Was Islam Spread by the Sword? – Dr Zakir Naik

Was Islam Spread by the Sword? – Dr Zakir Naik

TJIP-16

And one of the most common allegations today that we have, or again top of the list, the common misconception, is Islam was spread by the sword. Islam comes from the root word ‘Salaam’ which means peace, it comes from the word ‘Silm’ which means peace, which means to submit your will to Almighty God, and if anyone who submits his will to Almighty God to acquire peace, he is called as a Muslim. Imagine, if you translate the statement, Islam was spread by the sword, it means peace was spread by the sword. And Islam, as a general norm, it is against violence. But, as a last resort, force can be used. And in every country of the world, every country of the world has a police. And this police too, if suppose the civilian or the citizens or anyone else, if they do not follow the law of that country this police it uses force to let peace prevail in that country. So when every country has a police, and when they can use force they can keep guns. And if Islam is against violence, it mainly promotes peace, as a last resort, because some people do not want peace, and they want to disrupt the peace, to control these people as a last resort, Islam gives permission for the use of force and violence as a last resort. The reply to this misconception that Islam was spread by the sword, is given very well by the famous historian, by the name of De Lacy O ‘Leary, he writes in his book “Islam at the Crossroad” on Page No. 8, and he says, that, “History makes it clear, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping across the world, forcing Islam at the point of the sword, over conquered races is the most fantastic absurd myth that historians have ever repeated” De lacy O ‘Leary writes in his book “Islam at the Crossroad”, that, “History makes it clear that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping across the world, forcing Islam at the point of the sword, over conquered races, is the most fantastic absurd myth that historian have ever repeated.” And we know that we Muslims we ruled Spain for about 800 years, we did not force anyone to accept Islam at the point of the sword. Later on the Crusaders came, and they wiped out the Muslims, there was not a single Muslim who could openly give the Adhaan. The Muslims, we were the lord of the Arab land for the past 1400 years. For a few years the Britishers came, for a few years the French, came but as a whole, the Arab Muslims were the lord of the Arab land for the past 1400 years. Yet today, Yet today, there are more than 14 million Arabs who are Coptic Christians, Coptic Christians, means Christians since generations. These 14 million Coptic Christian Arabs, they are bearing witness, they are giving ‘Shahadah’ that Islam was not spread by the sword. The Muslims ruled India for about a thousand years. If they wanted, they could have forced every Indian to accept Islam at the point of the sword. Today after thousand years we find in India that more than 80% of the Indians, they are Non-Muslims. These 80% Non Muslims Indians, they are bearing witness, they are giving Shahadah, that Islam was not spread by the sword. Which Muslim army went to Malaysia? Malaysia happens to be a country which has more than 50% Muslims. Which Muslim army went to Indonesia? Which is a country which has the maximum number of Muslims in the world. Which Muslim army went to the East Coast of Africa? Which Muslim army? Which sword? Thomas Carlyle gives the reply...