However...

However, deviation, superstition and sickness are not something that can be treated as respectable, and it is due to this that Islam has ordered idolatry to be uprooted from human society, even at the cost of warfare; if idol temples and their evil influences cannot be brought down and destroyed by peaceful means, then they should be uprooted by means of force [1] .

From what has been mentioned above, the answer to the venomous propaganda of the Church becomes plainly evident since a sentence more explicit than: “There is no compulsion in (acceptance) of the religion” which appears in the Qur`an, cannot be found in this regard.

Of course, for the purpose of distortion, these people focus their attention on the battles of Islam; however, a study of these battles clearly reveals that while some of these were purely defensive in nature, others – belonged to the category of Initiating Jihad – were not initiated with the objective of conquering lands and forcing the people into the religion of Islam but instead, for overturning incorrect and oppressive regimes and providing an opportunity to the people to freely study and review the religion and modes of social lifestyle.

Islamic history is a living testimony to the above since it has been observed repeatedly that when the Muslims conquered cities, they would grant freedom to the followers of other religions (just as they would do to the Muslims) and these people even performed their acts of worship and observed their religious ceremonies unhindered.

If a limited tax, by the name of Jizyah , was taken from them, it was for the purpose of providing social security and covering the expenses of the security forces, since their lives, properties and womenfolk were under the protection of Islam. Those people who deal with the history of Islam, are aware of this reality and even the Christians, who have written books on Islam, have acknowledged this issue.

For example, in the book “ La Civilisation des Arabes” we read: “The Muslims were so lenient towards the other communities that the religious leaders of these communities had the permission to organize their own religious gatherings.” In some historical accounts it has been reported that a group of Christians, who had arrived in the presence of the Noble Prophet for the purpose of research and investigation, performed their religious ceremonies in the Mosque of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a) in the city of Medina – freely and unchecked!