Islam is a belief that is grounded on the teachings of the Quran and the prophetical teachings of Mohammad. In the 10th century, Islam was the prevailing religion, covering above a half of the identified world. It is one of the religions documented to have spread rapidly over a period of three centuries. Hence, it was influenced by several factors.
Religion ideologies and philosophy
The fact that Islam has held a dear place in the hearts of its followers supposes that force was not used to convert them. As observed in the world today, many Islam converts come from Christianity but never do Muslims convert to Christianity. Such observations are based on the ideology held and taught by the religion.
The Quran, their holy book has teachings that are moving with promises of better and realistic life in this world and after death (Arberry 12). The Islam sharia laws are inclusive and all-encompassing. They depict and cover the way of life of people, written and formatted in a way that accommodates all people. The Sharia laws appeared realistic than the laws that are taught in other religions and never followed.
Further, the unending efforts by the Muslims to spread their religion coined and ingrained in their hearts leaves a long lasting effect on the hearts of people who convert to it. The religion emphasizes on living and enjoying the good by living an exemplary life that appeal to diverse people throughout the world.
Tolerance to other religions
Despite the criticisms and prejudices against Islam by the western civilizations and Christians, Islam proved to be tolerant religion (Toynbee 246). Muslims are also recorded to have tolerated Christians to a higher extent according to the teachings in the Quran more than the Christians tolerated them.
For example, in the 17th century, Russian Christians exposed Muslims to harsh treatment as compared to the Ottoman’s treatment of conquered Christians. Muslims also were more persuasive in converting other religions to Islam. It is argued that, if Christians could have controlled vast regions like Islam did, some religions could have been exterminated due to brutal force applied by Christians.
Despite, the obligation of Muslims to use force to compel and exterminate other religions, they seem to have been more tolerant, that led to its rapid expansion. New converts were given time to learn and apply the principles of Islamic faith in life exhibiting how tolerant it was to people. Due to such process, local variations of pre-Islamic customs remained and were practiced in many areas all over the world.
Use of force
Although, many Muslims refute this claim, Islam used their religious obligation as explained in the Quran to forcefully spread their religion. Use of Jihad was common among the Islam fanatics that gave their life for the sake of their religion.
During the life of Mohammad, Islam was largely expanding through military conquests of neighboring cities and lands. Battles were fought and those conquered were either forcefully converted to Islam or killed. The rapid expansion of the Arab Empire is attributed to use of military force in the spread of Islam. This empire was ruled under sharia laws.
Trade
Started by Mohammad’s wife, Khadija who grew wealthy out of the spice trade, trade in spices created by Muslims first began along the routes that linked Yathrib and Mecca but later expanded rapidly along pre-existing route expanding from the Mecca center and with it the Islam religion spread parallel to the expansion of the spice trade (Crone 308).
This approach seemed more convenient not only to the trade preservation but also to people who bought the spices. The trade route passed through Islam territories and therefore, gave the Muslims chance to convert other people.
In addition, the Muslims revolutionalized the trade that was initially done by merchants and made it direct as they travelled long distances to exchange their products, reaching to people far away from their regions and converting them. The spices only thrived at particular regions that maintained the trade (Miller VII).
Works Cited
Arberry, Arthur, J. Aspects of Islamic Civilization. Westport, CN: Greenwood Press, 1977. Print.
Crone, Patricia. Meccan Trade and the Rise of Islam. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1987. Print.
Miller, James, I. The Spice Trade of the Roman Empire: 29 B.C. to A.D. 641. Clarendon, London: Clarendon Press, 1969. Print.
Toynbee, Arnold. A Historian’s Approach to Religion. New York: Oxford University Press, 1956. Print.