How can Islam be called a ‘religion of peace’ when it was ‘spread by the sword’?

It is another common misconception among some non-Muslims that Islam would not have the millions of adherents it has all over the world, had it not been spread by the use of force. The following proofs will make it clear, that far from being forcefully ‘spread by the sword,’ it was inherent force of truth, reason and logic that was responsible for the rapid spread of Islam. Islam has always given respect to the freedom of religion to all faiths. Freedom of religion is ordained in the Majestic Quran itself:

"There is no compulsion at all in religion; undoubtedly the right path has become very distinct from error"..[Baqarah 2:256]

If Islam was indeed spread by the sword, it was the sword of intellect and convincing arguments that was used. It is only this type of sword that conquers the hearts and minds of people. The Glorious Quran says in this connection;

"Call towards the path of your Lord with sound planning and good advice, and debate with them in the best possible way".. [ Nahl 16:125]

The facts speak for themselves

1.Indonesia is the country that has the largest number of Muslims in the world, and the majority of people in Malaysia are Muslims. But, no Muslim army has ever entered Indonesia or Malaysia. It is an established historical fact that Indonesia entered Islam not due to war, but because of its moral message. Despite the disappearance of Islamic government from many regions once ruled by it, their original inhabitants have remained Muslims. Moreover , they carried the message of truth, inviting others to it as well, and in so doing endured harm, affliction and oppression.The same can be said for those in the regions of Syria and Jordon, Egypt, Iraq, North America, Asia, The Balkans and in Spain. This shows that the effect of Islam on the population was one of moral conviction, in contrast to occupation by western colonialists, finally compelled to leave lands whose peoples held only memories of affliction, sorrow, subjugation and oppression.

2. Muslims rules Spain (Andalusia) for about 800 years. During this period, The Christian and Jews enjoyed freedom to practice their respective religions, and this is a documented historical fact.

3. Christian and Jewish minorities have survived in the Muslims lands of the Middle East for centuries. Countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordon all have significant Christian and Jewish populations.

4.Muslims ruled India for about a thousand years, and therefore had the power to force each and every non-Muslim resident of India to convert to Islam, but they did not, and thus more than 80% of the Indian population remains non-Muslim.

5. Similarly, Islam spread rapidly on the east coast of Africa, furthermore , no Muslim army was ever dispatched to the east coast of Africa.

6. Today, the fastest growing religion in North America, Europe and Africa is Islam. The only sword they have in their possession is the sword of truth. It is the sword that is reverting thousands to Islam.

7. Islamic Law Projects the rights and the status of minorities, and that is why the non-Muslim’s places of worship have flourished all over the Islamic world. Islamic Law also allows non-Muslim minorities to set up their own courts, which implemented family laws drawn up by the minorities themselves. The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic State are considered important whether they are Muslims or not.

It is clear, therefore, that Islam was not spread by the sword. The often-alleged ‘sword of Islam’ did not convert all the non-Muslim minorities in Muslims countries. In India, Where Muslims ruled for about a thousand years, they are still a minority. In the U.S.A and Canada alone, Islam is the fastest growing religion and has over nine million followers.