The Quran states
There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. affirming that faith cannot be imposed.
(Quran 2:256, Surah Al-Baqarah)
While Muslim armies engaged in battles, these were not to force
conversions but often for defence or justice, as warfare was a reality
of the time.
However, Islam did not spread by the sword because in many places
where Islam thrives today, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, China, and
vast parts of Africa, there are no records of any Muslim armies going
there. Instead, Islam spread in these areas through trade and peaceful
preaching.
If Islam had been forced upon people, how do we explain the
continued presence of religious minorities in Muslim-majority nations?
Today, approximately 10% of the Arab world remains Christian.
In India, where Muslims ruled for 700 years, the vast majority of the
population still follows Hinduism. Forced conversion would have left
no room for such diversity.
If one assumes that religion spreads by force, then one might ask: Did
Christianity spread through guns or bombs? Certainly not. Christianity
expanded through missionary efforts.
Similarly, Islam is spreading in the modern world through peaceful
preaching. It is currently the fastest-growing religion in the United
States, with over 6 million followers, without any military intervention.
Islam spread not by the sword, but by its truth, justice, and wisdom.
