MISCONCEPTION 7: Embrace Islam or Die

Points:

(a) That’s what Boko Haram and ISIS do.

(b) Muhammad made similar declarations.

REFUTATION

(a) Till the Last Day, the sources of Islam will remain the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW). Boko Haram, ISIS, Al qaeda and other anti-Islam mercenary groups do not have the mandate to speak for Muslims not to talk of Islam as a faith. Even an Islamic scholar does not speak for Islam if his speech is not in-line with the spirit of Islam as exemplified by the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his companions. Besides, statistics show that Muslims are the major victims of the activities of these mercenaries.

(b) The instruction the Prophet (SAW) gave the Muslim forces was, “When you meet your enemies who are polytheists, invite them to three courses of action. If they respond to any one of these, you also accept it and withhold yourself from doing them any harm. Invite them to Islam…If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizya. If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your hands. If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah's help and fight them.” For proper understanding of the concept of Jizya, see ‘MISCONCEPTION 6’. 

Neither the Prophet (SAW) nor his companions ever killed a person on the grounds of not being Muslim (apostasy aside). On the contrary, Islamic history is awash with instances showing the tolerance of Muhammad (SAW) and his companions for non-Muslims. A particular incident in the life of the Prophet (SAW) puts this misconception under question to rest: Once Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was taking rest under a tree when he was returning from an expedition and hung his sword on the tree. A non-Muslim came quietly, took hold of the sword and, addressing the Prophet said, "O Muhammad! Now who will save you from my hand?" The Prophet heard it, rose up from his seat and said: "Allah will save me." Hearing the name of Allah, he was overawed and the sword slipped from his hand. The Prophet rose up from his place, took the sword into his hand and questioned him: "Now who will save you from my hand?" He felt sorry and begged for mercy. The Prophet (SAW) asked him, “Will you embrace Islam?” The man said, “No, but I will not fight you and I will never assist any one to fight you”. The Prophet (SAW) let him go. He then went to his tribesmen and said to them, “I have come to you from a leader like no other.” It was reported that the man later embraced Islam. 

Another example is the Prophet’s address whenever he was dispatching an army. His instructions were thus: “I advise you ten things. Do not kill women or children or an aged, infirm person. Do not cut down fruit-bearing trees. Do not destroy an inhabited place. Do not slaughter sheep or camels except for food. Do not burn bees and do not scatter them. Do not steal from the booty, and do not be cowardly.” All these people who lives were protected by the Prophet (SAW) were non-Muslims. The Prophet (SAW) was also reported to have said, "Whoever killed a person having a treaty with the Muslims (dhimmi), shall not perceive the smell of Paradise though its smell is perceived from a distance of forty years." A dhimmi is a non-Muslim living within the borders of an Islamic state. 

Muslims can go on and on with scriptural quotes to prove that the statement ‘Embrace Islam or Die’ was never and has never been made by any individual among the pious predecessors of the Muslims and hence, it is a misconception.