I know that my article is not related to this group ,but it might be
useful. PLEASE read it.
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How can Islam be called the religion of peace when it was spread by the
sword? ?

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" (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 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."

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’an2:256] 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’an16:125]

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 1934 to 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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