Is Islam spread by sword?

The idea that Islam spread by the sword is a myth that is refuted by prominent historians. Since Prophet Muhammad was a messenger of God and lived by the Quran, we have to assume that he followed the Quranic law that Muslims can only wage war in self defense, to practice their faith freely, and remove oppression, but not in order to exert Muslim rule or conquest.

[2:256] There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient.

[8:39]  You shall fight them to ward off oppression, and to practice your religion devoted to GOD alone. If they refrain from aggression, then GOD is fully Seer of everything they do.

[2:193]  You may also fight them to eliminate oppression, and to worship GOD freely. If they refrain, you shall not aggress; aggression is permitted only against the aggressors.

However, after Muhammad’s death, some ambitious Muslim leaders violated the Quran’s commandments on waging war and pursued expansionist policies. Yet, what is historically recognized is that Muslim rulers generally never forced their conquered peoples to submit to Islamic law. In exchange for a small tax that guaranteed their protection, religious minorities

 were left to live their own lives, foster their own communities with their own justice systems.

For example, the Ottoman Empire is known historically to be one of the world’s most religiously tolerant empires due to its brilliant millet system that meant that different religious/cultural groups had a great degree of autonomy in governing their lives and identities. In fact, most of the conquered people were more than happy to accept Muslim rule because of the tolerance and autonomy it gave them as opposed to the dogmatic and oppressive Christian rule of the time. An example is given below.

In the 15th century the Jews in Spain faced strong pressures to convert to Christianity and many yielded to this pressure and became Christians. In 1492 the king of Spain, Ferdinand, issued an edict to expel from Spain all remaining Jews who did not convert to Christianity.

When the news of expulsion reached the Ottoman Empire, the Sultan Beyazit II issued a decree to welcome the Jews. A significant portion of those expelled thus came to Ottoman Empire and settled mostly in European parts of the Empire. The Turkish Jews are also identified as Sephardic Jews. This derives from the word Sepharad which in Hebrew means Spain.

Islam’s clarity and liberating quality, naturally appealed to most of the masses and this is why as a religion it spread like wild fire in such a short period of time.

O. E.

God Willing 22nd Annual Conference United Submitters July 27-29, 2007 Ontario, CA God willing mark your calendars and make plans for the 2007 Annual Conference of the Submitters. We set up a web page on the internet to circulate the conference information at conference The registration forms and hotel information are now made available through mail to the subscribers of Submitters Perspective. If you have not received them in the mail, please check the availability on the web site or email us at info@masjidtucson.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * God willing, there is also another Submitters conference in London, UK. It is the 1st Annual EMEA Conference presented by the UK Community of Submitters on June 30, 2007 London, UK. You can pre-register to this conference by e-mail via info@submitters.org.uk if you can make it, God willing.