Was Islam spread by sword ...!

For centuries the Western world looked at Muslims with fear and hostility, false notions were spread and Islam was portrayed as a religion, which was spread by sword. If Islam was spread by sword, then why today when Muslims do not hold power Islam is still the fastest growing religion in the West �Europe and America.

In the words of Thomas Arnold  "Islam was not spread by sword, but the force of teachings of the Holy Quran and the character of the Prophet"

The era when Europe was living in dark ages and women were treated as slaves, Islam gave equal rights to all without any discrimination on the basic of colour, caste and sex.

There can be no bigger example of this than Bilal, an Abyssinian slave. Fourteen centuries ago this black Abyssinian (Abyssinia is now Ethiopia, in Africa) was appointed the first Muezzin by Prophet Mohammad. Even in twentieth century Europe, America and S Africa are prejudiced and Negroes have been mistreated, 1400 years ago the first person (Prophet appointed) to call the Muslim for prayer was Bilal. This equality and brotherhood was the concept Islam brought to the world and this single incidence is a slap on the face of the Western world who tirelessly criticize Muslims for being fundamentalists.

In India the Varna system exists till date and still today lower caste persons cannot fetch water from the well of upper castes. This is Islam; the religion, which outrightly rejects prejudices of colour and caste, and gives equality to all.

See. Character of Prophet and the Sahaba, Caliphs.