A Critique of Professor Arnold G. Toynbee’s Understanding — Page 24
24 tremendously. Within a few days, a very large number of them took refuge under the banner of Islam. This grand hearted forgiveness by the Holy Prophet worked magic that the wounds of thousands of swords could never have accomplished. How great an injustice is it for an authority such as Toynbee to allege that the Holy Prophet made the people of Makkah accept Islam by the use of force and coercion. Lt was easy, no doubt, for Toynbee to write thi s. But he failed to tell us the details of what force was used, and on whom, and by whom, and where, and when all this took place. It was the assault by the sword of high morals, forgiveness, mercy, benevolent treatment, kindness, and generosity. This assa ult won over the hearts of Makkans, and they had no other option but to accept the troth of Islam. It was in reference to this great, miraculous change and amazing revolution that Lamartine, quoted earlier, had written so glowingly. He has acknowledged that the history of the world can present no one who can compare with the Holy Prophet. The manner in which he displayed his high moral qualities and good treatment, completely changed the people of Makkah. So, it is amply clear that the prophet’s success in conveying his message was due to his high moral qualities and coercion had no role to play in spread of Islam.