One of the lies propagated by some orientalists is that Islam was spread by the sword and that its adherents did not embrace it voluntarily. They were forced into it “by the sword” they often say. The media has constantly used the concept of Jihad in Islam to support this false claim. However, there is a vast difference between the legislation of Jihad and the idea of forcing people into Islam. Jihad was not prescribed for this purpose but for noble objectives and high moral principles.
This false claim is frequently repeated by missionaries and orientalists who make a living by attacking Islam. They go to great lengths in spreading lies, crying out: “Look! Muhammad calls for war and jihad in the way of Allah, which means forcing people into Islam with the sword.” Meanwhile, they claim that Christianity rejects fighting, abhors war, advocates peace, preaches tolerance, and calls for universal brotherhood. “If anyone slaps you on the right cheek..”.
A prominent Western writer, Thomas Carlyle, author of On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History, saw the absurdity of this claim:
“Accusing Muhammad (ﷺ) of relying on the sword to make people accept his message is an absurdity beyond comprehension. It is inconceivable that a single man could draw his sword to kill people until they followed him. Those who embraced his faith were unable to fight their opponents at first. Yet they believed in him willingly and exposed themselves to war before they even had the means to defend themselves.” (Facts of Islam and Falsehoods of Its Opponents by Abbas Mahmoud al-Aqqad, p. 227).
The Spread of Early Islam
Muslims at the time of prophet Muhammad ﷺ, up until Hijra to Medina, were clearly oppressed. They were often tortured and sometimes killed, yet Islam continued to rapidly. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ spent thirteen years in Makkah calling people to Islam with reason and kindness.
“It is out of Allah’s mercy that you ˹O Prophet˺ have been lenient with them. Had you been cruel or hard-hearted, they would have certainly abandoned you. So pardon them, ask Allah’s forgiveness for them, and consult with them in ˹conducting˺ matters. Once you make a decision, put your trust in Allah. Surely Allah loves those who trust in Him.” (Surah Aal-E-Imran 3:159)
Many of the noblest individuals embraced Islam voluntarily. New Muslims were then heavily persecuted and tortured like Khabbab ibn Al-Aratt and Bilal ibn Rabah. Eventually, some made Hijra to Abyssinia where Najashi the just King of Abyssinia saved them from ongoing persecution. This did not deter them from worshipping Allah alone and from spreading the message secretly. The earliest example of the spread of Islam was when prophet Muhammad ﷺ sent Muadh ibn Jabal to convey the message to the people of Yemen.
After years of persecution in Makkah and repeated plots to kill the prophet ﷺ and his companions and many battles, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ finally returned victorious in the Conquest of Makkah. Despite having every right to seek justice for the oppressed, he chose forgiveness over revenge, prioritising peace. In a moment of mercy, on the day he entered Makkah, he famously declared to Quraysh:
“Go, for you are free” (اذهبوا فأنتم الطلقاء).
How Did Islam Spread After Prophet Muhammad?
Islam expanded through da’wah, trade, intermarriage, and yes, military conquests. It is important, however to understand the context and nature of these conquests. During that era, it was common for conquests to be driven by the need for fertile land, resources, and water—scarce commodities in the Arabian Peninsula. It is also crucial to emphasise that there is no compulsion in religion.
Quran states: “Say, O disbelievers, I do not worship what you worship, nor do you worship what I worship..” (Al-Kafirun 109:1-6).
Early Muslims carried a great responsibility to convey the true religion to those who have yet to receive its message. Islam, however, did not spread during military conquest itself- such a conclusion would be illogical. Instead, following military conquests, a small number of Muslims settled in newly governed lands. Over time, through daily interactions, trade, and intermarriage, many locals converted individually. Only after being exposed to the true teachings of Islam.
Businessmen were particularly drawn to clear Islamic financial principles such as charity and economic fairness. Common people admired the honesty, integrity, and noble character of Muslims. Jizya was a tax paid by military-age non-Muslims in exchange for protection and exemption from military service, not as misrepresented in today’s media. Naturally, thousands embraced Islam upon understanding the message of the Quran, free from the today’s preconceptions and biases perpetuated by the CNN, BBC and other media outlets!
Additionally, military conquests were sometimes welcomed by local populations. In Egypt, for example, the arrival of Muslims helped overthrow the oppressive and unjust rule of the Byzantine Empire, bringing relief to the people who had suffered under its harsh governance.
Through its ethical principles, just governance, and the sincere efforts of its followers, Islam continued to grow and establish itself as a global faith embraced by millions.
Does Christianity Reject Warfare?
Now let’s examine their claim that Christianity rejects fighting and war, and solely calls for peace. This assertion contradicts the words attributed to Jesus in their scriptures:
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household. Whoever loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; whoever loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:35 and onwards).
As for the Torah, its numerous references to legislating war are too many to count. Moreover, the Torah exhibits a strict and severe approach to warfare,. This highlights the stark difference between the ethics of war in Islam and current forms of other religions.
Colonialism, Conquests, and Crusades
On the opposite hand, from the dawn of Christianity, lands across the world have been drenched in blood in the name of Jesus. The Romans shed blood in Jesus’s name, and so did the European nations. The Crusades were ignited by Christians, not Muslims. For centuries, armies marched from Europe towards Islamic lands, fighting, waging war, and spilling blood till this day! In most instance, the Popes, who claim to be the successors of Jesus, blessed these advancing armies as they sought to conquer Jerusalem and the sacred lands of Christianity while devastating the lands of Islam.
If they say that these were the actions of the Middle Ages or the “Dark Ages” and should not be used as evidence against Christianity, then what do they say about the twentieth century, the age of advanced human civilization?
Last century has witnessed wars initiated by Christian nations that were more brutal than ever. Ironically, Lord Allenby, the representative of the Allied powers (Britain, France, Italy, Romania, and America), stood in Jerusalem in 1918, at the end of World War I, and declared: “Today, the Crusades have ended!”.
French General Gouraud, another Allied representative, stood before the grave of the great Muslim hero Salahuddin Al-Ayyubi (Saladin) upon entering Damascus and proclaimed: “We have returned, O Saladin!”
Were the homes not destroyed and blood not shed? Was honour not violated in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the name of the cross? What about the massacres in Chechnya, Africa, Indonesia, and elsewhere? Can they deny that what happened in Kosovo was a Crusade?
So, How Did Islam Spread So Quickly?
Within five years of the Prophet’s passing, Islam had reached the Levant and Iraq. By 655 CE, it had spread to North Africa, Spain, and China during the Abbasid dynasty. But no, this does not mean that people accepted Islam so quickly! Unlike other empires that expanded through sheer force or by emperors embracing a certain faith and forcing it onto their people, Islam’s growth was gradual. The Futuhat particularly near the Arabian Peninsula only exposed people to the true teachings of Islam. It also brought stability to oppressed lands, namely the Byzantine and Sasanian empires. Islam rule transcended race, tribe, and status and was therefore welcomed by many. Locals, however, embraced Islam much later.
Trade routes, later, carried Islam more evidently to distant shores like West Africa and other parts of Southeast Asia. Scholars, merchants, and ordinary believers became ambassadors of the faith, spreading it through knowledge, character, and diplomacy. This happened over a long period of time. From Andalusia to India, Islam thrived not by coercion but by resonating with the hearts of people, offering them purpose, and unity.
Also, early Muslims were on a mission to spread the message to as many people as possible. They took da’wah to another level. They dedicated themselves to teaching Islam, its pillars and explaining and sharing the wisdom of the Qur’an and Sunnah. Muslims ensured that the message reached every corner of society. However, this flourishing of da’wah was only possible during times of peace and stability, when people could engage in dialogue, seek knowledge, and accept Islam without fear.
Historical Evidence of Spread of Islam
History itself stands as evidence against forceful conversion in Islam. If compulsion had been used, history would be filled with accounts of Christian martyrs resisting conversion. This is not the case. Instead, many non-Muslims welcomed Muslim rule, in Egypt as an example, over the harsh Byzantine rule.
Quran states clearly: “Let there be no compulsion in religion, for the truth stands out clearly from falsehood. So whoever renounces false gods and believes in Allah has certainly grasped the firmest, unfailing hand-hold. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:256)
Now that we have debunked their false claims about spread of Islam by that sword, here are some factual points of how Islam has spread.
Where Did Islam Spread To?
Islam spread initially through Futuhat to North Africa through the Rashidun Caliphate (7th century) and the Umayyad conquest (661–750 CE). As mentioned before, Egyptians generally welcomed Islamic rule over Byzantine rule.
In West Africa, Islam arrived via trans-Saharan trade routes around the 9th century, with the Mali and Songhai Empires (13th–16th centuries) adopting and promoting the faith.
Southeast Asia embraced Islam primarily through trade, with Muslim merchants from the 12th century influencing kingdoms like Malacca (15th century). Indonesia became the largest Muslim nation without a single battle.
In India, Buddhist rulers such as Lhachen Rinchan Bhoti, also known as Rinchan Shah, converted to Islam after studying it. Islam spread through early Arab traders (7th century), multiple futuhat (11th century), and the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate (1206) and the mighty Mughal Empire (1526). Islam’s spread under the Mughals was a mix of political rule, cultural influence, and personal choice.
Turkey became a Muslim-majority region following the Turkic migrations and the rise of the Seljuks (11th century), well before fall of Constantinople in 1453 CE.
Islam spread to parts of Russia primarily through Volga Bulgaria and the Golden Horde. In 922 CE, Volga Bulgaria officially embraced Islam after its ruler converted following diplomatic ties with the Abbasid Caliphate. This made it the first Muslim state in the Russia. Later, in the 14th century, Uzbeg Khan of the Golden Horde accepted Islam, leading to its widespread adoption among the Mongols and influencing Russian territories under their rule. Over time, Muslim communities grew through trade, migration, and cultural exchanges increasing Islam’s presence in different parts of Russia.
Spread of Islam: Truth and Conviction
Spread of Islam was not through coercion but through its moral principles, justice and wisdom. Yes Muslims charged military conquests. The main objective of these conquests were:
1) Economic: to secure more fertile land and goods.
2) Expose as many people as possible to the message of Islam.
3) Strategic expansion and defence against the oppressive nearby states.
4) Eliminating oppression and spreading justice and order.
Military conquests were typical of any empire at the time. And even with these conquests or Futuhat, conversion to Islam came about many years after, as Muslims continued to live among others. The narrative that Islam was spread by the sword is as baseless as the claim that aliens built the pyramids- an attempt to dismiss an undeniable reality: the power of truth and conviction.
Final Thoughts
Islamic conquests were far more restrained compared to other historical empires. Unlike the Mongols or Crusaders, who often committed mass slaughter, Muslim armies, with some rare exceptions, integrated local populations, preserved cultures, and granted religious freedom. In some cases, even defeated rulers, like the Christians in Spain such Theodemir (Tudmir) or Hindus in India, continued to hold power under Muslim rule.
If Islam really spread by the sword, how is it that it remains the fastest-growing religion and that youth continue to convert to Islam till this day
This interesting video details the spread of Islam to Jerusalem: