Was Islam Spread By Sword?

[Uzair Ahmed]

[submit]

Islam spread to China,India Malay Archipealogo in 7th century through proclamation about One God.

Islam spread to Europe through expansion of Islamic empire . As Christian nations of those time were constantly hostile to Islamic nation as they try to win back Jerusalem.

[IndonesianStranger]

Is this means that the Sassanid empire or the Byzantine empire were hostile to muslims ?

*i am muslim*

[AhmadFarooq]

From what I've read, the fighting was done, keeping in mind strategic interests. Unlike today's times when nations are usually at peace with each other and they have to declare war, during the early centuries of Islam, these were the times when various world empires used to remain in a state of perpetual war and the uncommon state was to declare peace (completely in contradiction to today's times). Empires used to continuously expand and contract as their power grew or waned. Caliph Abu Bakr, in order to keep the Islamic lands safe from the two surrounding empires captured some areas to create a kind of buffer zones. The Romans were already at war with the Muslims. Regarding the Persians, some traditions tell us that Khosrou of Persia had ordered to arrest Prophet Muhammad, but for some reason it did not happen. In any case, open fighting with the Persians had not started, but it is extremely likely that they would have started it when their internal political disputes got resolved and Muslims became a threat. After all, they had been fighting with the Romans for decades, they had no reason to spare the Muslims (whom they in their arrogance did not believe worthy) and every reason to attack to gain power and wealth (the objectives of those times). After Abu Bakr's action, the Persians started raiding those lands. This led one thing to another and resulted in all-out war between the Muslims, Romans and Persians.

[IndonesianStranger]

no offense, but can you give me the source of that? maybe i can write it in wikipedia so that people will stop believing that islam was spread by sword.

[AhmadFarooq]

[AhmadFarooq]

Regarding the above mentioned arguments, instances of Muslims (under the Rashiudding Caliphate) breaking peace treaties are required to prove that Muslims were spreading Islam by the sword and on the other hand instances when Muslims restricted themselves to fight when they had the capability to do so, disproves the idea that Muslims of those times believed in spreading Islam by the sword.

Additionally, there are cases where the population also sided with the Muslim armies.

In the book "The Great Arab Conquests" Hugh Kennedy writes "The pious biographer of Coptic patriarch Benjamin presents us with the striking image of the patriarch prayed for the success of the Muslim commander Amr against the Christians of the Cyrenaica. Benjamin survived for almost twenty years after the fall of Egypt to the Muslims, dying of full years and honour in 661. His body was laid to rest in the monastery of St Macarius, where he is still venerated as a saint. There can be no doubt that he played a major role in the survival of the Coptic Church"[29] Coptic patriarch Benjamin also prayed for Amr when he moved to take Libya.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_conquest_of_Egypt#Egypt_under_Muslim_rule

Also, at other places I remember reading about how the Jews sided with the Muslims in areas ruled by the Byzantine empire (apparently, Heraclius was involved in forceful conversion of Jews and minority sect Christians) and also in the case of Spain (probably the main reason they were so forcefully thrown out along-with the Muslims, when Muslim rule ended in Spain). Also, Muslim armies had significant percentages of Hindu soldiers and generals in India. Mahmood Ghazni apparebtly had 30% Hindu soldiers and around 5/12 Hindu generals. This was at the time when he was moving to destroy the Somnath temple. Along the way he was also helped by another Hindu ruler. A similar case also existed during the conquests of Spain.

Source: https://thedebateinitiative.com/2016/01/11/the-myth-of-destroyed-hindu-temples-and-forced-conversion-of-hindus-by-historical-muslim-rulers-of-india/

This also supports the concept that these were motivated more by political reasons and needs of the times than religion itself.

[AhmadFarooq]

A very important thing that needs to be mentioned here is that where Islam is concerned only the decisions of Prophet Muhammad and the Rashidun Caliphate are important, any fighting or other deeds (like the Arab slave trade) which happened after their time, are concerned with the Muslims of those times and not with Islam itself.

Also, it is important to know that in today's times there are many Muslims who believe in spreading Islam by the sword. By Islam, I don't mean forcefully converting non-Muslims but the Sha'riah of Allah or Islamic law. Daesh, Al-Qaeda etc. are based on this concept. From what I have recently read and seen, even Hizb-ut-Tahrir strongly believes in it. For more details, read what I wrote under the heading "Importance of Caliphate" here: http://www.answering-christianity.com/blog/index.php?topic=2054.msg8815#msg8815

[Saudi Salafi]

[submit]

Islam is a religion that permits war as in act of defense, never have Islam propagate a covenant on making war to all nations.

Islam was spread by Islamic traders and scholars that travel to many nations by inviting Kings and Chief tribes of those lands to reverting back to Islam . Hence why Islam spread real fast as once their kings accepted Islam, people in those lands became Muslims well.

As many smaller regions neighboring byzantine  accepted Islam, Byzantine kingdom began to be hostile and hence engaging with series of war with Islamic nations.

[IndonesianStranger]

Islam is a religion that permits war as in act of defense, never have Islam propagate a covenant on making war to all nations.

Islam was spread by Islamic traders and scholars that travel to many nations by inviting Kings and Chief tribes of those lands to reverting back to Islam . Hence why Islam spread real fast as once their kings accepted Islam, people in those lands became Muslims well.

As many smaller regions neighboring byzantine  accepted Islam, Byzantine kingdom began to be hostile and hence engaging with series of war with Islamic nations.

No offense bro. I need sources or references for further reading for that.

Also, I wondering about the expansion of Islamic kingdom to Spain and France. Was it done by sword? If there's a war, then what is the cause?

[AhmadFarooq]

The only wars whose alleged wrongness can be used to criticise Islam are the wars during the time of the Prophet and the first four Caliphs. Any other latter war or Muslim ruler may or may not be a follower of Islamic laws and guidelines.

On the matter of Spain, the Muslims were "invited" by one of the Spaniard lords. Legend has it that he sent his daughter (or his niece) to the court of one of the royals. That royal apparently had non-marital relations with her which had the effect of turning that Spaniard lord towards the Muslims and inviting them to invade Spain. If I remember correctly the ships and information for the invasion was also provided by him. Apparently, when the Muslim armies were marching through Spain, they were also joined by Jews (probably the reason they were kicked out alongside the Muslims when the Christians regained power) and other Spaniards. This is not surprising as Muslim armies in India had Hindu soldiers and generals too.

From one orientalist book I was reading, the Ummayyad Caliph of the time, when he got news of the invasion became angry and called back the Muslim commander and reprimanded him.

As I mentioned before, empires generally used to remain in perpetual war with each-other and peace treaties were the odd events.

[submit]

You will need to do some researches based on regions.
Merchants and scholars have been inviting rulers to Islam.
African regions
Persian regions
Indian regions
Mongolian regions
North China regions
South East Asian regions

The contrast to Hellenistic Christianity is it was spread by inquisition vide weapons, and massacre of natives at any land they entered to established their presence.

[adilriaz123]

Also there were many battles fought fought for retribution such what roman king dracula did to 25000 ottoman muslim, impaling them from bottom to up on a wooden pole and ottoman defeated king dracula and his people to exact there retribution.

[IndonesianStranger]

The only wars whose alleged wrongness can be used to criticise Islam are the wars during the time of the Prophet and the first four Caliphs. Any other latter war or Muslim ruler may or may not be a follower of Islamic laws and guidelines.

On the matter of Spain, the Muslims were "invited" by one of the Spaniard lords. Legend has it that he sent his daughter (or his niece) to the court of one of the royals. That royal apparently had non-marital relations with her which had the effect of turning that Spaniard lord towards the Muslims and inviting them to invade Spain. If I remember correctly the ships and information for the invasion was also provided by him. Apparently, when the Muslim armies were marching through Spain, they were also joined by Jews (probably the reason they were kicked out alongside the Muslims when the Christians regained power) and other Spaniards. This is not surprising as Muslim armies in India had Hindu soldiers and generals too.

From one orientalist book I was reading, the Ummayyad Caliph of the time, when he got news of the invasion became angry and called back the Muslim commander and reprimanded him.

As I mentioned before, empires generally used to remain in perpetual war with each-other and peace treaties were the odd events.

Thank you brother. :D

Btw, I was wondering about the presence of Islam in China.