Haqiqatul-Wahi (The Philosophy of Divine Revelation) — Page 583
EPILOGUE-SIGNS 583 their days, they will never succeed in showing even a single sign. It is so because they have adopted artificial gods as deities. They are not followers of the True God. Islam is an ocean of miracles. It has never resorted to coercion, nor does it have any need for coercion. Earlier on, the sole basis for fighting was that the Quraish of Makkah had perpetrated grave atrocities against the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in Makkah; many of his companions were murdered. The Holy Prophet, may peace and bless- ings of Allah be upon him, himself was exiled from Makkah. Thus, owing to their extreme degree of wickedness and atrocities, they had become deserving of punishment for their crimes. Therefore, those who had drawn the sword were killed by the sword. However, out of extreme compassion, they were offered the option that if they chose to become Muslims their crimes would be forgiven. This was not compul- sion; they were left to decide as they wished. Can anyone prove that the sword was raised prior to their heinous crimes and mischief?1* The ignorant Christian missionaries and the Aryas, who harbour baseless malice against Islam, utter such things sheerly by way of fabrication, while the ignorant maulawis aid and abet them on account of their own ignorance. It is absolutely false to say that Islam spread by force of the sword. Islam spread by dint of the intrinsic beauties of its perfect teaching and mighty Signs. If Islam and Christianity were to be com- pared, it would be clearly seen that the God who Islam presents is Absolutely Perfect in His power, His majesty, and His holiness. He is One, Unique, and without equal; whereas the 'God' who Christianity presents is himself a weak and helpless created being who suffered a variety of cruelties at the hands of the Jews, was incarcerated and put 1. Indeed the sword was never raised. Instead, for as many as thirteen years, patience was demonstrated in the face of a variety of wanton cruelties and murders. After this, when they [i. e. the Makkans] exceeded all limits, per- mission was granted to confront them. It was, therefore, a defensive war waged to punish the habitual criminals and to rid the earth of murderous mischief-mongers. (Author)