Source: IranRadioIslam: Salaam friends and welcome to the second and concluding part of our special feature on the Emphasis of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) on Dialogue and Reasoning for the promotion of Islam.
Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) was indeed the most courteous ever person. He was polite with the followers of other religions, and held dialogues with them to convince them of the truth of Islam. He did not force anybody to become Muslim, because such a conversion is useless, since real faith is from and heart and with conviction.
When the Christians of Najran in Yemen sent a delegation to Medina to argue with him regarding the true faith, he allowed them to hold their religious gatherings in a corner of the Masjid an-Nabi, and for several days engaged with them in rational discourse, regarding Prophet Jesus (PBUH) and other common issues. When they stuck to their intransigent belief, God revealed the famous ayah of Mubahela (ayah 61 of Surah Aal-e Imran) challenging them to a unique contest to invoke the curse of God on the liars. And the next morning he entered the field, only with his nearest and dearest ones, that is, daughter Hazrat Fatema, son-in-law Imam Ali and two little grandsons, Imam Hasan and Imam Husain (peace upon them).
The Christians at once gave up their challenge and decided to make truce with Islam, and the Prophet accepted, without forcing them to become Muslims.
This is how Islam spread, through dialogue and discussion, and not through force, violence and the sword.
Categories: Accepting Islam, Asia, Islam, Saudi Arabia