Peninsula, while Arab loyalties were divided with unrestrained enmity
and maliciousness everywhere. Look at how, as Muslims, they united,
cast aside their differences, and became a firm brotherhood of faith!
Take a quick look at the early extraordinary conquests of Islam.Then
at how the Muslims defended and maintained their position, even while
their enemies fiercely opposed them!
After establishing their state, they spread to the farthest parts of
the world and continued their conquest of hearts and armies there.
Many emperors and nations fell into their hands, including the then
powerful nations of Persia and Rome. Muslims easily overcame them and
their surrounding lands even though their enemies were strong in
warfare and well-supplied with arms. But the Muslims were victorious
because of the virtues and merits of their religion, the strength of
their faith, and Allaah's aid in assisting them until the boundaries
of Islam spread from the East of theearth to its West.
This resulted as one of the great signs of Allaah, proofs of His
religion, and a miracle of His Prophet. Thus, people entered into
Allaah's religion in multitudes with peace of mind and tranquillity,
not by force or compulsion.
Whoever examines this fact closely will see that this religion is the
truth, which will always reject anything false, even when it becomes
tremendously appealing and reaches its zenith on the world stage. This
is an undeniable fact which is easily seen by simple reasoning.
Among the most persistent falsehoods about Islam in the West today is
the lie about forcible conversions to Islam. Many Westerners continue
to believe that Islam is so widespread in the world today simply
because of a 'holy campaign of terror' carried out by the early
Muslims to convert non-Muslims to Islam. According to these
fabrications, non-Muslims were given the choice of Islam or death.
How can we confront such misconceptions? First, there is noneed to be
apologetic. We Muslims should search for the truth and present it as
it is.
This is how we have been instructed by Allaah Almighty, in words
(which means):"…Say: "The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills –
let him believe; and whoever wills – let him disbelieve.'"[Quran
18:29]
Islam is the religion of truth. The Quran is the book of truth; Allaah
Says (what means):"And with thetruth We have sent it [i.e., the
Quran]..."[Quran 17:105] And also:"So rely upon Allaah; indeed, you
are upon the clear truth."[Quran 27:79]
Therefore, we should ask ourselves first, before we are asked by
anyone else, what is thetruth? Did Muslims really force others to
convert to Islam? Is there any evidence for consistent forcible
conversion throughout Islamic history? As a matter of fact, there is
no such evidence anywhere in the history of Islam.
Many distinguished Western historians have attested to this fact in
their books, foremost amongst them are Sir Thomas W.Arnold in 'The
Preaching of Islam', Marshall G. Hodgson in 'The Venture of Islam',
Albert Hourani in 'A History of the Arab People', Ira Lapidus in 'A
History of Islamic Societies', L.S. Starorianos in 'A Global Hisotry,
the Human Heritage', and many others. In fact, there is a plethoraof
evidence to the contrary.
Some contemporary writers whose works are influenced by the enemies of
Islam claim that these unprecedented victories were driven purely by
materialism, which is completely baseless. They claim that the
successful spread of Islam was possible because of the deterioration
and downfall of thelands of the Caesar of Rome, and the material
prosperity in Arabia. This point alone is sufficient enough to
invalidate their claim.
Was there any power existing in the Arabian Peninsula before Islam
capable of confronting even the weakest government? In their zeal,
Muslims conquered the strongest governments and most powerful nations
of the world. The enemies resisted withmassive arms and vast armies,
and every means in their power, but tyrannical rule was replaced by
the Laws of the Quran and the Religion of Justice.
How can they misrepresent the conquests of Islam and its growth with
the claim that material gain was the prime factor behind it? By such
fabricated stories, they meant to tarnish Islam, promoting the
accusations of the enemies of Islam, without understanding the truth.
The continuous existence of this religion, even under dangerous
circumstances, is one of its distinguishing signs; despite the fact
that its enemies collaborate for its total extermination; AllaahSays
(what means):"They [i.e., the disbelievers] want to extinguish the
light of Allaah with their mouths, but Allaah willperfect His light,
although the disbelievers dislike it."[Quran 61:8]
This is the true religion of Allaah. If the necessary strength was
assembled to repel the oppressors and end their systemsof injustice,
then no religion other than Islam would remain on the earth, and all
of its inhabitants would accept it without compulsion or coercion,
because it is the religion of truth,the natural religion, the religion
of unity and social welfare. But its people are negligent, weak and
disunited, and they are impeded by the influence of their enemies,
preventing them from advancing. There is no might or ability except
from Allaah.
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