Muslims Achieved Exceptional Progress During a Time of Peace — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 2
Introduction
In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding Muslims Achieved Exceptional Progress During a Time of Peace.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: II – Commencement of Jihad by the Sword and Fundamental Discussion on Jihād
Pages: Book pp. 51–52 (PDF pp. 75–76)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [Desire of the Holy Prophet (sa) to Reconcile Rejects the Notion of Compulsion] | Next: [Hundreds of Disbelievers Remained Averse to Islam at the Victory of Makkah] »
Historical Account
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in large numbers. In any case, 3,000 Muslims participated in this war. After this, in Dhū Qa‘dah 6 A.H., the Ghazwah of the Treaty of Ḥudaibiyyah took place, in which 1,500 Muslims participated. Thus, in the last Ghazwah of this four to five year period of war, the Muslim population went from 300 to 1,500, and if the number at the Ghazwah of the Ditch is made a basis, it can be said that this population touched 3,000. After this, an era of peace began, which lasted for approximately a year and three quarters. However, the astonishing speed at which Islām progressed in this era of peace can be discerned from the number of Muslims present at the Ghazwah of the Victory of Makkah, which took place in Ramaḍān 8 A.H. Historians agree that the number of the Muslim army in this Ghazwah comprised of 10,000 souls. Hence, in a four to five year period of war, the number of Muslims who were able to partake in Jihād had reached 1,500, or at most 3,000, but in an era of peace spanning a year and three quarters, this number reached 10,000. This proves that these wars were not for the purpose of forceful propagation, rather, they were actually a hindrance in the progress of Islām. The reason being that as soon as this war came to an end, Islām began to spread rapidly. In actuality, during a state of war, many people were unable to pay due attention to Islām. Many people of weaker dispositions feared the opposition of the disbelievers as well, and even Muslims themselves found very little opportunity for actual preaching, due to their engagement in war. However, when war ceased, on the one hand, people received an opportunity to reflect upon Islām and the fear of weaker dispositions, was relieved. On the other hand, preaching efforts took on pace, and the result of this is before us.
Hundreds of Disbelievers Remained Averse to Islām at the Victory of Makkah Another proof of the fact that these wars of the Holy Prophetsa were not for the forceful propagation of Islām, is the Ghazwah of Makkah. When Makkah was conquered at the hands of the Muslims; and the Holy Prophetsa and his Companions entered Makkah as victors, at that time, although various people from the Quraish of Makkah became Muslim at their own will, many among the Quraish remained firm in their disbelief and there was absolutely no hostility whatsoever towards them. Thereafter, as the hearts of people were gradually opened towards Islām, they continued to become Muslim at their own will. The number of such people was in the hundreds, rather, perhaps ran into the thousands. As such, Ṣafwān bin Umayyah, who was the
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2)
Section: II – Commencement of Jihad by the Sword and Fundamental Discussion on Jihād | Navigation: « Previous: [Desire of the Holy Prophet (sa) to Reconcile Rejects the Notion of Compulsion] | Next: [Hundreds of Disbelievers Remained Averse to Islam at the Victory of Makkah] »