Was Islam spread by the sword?

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Opponents of Islam often argue that Islam was spread forcefully and blame the doctrine of Jihad for this. However, the answer to whether Islam was spread forcefully is not a simple yes or no.

Sharia prohibits forced conversion, following the ayah 2:256 from the Quran

Islam prohibits forced conversion as stated in the Quran

لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ ۚ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ لَا انفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ - 2:256

There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing. -2:256

Historians believe that forced conversions were rare in Islamic history, and most conversions to Islam were voluntary. Muslim rulers were often more interested in conquest than conversion.

This is evident as we can still see that there are large non-Muslim populations in lands

that were previously ruled by Muslims through Sharia.

Examples include more than 1 billion pagans in South Asia (Modern day India, Pakistan and Bangladesh), as well as the large Christian minorities in the Middle East. Large swathes of Eastern Europe was also ruled by the

Ottomans yet these lands still retain a Christian majority population.

As we can see Islam was definitely not spread through forced conversions and most people converted through their own will. While it is true that there were economic and political incentives to convert,

people still had a choice. It can be compared to the immigration system of most Western Countries now.

An example is that anyone with sufficient qualifications can apply to be a citizen of Canada and may be able to become a citizen as long as they promise to abide by the law of

the land. By becoming a citizen of Canada the person will be able to enjoy the benefits that the Canadian government provides to its citizens.

In the same way, any individual could convert to Islam and they would be able to enjoy the benefits the state provided to Muslims such

as lower taxes, more political freedom and the rights to carry arms.

However, we do have to remember that Islam is not only a religion but also a political, legal and economic system. This is where Islam was spread through the sword in the form of conquests

Whenever a Muslim leader and army went into offensive jihad to conquer new lands, they would give their opponents three choices:

1. Convert to Islam and make Islam the state religion
2. Accept Islamic rule but remain non-Muslim and pay Jizya Tax
3. Die in battle

If the opponents chose to convert to Islam or remain non-Muslim but accept Islamic rule, there would be no bloodshed and the new lands be part of Dar al-Islam. However if the opponents chose to have war, the winner would decide what would happen. If the Muslims won, the newly

conquered land would be part of Dar al-Islam, and if the Muslims lost, the non-Muslims would decide what would happen.

To sum it up, Islam as a religion was not spread forcefully, however, Islam as a political, legal and economic system was spread through conquests or treaties