DAR AL HARB - U.S.A.: ISLAM SPREAD BY THE SWORD

Islam spread by the sword

Christopher Brice in his April 18 letter attempts to exploit the fact that most Americans have been taught little history in school. Unlike the spread of Christianity by unarmed missionaries who spread the good news and were more often than not killed for their efforts, Islam was spread by the sword.

The jihad began with the Battle of Mutah in AD 630 and continues to this day. In the East, country after country fell to Muslim armies, which were held in check by the Byzantines from AD 711 to 1453 but then swept on to reach Vienna in 1683, where the Christians held fast in a desperate battle. In the West, Muslim armies swept across North Africa through Spain and into France before Charles Martel turned them back at the Battle of Tours in AD 732.

Inhabitants of the conquered lands were encouraged to convert by ruthless anti-Christian laws. For example, any Muslim could immediately execute a Christian who did not step out of the Muslim's way. Any Christian who struck a Muslim was immediately executed, regardless of what the Muslim had done to the Christian. And then there were the special taxes on Christians.

In the early years of the United States, Muslims from North Africa preyed on American ships and enslaved American sailors and were only persuaded to stop when we went to war (Ask the Marines about the "Shores of Tripoli" in their song.) Now the targets are airplanes, markets, sky scrapers, and more. For the full story, I recommend "Jihad," by Paul Fregosi. A historical education is a good antidote for the idea that reasonable dialogue will end the war against Christians before Islam has conquered the world.

Harry D. A. Pratt


Pertinent Links:

1) Islam spread by the sword