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How can Islam be the religion of peace?



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".



For more information about Islam :
http://www.nzmuslim.net/viewarticle-46.html


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