Misconceptions

"There is no compulsion in religion. The right path is henceforth distinct from misguidance"
The noble Qur’an, Al-Bakarah(2):256

"God forbids you not, with regards to those who fight you not for (your) faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them; for God loveth those who are just."
The noble Qur’an (60:8)

An unfortunate misconception which has managed to creep into many Western beliefs is that Islam was only spread through force and the sword. Today, however, this notion has been recognized for the absurdity that it was. (See below remarks of some prominent non-Muslims refuting this baseless claim).

The first few who embraced the 'new' religion at the hands of the prophet were his wife Khadijah, his servant Zaid and his eleven year old cousin Ali.

Among the ones who later joined this faith in Makkah were the honest merchant, Abu Bakr, the iron man of Arabia, Omar the great, the shy businessman, Othman, prophet's brave uncle Hamza and the family of pagan's slave, Bilal. They simply couldn't resist the magic sword of a humble and lonely prophet! The negligible minority of the Believers in this new Faith was soon driven away from Makkah (with there "SWORD"). In the city of their migration, Madinah, people not only welcomed the bearers, but the SWORD as well. It didn't cease to work even there and it's magnetic force continued to "pull" people towards it until the whole of Arabia joined the Faith. Compared to the population of the rest of the world, at that time , the Arabs constituted a tiny minority. A fraction of this minority decided to take the "SWORD: beyond the boundaries of the Arabian desert to the mighty empires of Rome and Persia, the shores of the Mediterranean, the coast of Malabar and the far away East Indies Islands. People after people went on surrendering to this "SWORD" and joining the Faith.

So sharp was the edge of the SWORD! It simply conquered the hearts; bodies yielded automatically.

It is the SWORD OF TRUTH, whose mere shine eliminates falsehood just like light wipes away darkness.

HAS THE SWORD GONE BLUNT? .. NO, FAR FROM IT.

It continues to pierce the heart of countless men and women even today -in spite of the relentless efforts by persons with vested interests who like darkness to prevail, so that they may rob people of heir good things.

Read below the impression of some who were recently conquered the same "SWORD". They are from different countries, speak different languages and have different backgrounds. Perhaps you may like to ask them .. how it feels to be struck by the SWORD OF TRUTH.

1- LEOPOLD WEISS (now Mohammed Asad): Austrian statesman, journalist and author; Former for foreign correspondent for the Frankfurters Zeitung; author of "Islam at Cross Roads" and "Road to Makkah" and translator of the Qur'an. ( Embraced Islam in 1926).

"Islam appears to me like a perfect work of Architecture. All its parts are harmoniously conceived to complement and support each other. Nothing is superfluous and nothing lacking, with the result of an absolute balance and solid composure."

2- AHMAD HOLT: British Civil Contractor

Traveled extensively in search of the Divine truth. Spent much time in search and comparative study of Judaism. Christianity and Islam. (Embraced Islam in 1975).

" 'The SWORD of Islam' is not the sword of steel. I know this by experience, because the sword of Islam struck deep into my own heart. It didn't bring death, but it brought a new life; it brought an awareness and it brought an awakening as to who am I and what am I and for what am I here?"

3- BOGDAN KOPANSKI (now bogdan Ataullah Kopanski): originally polish now American. Ph. D. in History and Politics. Had a very interesting journey to Islam and faced severe hardship; was imprisoned twice by the polish Communist regime ( 1968, 1981-82). Embraced Islam in 1974.

"When I was 12 years old I rejected illogical and contradictory faith of church. Tow years later in 1962- I was fascinated by victorious struggle of the Algerian Muslim Mujahideen against French colonialism. It was the first 'arrow' of Islam .... in the high school earliest days of my education in the university , I was a typical example of 'rebel generation' of reds....My way to the Truth of al-Qur'an was slow and unpaved....in 1974 I visited Turkey, I wrote my M.A. dissertation about Sultan and Caliph Suleiman Kanuni’s policy towards Polish Kingdom. There, I was hit by the most beautiful voice of mankind: ADHAN, the call to prayer, My hair stood up. Unknown powerful force led me to old massjid in Istanbul . There, old smiling Turkish, bearded men taught me WUZU, ablution, I confessed to tears SHAHADAH and I prayed my first SALAH Maghrib....I swept out the rubbish ideologies .... The first time in my life, my mind was relaxed and I felt pleasure of Allah's love in my heart, I was a Muslim..."

4- VENGATACHALAM ADIYAR (Now Abdullah Adiyar): Indian, noted Tamil writer and Journalist worked as a News Editor in Dr. M. Karunanidhi's daily ' Murasoli' for 17 years. Worked with 3 former Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu. Received Kalimamani Award (Big Gem of Arts) from T.N Government in 1982. (embraced Islam in 1987).

"In Islam I found suitable replies to nagging queries arising in my mind with regard to the theory of creation, statues of women, creation of the universe etc. The life history of the Holy Prophet attracted me very much and made easy for me to compare with other world leaders and their philosophies."

Madras, India.

5- HERBERT HOBOHM : (Now Aman Hobohm):

German Diplomat, Missionary and social worker. An intellectual, who has been serving the German Diplomatic Mission in various parts of the world. Presently working as Cultural attache in German Embassy in Riyadh. (Embraced Islam in 1941).

"I have lived under different systems of life and have had the opportunity of studying various ideologies, but have come to the conclusion that none is as perfect as Islam. None of the systems has got a complete code of a noble life. Only Islam has it; and that is why good man embrace it. Islam is not theoretical; it is practical. It means complete submission to the will of god."

6- CAT STEVENS : (Now Yousef Islam):

British, Formerly Christian, World famous pop singer. (Embraced Islam in 1973).

"It will be wrong to judge Islam in the light of the behaviour of some bad Muslims who are always shown on the media. It is like judging a car as a bad one if the driver of the car is drunk and beings in the daily life - in its spiritual, mental and physical dimensions. But we must find the source of these instructions: The Qur'an and the example of the prophet. Then we can see the ideal of Islam."

7- Ms. MARGARET MARCUS: (Now Maryam Jamilah):

American, formerly Jewish. Essayist and journalist. Author of many books. (Embraced Islam in 1962).

"The authority of Islamic Morals and laws proceeds from Almighty God. Pleasure and happiness in Islam are but the natural byproducts of emotional satisfaction in one's duties conscientiously performed for the pleasure of God to achieve salvation. In Islam duties are always stressed above rights. Only in Islam was my quest for absolute values satisfied. Only in Islam did I at last find all that was true, good, beautiful and which gives meaning and directions to human life and death."

8- WILFRIED HOFMAN: (Now Murad Hofman):

Ph.D (law) Harvard. German. Social Scientist and Diplomat. Presently German Ambassador in Algiers. (Embraced in Islam in 1980).

"For some time now, striving for more and more precision and brevity, I have tried to put on paper, in a systemic way, all philosophical truths, which, in my view , can be ascertained beyond reasonable doubt. In the course of this effort it dawned on me that the typical attitude of an agnostic is not an intelligent one; that man simply cannot escapee a decision to believe; that the createdness of what exists around us is obvious; that Islam undoubtedly finds itself in the greatest harmony with overall reality. Thus I realize, not without shock, that step by step, in spite of myself and almost unconsciously, in feelings and thinking I have grown into a Muslim. Only one last step remained to be taken; to formalize my conversation. As of today I am a Muslim. I have arrived."

9- CASSIUS CLAY: (Now Mohamed Ali Clay):

American boxer. (three times world heavyweight champion). Formally Christian. (Embraced Islam in 1965).

"I have had nice moments in my life. But the feeling I had while standing on Mount Arafat on the day of 'Hajj' (Muslims' pilgrimage), was the most unique. I felt exaited by the indescribable spiritual atmosphere there as over a million and a half pilgrims invoked God to forgive them of their sins and bestow on them His choicest blessings. It was an exhilarating experience to see people belonging to different colors; races and nationalities, kings, heads of states and ordinary men from very poor countries all clad in two simple white sheets praying to God without any sense of either pride or inferiority., It was a practical manifestation of the concept of equality in Islam." (Speaking to the daily " Al-Madinah" Jeddah, 15, July 1989).

There were the impressions of a few persons who had themselves been struck by the SWORD OF TRUTH.

Islam teaches that a person's faith must be pure and sincere, so it is certainly not something that can be forced on someone.

It should also be known that Muslims ruled Spain for roughly 800 years. During this time, and up to when they were finally forced out, the non-Muslims there were alive and flourishing. Additionally, Christian and Jewish minorities have survived in the Muslim lands of the Middle East for centuries. Countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan all have Christian and/or Jewish populations. If Islam taught that all people are supposed to be killed or forced to become Muslims, how did all of these non-Muslims survive for so long in the middle of the Islamic Empire? Additionally, if one considers the small number of Muslims who initially spread Islam from Spain and Morocco in the West to India and China in the East, one would realize that they were far too few to force people to be members of a religion against their will. Additionally, the great empire and civilization established by the Muslims had great staying power -- its citizens were proud to be part of it. The spread of Islam stands in contrast to the actions of the followers of Christianity, who since the time of the Emperor Constantine have made liberal use of the sword - often basing their conduct on Biblical verses. This was especially true of the colonization of South America and Africa, where native peoples were systematically wiped-out or forced to convert. It is also interesting to note that when the Mongols invaded and conquered large portions of the Islamic Empire, instead of destroying the religion, they adopted it. This is a unique occurrence in history - the conquerors adopting the religion of the conquered! Since they were the victors, they certainly could not have been forced to become Muslims! Ask any of the over one billion Muslims alive in the world today whether they were forced!

If Islam was indeed spread by the sword of steel (i.e. the force) and not by its spiritual appeal, then how do we explain, for example, the fact that Islam is the religion of the majority of the people of the country of Indonesia even though no Muslim army ever set foot on their land and they can by no stretch of the imagination be labeled as Arabs? The only contact these people ever had with Islam was through Muslim traders who passed through their lands. So where was the sword? How could someone be forced to adhere to a spiritually rewarding and demanding religion like Islam?

As for the propaganda that it was the sword of steel (i.e. the force) which was instrumental in the universal expansion of Islam, we give below remarks of some prominent non-Muslims refuting this baseless claim:

1- M.K.GANDHI:

".......I become more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and his own mission. These, and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every trouble." Young India, 1924.

2- Sir Thomas W. Arnold: (A Christian missionary):

“...of any organized attempt to force the acceptance of Islam on the non-Muslim population, or of any systematic persecution intended to stamp out the Christian religion, we hear nothing. Had the caliphs chosen to adopt either course of action, they might have swept away Christianity as easily as Ferdinand and Isabella drove Islam out of Spain, or Louis XIV made Protestantism penal in France, or the Jews were kept out of England for 350 years. The Eastern Churches in Asia were entirely cut off from communion with the rest of Christendom throughout which no one would have been found to lift a finger on their behalf, as heretical communions. So that the very survival of these Churches to the present day is a strong proof of the generally tolerant attitude of Mohammedan [sic] governments towards them” The Preaching of Islam, A History of the Propagation of the Muslim Faith, Sir Thomas W. Arnold, Westminster A. Constable & Co., London, 1896, p. 80.

3- EDWARD GIBBON:

"The greatest success of Mohammed's life was effected by sheer moral force without the stroke of a sword." History of the Saracen Empire, London, 1870.

4- A.S.TRITTON:

"The picture of the Muslim soldier advancing with a sword in one hand and the Qur'an in the other quite false." Islam, London, 1951-page 21.

5- DE LACY O'LEAR:

"History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims, sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated." Islam at Crossroads, London. 1923-page 8.

6- Harcourt Brace:

“Against unbelievers he (Muhammad) enjoined his followers to undertake a holy warefare, but only when attacked. The earlier Moslem[sic] leaders did not try to impose their faith upon other nations” The History of Christianity in the Light of Modern Knowledge, A Collective Work,
Harcourt Brace and co., p. 520

7- K.S.RAMAKRISHNA RAO:

"My problem to write this monograph is easier because we are not generally fed now on that (distorted) kind of history and much time need not to be spent on pointing out our misresentations of Islam. The theory of Islam and sword, for instance, is not heard now in any quarter worth the name. The principle of Islam that 'there is no compulsion in religion' is well known". Mohammed the Prophet of Islam, Riyadh 1989-page 4.

8- JAMES A. MICHENER:

"No other religion in history spread so rapidly as Islam.....The West has widely believed that this surge of religion was made possible by the sword. But no modern scholar accepts that idea, and the Qur'an is explicit in support of the freedom of conscience". Islam- The Misunderstood Religion, Readers' Digest (American Edition) May 1955.

9- LAWRENCE E. BROWNE:

"Incidentally these well-established facts dispose of the ideas so widely fostered in Christian writings that the Muslims, wherever they went , forced people to accept Islam at the point of the sword." The Prospect of Islam, London 1944.

Freedom of religion is laid down in the Quran itself:

"There is no compulsion in religion. The right path is henceforth distinct from misguidance"
The noble Qur’an, Al-Bakarah(2):256

Islam has always given respect and freedom of religion to all faiths:

Muslims waged their wars in self-defense or in order to abolish idolatry, tyranny, slavery, and oppression. Muslims were commanded to not attack those who did not attack them, to not cut down a fruit tree, to not kill the animals, to not take the people’s property, to not harm women or children or old people so long as they did not fight with them, and to not burn crops.

When they were victorious, the Muslims were commanded not to destroy the churches nor the synagogues, nor to force the people to convert to Islam. The people were allowed to continue to practice their religion without persecution or being forced to convert.

Moreover, It is a function of Islamic law to protect the privileged status of minorities, and this is why non-Muslim places of worship have flourished all over the Islamic world. History provides many examples of Muslim tolerance towards other faiths: when the caliph Omar entered Jerusalem in the year 634, Islam granted freedom of worship to all religious communities in the city. Proclaiming to the inhabitants that their lives, and property were safe, and that their places of worship would never be taken from them, he asked the Christian patriarch Sophronius to accompany him on a visit to all the holy places. Islamic law also permits non-Muslim minorities to set up their own courts, which implement family laws drawn up by the minorities themselves. The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred whether the person is Muslim or not.