 01 Dec 2015. <http://islamqa.info/en/43087>.
© 2016 by Tauhid Ahmed.