Islam and the Misconception of the Sword

The reader of this article will be surprised about some facts that he may hear for the first time. First of all, and before I elaborate in writing, I will present some of what the Christian British thinker; Thomas Carlyle has said in this matter. He mentioned that the truth spreads itself out in any way, as the circumstances require. Did you not see how Christianity used the sword sometimes? It is enough to know what Sharlman did to the Saxon tribes. I do not pay attention to whether truth is spread by the sword, the tongue, or in any other way. Let us leave the truth dominates by words, press or fighting…. let us leave it struggle and fight with its hands, legs, and nails because it will never be defeated. Nothing will be defeated unless it deserves that.

First of all: 

Is Islam a religion of peace or war?

Is the sword its only way to spread, or are there other ways based on persuasion and love?

These two questions carry the same meaning, is Islam a religion of peace or war?

Peace and Islam are derived from one word; peace (Assalaam) is one of the attributes of Allah (The Almighty).

 Muslims try to come closer to Allah - by calling him with this name - in praying and supplication, and they name their children with it (Abd-Assalam; the worshipper of Assalaam). 

It is also the word by which we end our prayers and return back into our daily life. 

If "peace" is the most important thing for all human beings on earth, peace has a very great value in the life after. Allah (The Almighty) named heaven as "the house of peace" "Dar Assalaam". Moreover, Allah and the angels' greetings to the inhabitants of Heaven are with peace; "Assalaam".

A very nice introduction that makes us rise up this question:

If Islam is against war, so why did Prophet Muhammad fight?

Islam is for sure against war, but when war imposes itself upon you and there is no way out of it, you will have to eliminate evil and tyrannical forces. This is actually what Jesus did although he said:

"39 Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 43 Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5: 39-44)

Despite this peace that Jesus used to teach his followers, when he felt that the Jews and evil forces had turned against him he said: "but now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one." (Luke 22:36)

This was his action even though his life as a prophet was three years only. So how would it be if it lasted longer than that?

He would have been engaged in violent wars to eliminate evil forces in this world just as the prophets of Israel did before him. The natural disposition of human beings hates bloodshed, but upright people from the days of Adam until today are few. Good and evil were present inside the first humans the earth has known; didn't Abel kill his brother for the sake of a woman? And when was that? When the number of human beings were no more than the number of one family.

The struggle between good and evil will continue as long as this Earth remains.

The American historian and philosopher Well Durant recorded the number of years of the wars held by the humans on this Earth; he found it to be: 3421 year, meanwhile the years of peace and armistice did not exceed 268 year.

Did you see the extent of the human being's power of evil? It is a disaster if life goes on like this.