How Islam spreads so Quickly?

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Islam spreads very quickly within 40 years to many territories and areas of the world where there were Sassanid Empire, Persian Empire and Roman Empire. This makes many thinkers, scholars and historians thinking and trying to find out its reasons and explanation. This was not achieved by military force or any other reasons. It is because of the principles, virtues and justice of Islam. Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him started to fight against racism from day one.

The modern world and the world leaders are still struggling against racism. The evil hand of racism is disturbing peace and tranquillity of the world and is taking away the innocent lives of women, children and elderly people all over the globe. Dr. Ahmad al-Dubayan Director General of the Islamic Cultural Centre, London, mentioned about the incident happened recently in the New Zealand  Mosques  terror attacks. (See Terrorist Attacks Mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand by Dr. Mozammel Haque).

Dr. Ahmad Al-Dubayan

Last Sunday, 24^th of March 2019, Dr. Ahmad Al-Dubayan, was delivering a lecture on the history of Islam and its relation with Europe. While delivering his lecture, he mentioned, “Talking about Islam in general and the relation of Islam in Europe etc. this is of course importance after the incident in Christchurch, New Zealand, which really made big grief everywhere in the world and the Prime Minister of New Zealand showed us, not only us, but showed everybody how societies and communities in the world can be united and can be put their hands together against evil, against racism, which is very important. Racism is evil everywhere and for everybody and unfortunately, it is still practised the tradition of history of many many years in the world. Discrimination also comes from racism and these are, of course, all are against the modern values, against the values of religion, against any human values and against human rights also.”

“I am going to mention something about the history of Islam. Within this context, some people may think this is of course conflict of religions and relation amongst people. They are based on conflict and the whole life and the whole history is, of course, conflict and fighting and battles which are not correct,” he said.

Prophet peace be upon him

sent ambassadors

Dr. al-Dubayan said, Let me take you back to the time of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu wa Sallam. He mentioned, “We all know that he left in the second half of the 6^th century. He died in the year 632 C.E. and he actually preached only 23 years. The revelation came to him at the age of forty. Forty years he was just like normal person lived in Makkah and after that he lived there only ten years. Of course, he sent ambassadors. Ambassadors went to all these years. One letter from him to show – ‘I am the prophet and this is the message I have for all of you. And follow me and Allah Subhanahu wa Taala will give you guidance; you will live in peace and Allah Subhanahu wa Taala will accept you and forgive your sins.’ This was the contents. This is one of the survival letters we have from the Prophet. This is the copy of the letter. This was sent to Egypt at that time. You will find this just as a call to introduce Islam. This is not saying – ‘I am going to kill you or conquer your lands.’ This is just a letter of allegiance.”

The ICC chief also mentioned, “Some of them accepted the message and followed and some of them did not accept and rejected. It was during the life-time of the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam. Then during the four Caliphs after him Islam moved to Arab peninsula only moved to Egypt to cover Arab peninsula. After the four Caliphs, Islam spread to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Egypt and then it stopped. During these days the four Caliphs and the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam himself, there was not even one single church or temple demolished or destroyed. History does not tell us any contrary or anything happened during these days. The four Caliphs ruled about 30 years; the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam ruled in Madinah ten years; so together 40 years. That was the result of 40 years. During the days of the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam he dealt with the Jewish community in Madinah; he dealt with the Christian community in north and south Yemen. The four Caliphs dealt with Jewish communities, Christian communities, Zoroastrian communities and also other people, asabiyah, in Iraq,” mentioned the ICC chief.

Dr. al-Dubayan said, “Islam spread very quickly after this. Till today, many philosophers, thinkers and historians are busy thinking how Islam moved so quickly in this short time, at this rapid speed. When Islam came, you can imagine, there were the Sassanid Empire, Roman Empire and the Persian Empire. In the Arab peninsula, there were many tribes who always used to fight with each other. Islam came, united them together, call the message, they followed Islam from that moment.”

Islam is not only for the Arabs

“Islam itself is not only for the Arabs. The Qur’an is very clear about this. From the day one, the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam talked about the equality of mankind and human race; they are all the same, no supremacy, no superiority and no inferiority. They are all equals, all are the same. This is very clear and very sharp. Sharp in the Qur’an; sharp in the actions and speeches of the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam. Among the companions of the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam we will find some people who are not Arabs; Salman Farsi, for example, he is a Persian. Bilal, the one who called for prayer, he is among the few Abyssinian. He came from Africa. Abu Maymun, he is a Kurdish. Many people do not know there was a Kurdish companion of the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam. And also others from Rome, Suhayb ‘ar-Rumi’ or the ‘Byzantine’; he is a Roman. So they were different; from different people, lived together in the same society without any difference. Even if we follow the Hadiths, the Tradition of the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam we will find very very good examples from all of them,” he mentioned.

No Racism in Islam

Dr. Al-Dubayan also said there was no racism. He mentioned, “Racism is one of the things the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam started to fight from the year one and this is one of the reasons why the elite people of Arabia, Makkah, did not follow the Prophet from the beginning, because lot of poor people, ordinary people from the low class of the society were with him. So they said to him one day – ‘we will follow you but you have to get rid of all those people from the low class of the society. We are different. We cannot sit with you with this kind of poor people, like workers, slaves etc. If you want us to join with you, give us something special for us.’ The Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam refused because of Islam, this Faith of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala.  Allah sees us equal; no differences. He cannot reject them. There is a verse in the Qur’an telling the Prophet: ‘Never reject those people who come to you. They accepted the Belief; they follow the Path of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala; don’t reject them; they must remain always with you.’ This is one of the reasons actually why Arabs, many of them from the elite high class in the society, did not follow in the beginning.”

“In those days, among the Arab societies and tribes, there was racism; they were racist; racism was really very strong. Then among the tribes itself, say among the A class tribe; this is B class; this is C class; this is unfortunately something happened. All these tribes fought among themselves, with each other and they competed with each other every day. In many societies these type of competition you will find, people, well, we are up and they are down; we are high, they are down; lower than us, higher than us etc. which is not in the faith at all,” he explained the situation and atmosphere of the Arab society at that time.

Dr. Al-Dubayan said, “Anyway the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam did not make any difference or barrier among the people and companions. So when Islam moved out of the Arab peninsula it must really clash against the two powerful empires - the Persian one and the Roman one at that time. It resulted only after 40 years, Persia already part of Islam, Syria already; Egypt and North Africa. This was all within Islam within 40 years or less than that.”

“Now the question is: many historians asked: why Islam moved this quickly. How come Muslims took all these areas and how come these territories and these areas becoming Islamic within 30 years and these were areas of history. We did not forget the Persian Empire heritage, the Roman Empire and their Roman heritage and Roman administration and Roman rules, cities and governments everything. Even today in the European political life have some traditions from the Roman times. Even some names they follow, like for example, Senator in America, this is from Latin. During the Roman times they used to call the members of parliament or council senator,” he elaborated.

Dr. Al-Dubayan mentioned, “Of course there are lots of explanations, many theories, how come these areas, all of them, suddenly became Islamic. It is a big question. Now after this, say after one century, Islam reached here, two centuries it reached there; as we see today it covers all these; this is the Islamic world today and of course when we say Islamic world today we mean Muslims; it does not mean there is only Muslim there.  Muslims are now everywhere in the world - in the United States, South America, New Zealand and in China - where they are oppressed today, unfortunately, by the Chinese government.”

Was that by military force?

“The result of all that is: what we call it Islamic civilisation. Now the question is: How this has happened? Was that by military force? Are the Muslims stronger than others? Do they defeat all these empires? It is not possible; because they were only tribes and they were not well organised like the Romans and their armies. They were not well organised like the Persians and their armies. These empires were more organised; they had administration better than Arabs and Muslims. How did they do it? That is the question,” he raised himself the question – the question which is asked by many thinkers and historians.

Dr. al-Dubayan said, “Definitely it is not military. Especially if we go to Spain now Muslims moved from Gibraltar; they moved 5000 or 6000 people some say, how this happened? Spain itself was ruled by the Gothic king Roderic in those days. He was the king at that time. The king himself had armies to face 6,000 or 10,000 people. How come Spain became part of Islam easily? Now there are reasons; some historians try to find the reason.”

Principles and Values of Islam

It is the principles and values of Islam which attracted people to Islam. “Some of them said it is because of the principles, values and justice of Islam. Many people were oppressed around in Persia, in the Roman territories, North Africa - those people were oppressed and there were lot of problems in the society - injustice, no values; people actually paid taxes out of limits and everything. When Islam came many people accepted Islam because of the values and principles of Islam in those days. This is the reason and this explained how come Islam became just like a wind came to the borders of China and the borders of France,” he explained.

Spirituality of Islam

Dr. al-Dubayan mentioned, “Some historians say it is because of spiritual reason, the main reason. Islam presented something new, new idea about understanding the universe, about understanding the position of mankind in this life. As I explained before, some of you may be here, that Islam believes in life Hereafter. The Qur’an said about that.  This life is really temporary life and this is a life for testing; time for testing for everybody; you have to be ready and prepare yourself for the Hereafter where you are going to be judged. When you are thinking about this; you have to control yourself; you have to prevent yourself from evil things; you have to try to do your best to improve yourself to be a good person for yourself; for your family, for your neighbours, for everybody in the society. When Islam brought this values to the people; people loved them in millions and at that time they became Muslims directly.  This is an explanation of that.”

A New Society, a New System

“Another explanation is: some people they take them all these together as explanation. Islam brought a new society; a new system where there is law; the ruler himself or the governor cannot decide something about somebody without any proof; can not just put the person in jail. Don’t look at the present time of the Muslims today. I am talking about the glorious early period of Islam when Islam is implemented by the Prophet and by the Caliphs; the real Islam and also its principles. In the new society there is law; there is court; you live free, the people love this; you have your own faith; you have equality with everybody; you have equal chances with everybody; there is a law there; then the people became Muslims quickly. This explains to us how Islam becomes in one century moves like a wind everywhere in the world,” Dr al-Dubayan mentioned.