1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

10 Questions

Some of my non-Muslim friends say that Islam, in its early stages, was spread by attacking other nations and by the sword. Is this true? If so, does it not contradict the principle that fighting is only allowed for self defense?
Amina Inloes
Some of my non-Muslim friends say that Islam, in its early stages, was spread by attacking other nations and by the sword. Is this true? If so, does it not contradict the principle that fighting is only allowed for self defense?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

The claim of your non Muslim friend is untrue. He might be influenced by wrong anti Islam propaganda.
Quran is very clear that (No compulsion in religion)(2:256). The Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) never forced any one to become a Muslim inspire of being the head of the state in Madina. Non Muslims lived free in their faith during his government.

We never fight to force people to become Muslims and we believe that I forced faith is invalid. We fight just to defend ourselves, our community and our faith when there an attack on us. Allah says in Quran (And fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but never transgress the limits, surely Allah does not like the transgressors)(2:190).

Muslims ruled over many countries e.g Indian subcontinent, Indonesia, Egypt and African countries but never forced people to b4come Muslims. That is why you find after centuries of Muslim rule, millions of non Muslims are still existing and free in their non Muslim faith. Muslims ruled India for ten centuries and find till today the majority of people there are non Muslims. Those who became Muslims opted themselves by themselves to embrace Islam because of the great teachings of Islam with out any force. Egypt after 1400 years of Muslims rule have till today millions of Copts. Theses are living examples of the freedom of faith in Islam.

Wassalam 
When the Mahdi arrives will I have to leave my family and join him and fight alongside him? What if I have no experience of fighting anyone?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

The sincere believers will obey the orders of Imam Al-Mahdi (AS) in every matter in their life. He will not order all the believers to fight. His aim is not merely fighting but only against the enemies of human beings who are the tyrants. He will clean the whole earth from tyranny and injustice and fill the whole earth with justice and fairness.

He will never ask people to do any thing which they do not know, so, if you have no experience in fighting, you will not be asked to fight, unless you go through suitable training which makes you able to fight. That also only fighting was required in your area, which is not confirmed in every area. We need to prepare ourselves to obey the orders of our Imam (AS) but we can never know now whether he will order us to fight against the enemies of human beings or to build  our societies and serve people.

Wassalam.
Who will Imam Mahdi (atfs) fight? Will he only kill those who fight him, or will he also kill all who disbelieve in him? If someone at the time wants to remain a non-Muslim and is not aggressive, will Imam Mahdi allow him to remain so?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Imam Al-Mahdi (AS) will not fight but only against those enemies who insist on fighting him. Non Muslims will never be forced to become Muslims. The Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and Imam Ali (AS) never forced any non Muslim to become a Muslim. Imam Al-Mahdi (AS) will be applying Islamic rules in the same prophetic way.

Wassalam.