It is a common misconception with some non-Muslims that Islam would not have millions of adherents all over the world, if it had not been spread by the use of force.
The following points will make it clear, that far from being spread by the sword, it was the inherent force of truth, reason and logic that was responsible for the rapid spread of Islam.
Islam has always given respect and freedom of religion to all faiths. Freedom of religion is ordained in the Qur’an itself:
All praise is for Allah, Lord of the worlds. He completed for us the Religion, perfected for us His blessing, and chose Islam for us as a Religion, commanding us to cling onto it at the time of death, as He says: “O you who believe, fear Allah as He ought to be feared, and do not die except while you are Muslims.” [Surah Aali ‘Imraan: 102]
This was the same instruction that Ibraaheem and Ya’qqob gave to their children: “Or were you witnesses when death approached Ya’qoob and he said to his children: ‘What will you worship after me?’ They said: ‘We will worship your God and the God of your forefathers, Ibraaheem, Isma’eel and Ishaaq – one God and to Him we submit as Muslims.’” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 133]
This research is the summary of a series of lectures delivered at the Imam University/Faculty of Shari’ah. They deal with important issues and aspects of Aqeedah
Imam at-Tahawi, may Allah have mercy on him, said in his great book: ‘Aqeedah at-Tahawiyah’:‘The deceased would benefit from the Du’aa of the deceased and from their Sadaqah.’Is this statement correct? We will clarify this as we progress in this research.
Ahlus Sunnah wal-Jama'ah did not disagree with one another in this issue; rather those who disagreed with this are the people of Bid'ah (innovation).
Sheik Islam b. Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, clarified this saying:
First: When a Muslim hears the call for prayer, he should rise up to the remembrance of Allah and not let anything take him away from answering that call. The Lord SWT said: In houses that Allah ordered to be built and His name to be mentioned in them mornings and nights, men who are not diverted by trade or selling from the Remembrance of Allah, pray, give alms, fear a day where hearts and eyesight’s are diverted in all directions. (24:36-37)
First: When a Muslim hears the call for prayer, he should rise up to the remembrance of Allah and not let anything take him away from answering that call. The Lord SWT said: In houses that Allah ordered to be built and His name to be mentioned in them mornings and nights, men who are not diverted by trade or selling from the Remembrance of Allah, pray, give alms, fear a day where hearts and eyesight’s are diverted in all directions. (24:36-37)