This is a question that Muslims are often faced with particularly if they are keen on carrying out Dawah. It is a question that demands our attention and deep understanding. First and most importantly, we should understand that Islam was not spread by sword or force; however, the Islamic Empire or Khilaafat certainly was spread by force. Does that mean that Sahabah (RA) exercised force to make others Muslim? No, they did not. They not only conquered the lands, but also conquered the hearts of the natives by their personalities because they practiced what they preached. They only followed the teachings of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala and Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Narrated by Anas bin Malik

Allah's Apostle said, "I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.' And if they say so, pray like our prayers, face our Qibla and slaughter as we slaughter, then their blood and property will be sacred to us and we will not interfere with them except legally and their reckoning will be with Allah." Narrated Maimun ibn Siyah that he asked Anas bin Malik, "O Abu Hamza! What makes the life and property of a person sacred?" He replied, "Whoever says, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah', faces our Qibla during the prayers, prays like us and eats our slaughtered animal, then he is a Muslim, and has got the same rights and obligations as other Muslims have."[1]

The Sahabah (RA) believed that as Islam is the true word of Allah, everyone should accept it to be safe from hell fire. Whenever, they were faced with a non believing enemy, they presented three conditions according to the teachings of our Prophet Muhammad (SAW):



1. Either accept Islam,



2. Or remain non believers, but come under the flag of the Muslim Government and pay Jizya (the tax non believers pay to the Muslim Government)



3. And if both conditions are unacceptable, be prepared for a war.

Thus, they waged many wars against non-believing nations, but when they were victorious over them, they did not harm them, nor did they force them to convert to Islam. Instead, their pious and kind nature always won the enemies’ hearts and they accepted Islam by their own free will.

Sometimes, it is necessary to exercise pressure to extract results. Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet said, "Allah wonders at those people who will enter Paradise in chains." [2]

Who would be those people being brought in chains to Jannah? According to Sunan Abu Dawood, Kitab ul Jihad,

“This means that in a battle some unbelievers are captivated and led to Muslim territory in chains. Later on they embrace Islam and thus enter Paradise by virtue of their belief.”

The following hadith proves this point.

Abu Hurairah said “ The Apostle of Allah(SAW) sent some horsemen to Najd and they brought a man of the Banu Hanifah called Thumamah bint Uthal who was the chief of the people of Al Yamamah and bound him to one of the pillars of the mosque. The Apostle of Allah(SAW) came out to him and said “What are you expecting, Thumamah?”. He replied “I expect good, Muhammad. If you kill (me), you will kill one whose blood will be avenged, if you show favor, you will show it to one who is grateful and if you want property and ask you will be given as much of it as you wish. The Apostle of Allah(SAW) left him till the following day and asked him ”What are you expecting, Thumamah?” He repeated the same words (in reply). The Apostle of Allah(SAW)left him till the day after the following one and he mentioned the same words. The Apostle of Allah(SAW) then said “Set Thumamah free.” He went off to some palm trees near the mosque. He took a bath there and entered the mosque and said “I testify that there is no god but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and His apostle. He then narrated the rest of the tradition. The narrator ‘Isa said “Al Laith narrated to us”. He said “a man of respect and reverence.” [3]

So we must be very clear on this point that the Islamic Government grew in size by force but the number of Muslims increased because of the true word of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. If it were not the case, how would we justify the masses that are accepting Islam when there are no longer wars being waged against them?

Allah says: "Let there be no compulsion in religion`' [4]





References:

[1] Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 387

[2] Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 52, Number 254

[3] Sunan Abu Dawood, Kitab ul Jihad, 2679, Sahih

[4] Surah Baqarah, Verse 256, Quran