Requesting the Shaykh’s answer to the doubt that Islam spread by the sword.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : They fight people and kill people. Naturally, the answer does not need to be compared to what they do, for there is no proportion. But as is known rationally: Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al-‘Az al-Hanafi, in discussing their statements with their intellects, until the argument is established against them with rational proofs. Is it correct to say to them: This is the religion of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), which is considered the religion of truth that brought the happiness of humanity. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) wants to spread this religion, so He established methods and cosmic laws for this spread. Among these cosmic laws is spreading the religion by the sword. The purpose of this is that some people do not know where their interest lies, and they do not accept this religion through persuasion and peaceful means, if that expression is permissible. So Allah (Mighty and Majestic) wants to bring them into His mercy despite their noses, because they did not accept the peaceful methods and the da'wah paths. So Allah (Mighty and Majestic) legislated this, or among the wisdom in legislating this fighting by the sword is to drag those disbelievers who do not want to enter the religion of Allah despite their noses. And after that, what happened to many of the prisoners who were taken captive during the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and in the battles he campaigned in, after they entered captivity and saw the leniency of Islam, they accepted this Islam, were convinced by it, and adopted it as their religion. So what do you say, O Shaykh, about this presentation or this statement?
The Shaykh : This statement is irrefutable.
The questioner : An irrefutable statement!
The Shaykh : Yes. Focus in the minds of the Western or Eastern disbelievers that Islam did not spread by the sword, even if the sword is used. And the hadith we mention on many occasions:Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 10:95, this hadith should, as is the rule, "be interpreted in light of the other hadiths and the verses as well." In the Noble Qur'an: [Al-Baqarah 2:256], which the disbelievers take offense at against us: they only take offense at something that does not exist in Islam.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : So Islam is not as the common people in our region of Sham say: "Hedwali Zakarat" (a local phrase implying a simple, direct approach). When they hold demonstrations, they call out: The religion of Muhammad is the religion of the sword, the religion of Muhammad is the religion of the sword. No, the religion of Muhammad is the religion of argument, the religion of peace and leniency. But: the use of force is necessary by the consensus of the rational, whether they are Muslims or disbelievers, in some cases. Islam, as we know, gives the disbelievers the choice between one of three things, so it does not force them into Islam. It leaves them on their religion. From here, the pillar upon which the enemies of Islam build their argument is invalidated. They imagine that because the religion of Muhammad is the religion of the sword, it means: "If you submit, we will not kill you." No, the answer is not like that. The answer is: We invite you to Islam. If you become Muslim, you have what we have and we have what you have, so you are our brother. And if you do not become Muslim, this is a matter in which you have the choice. If you wish to live under our system, under our state and our laws, welcome, but: you must pay a tax which is called in the language of the Shari'ah: the jizyah. No, if you want to sit among us by force, then before you is killing. This detail, when presented to any ignorant person who is not stubborn, will not find a way to deny it at all, because we will say: "Bring us a state that permits—do we go on like this?—".
The questioner : ... I think we go on like this.
The Shaykh : - From here, is there no way? - There is no state that allows an individual among the residents living in its state to live by the system of his own country.
The questioner : Very good.
The Shaykh : This is an impossible matter.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And this is the good thing about them, do you not see now?
The questioner : The people of the country.
The Shaykh : So look at the difference now between Islam and the other nations. But these disbelievers here, because of the priests and monks who used to spread among their peoples and children propaganda against Islam, which contradicts the reality of Islam, they grew up and matured and aged with an inverted understanding of Islam. In Damascus, we were ruled by the French, so the missionaries would come and discuss with the shaykhs, taking some verses:, "This is how they fought them!!" So when do you fight us, people? So we come and clarify to them what? We explain to them the issue of when fighting takes place. So at that time, they are silenced and they retreat, and they are unable to speak a word. So when we explain Islam in this way, their objection falls away, with an explanation of the difference between the reality of Islam with its original system, and these laws in which they live.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : This is all that comes to my mind now.
The questioner : Then, my Shaykh, some people also mentioned that if the disbelievers do not want a certain law and it is in their favor, they polish it and decorate it. The same law, the same details, if it is against them, they begin with those interpretations: rights and human rights and the like. Meaning, up and down, they want the thing to suit their side. And not as that wise poet said, a verse of poetry, truly good, they mention it. They said: "Killed what? Killed a beast in what do they say?"
The Shaykh : "A sin that is not forgiven."
The questioner : A sin that is not forgiven, and killing an entire people is a matter that requires consideration. And this is what is happening now. A Jew killed, what is his name: Kohen? I do not know what his name is? They raised the dust and did not settle it. They entered the mosque and killed hundreds, so it did not move a finger, neither from them nor from us. There is no power and no strength except with Allah.
The Shaykh : What brought what brought!!!
The questioner : And these disbelievers and these.
The Shaykh : The Christians and the Jews, for fourteen centuries, lived with the Muslims and no one encroached upon them.
The questioner: Allah is the Greatest!
The Shaykh : Our Islam says:Sunan Abi Dawud 2760Sahih (Al-Albani).
The questioner: Allah is the Greatest!!
The Shaykh : Do they have such a thing?! Look at the Serbs now, they are killing women and old men, and they are killing women, virgins and non-virgins. Islam cannot even extend its hand to a woman at all.
The questioner : Allahu Akbar, but the minds, Subhan Allah, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : This statement is irrefutable.
The questioner : An irrefutable statement!
The Shaykh : Yes. Focus in the minds of the Western or Eastern disbelievers that Islam did not spread by the sword, even if the sword is used. And the hadith we mention on many occasions:
I was sent before the Hour with the sword; so that Allah may be worshipped alone, with no partner for Him
بُعِثْتُ بين يدي الساعة بالسيف ؛ حتى يُعبَدَ الله وحده لا شريك لهThere shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong.
لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّThe questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : So Islam is not as the common people in our region of Sham say: "Hedwali Zakarat" (a local phrase implying a simple, direct approach). When they hold demonstrations, they call out: The religion of Muhammad is the religion of the sword, the religion of Muhammad is the religion of the sword. No, the religion of Muhammad is the religion of argument, the religion of peace and leniency. But: the use of force is necessary by the consensus of the rational, whether they are Muslims or disbelievers, in some cases. Islam, as we know, gives the disbelievers the choice between one of three things, so it does not force them into Islam. It leaves them on their religion. From here, the pillar upon which the enemies of Islam build their argument is invalidated. They imagine that because the religion of Muhammad is the religion of the sword, it means: "If you submit, we will not kill you." No, the answer is not like that. The answer is: We invite you to Islam. If you become Muslim, you have what we have and we have what you have, so you are our brother. And if you do not become Muslim, this is a matter in which you have the choice. If you wish to live under our system, under our state and our laws, welcome, but: you must pay a tax which is called in the language of the Shari'ah: the jizyah. No, if you want to sit among us by force, then before you is killing. This detail, when presented to any ignorant person who is not stubborn, will not find a way to deny it at all, because we will say: "Bring us a state that permits—do we go on like this?—".
The questioner : ... I think we go on like this.
The Shaykh : - From here, is there no way? - There is no state that allows an individual among the residents living in its state to live by the system of his own country.
The questioner : Very good.
The Shaykh : This is an impossible matter.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And this is the good thing about them, do you not see now?
The questioner : The people of the country.
The Shaykh : So look at the difference now between Islam and the other nations. But these disbelievers here, because of the priests and monks who used to spread among their peoples and children propaganda against Islam, which contradicts the reality of Islam, they grew up and matured and aged with an inverted understanding of Islam. In Damascus, we were ruled by the French, so the missionaries would come and discuss with the shaykhs, taking some verses:
Fight them until there is no fitnah
قَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌThe questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : This is all that comes to my mind now.
The questioner : Then, my Shaykh, some people also mentioned that if the disbelievers do not want a certain law and it is in their favor, they polish it and decorate it. The same law, the same details, if it is against them, they begin with those interpretations: rights and human rights and the like. Meaning, up and down, they want the thing to suit their side. And not as that wise poet said, a verse of poetry, truly good, they mention it. They said: "Killed what? Killed a beast in what do they say?"
The Shaykh : "A sin that is not forgiven."
The questioner : A sin that is not forgiven, and killing an entire people is a matter that requires consideration. And this is what is happening now. A Jew killed, what is his name: Kohen? I do not know what his name is? They raised the dust and did not settle it. They entered the mosque and killed hundreds, so it did not move a finger, neither from them nor from us. There is no power and no strength except with Allah.
The Shaykh : What brought what brought!!!
The questioner : And these disbelievers and these.
The Shaykh : The Christians and the Jews, for fourteen centuries, lived with the Muslims and no one encroached upon them.
The questioner: Allah is the Greatest!
The Shaykh : Our Islam says:
If anyone kills a man whom he grants protection prematurely, Allah will forbid him to enter Paradise.
مَن قتل معاهدًا في غير كنهه ، لم يرح رائحة الجنةThe questioner: Allah is the Greatest!!
The Shaykh : Do they have such a thing?! Look at the Serbs now, they are killing women and old men, and they are killing women, virgins and non-virgins. Islam cannot even extend its hand to a woman at all.
The questioner : Allahu Akbar, but the minds, Subhan Allah, O Shaykh.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.