In a nutshell: Islam spread through peaceful invitation, or “Da’wah,” rather than organized missionary efforts. Influential figures like the Prophet Muhammad and his companions shared the message through personal example, while Muslim merchants carried Islam across trade routes. Military conquests were typically aimed at securing freedom of belief, not forcing conversions.
How did missionaries spread Islam? Actually, this is a frequently asked question, not only by non-Muslims but also some Muslims may wonder whether Islam is a missionary religion or not. And do Muslims perform missions similar to those performed by members of other religions?
In this article, we will discuss the definition of missionaries. Additionally, we will answer some important questions including, Is Islam a missionary religion, What role did missionaries play in the spread of Islam? How did missionaries spread Islam? And how did Sufi missionaries spread Islam?
Missionaries And The Spread of Islam
Although Islam was classified by Professor Max Muller, the German orientalist, as one of the missionary religions, yet the Islamic religion does not use the same kind of missionary activities usually performed by other religions, such as Christianity.
Instead, the call to Islam is mainly done through “Da’wah” which is the Arabic word for invitation. In other words, unlike other religions, Islam was rarely spread through organized missionary groups.
However, the spread of Islam was mainly through highly influential and powerful Muslim characters that call the people to Allah in an appealing manner, away from all sorts of compulsion or the use of dishonest practices to entice people to become Muslims.
But before we proceed with answering these questions, it is crucial to clarify some concepts related to the definition of missionary activities and how the call to the Islamic religion differs from other religions.
Is Islam a missionary religion?
Professor Max Muller (1823-1900), the German orientalist, classified the world’s religions into two distinct groups: The missionary religions and the non-missionary religions. He classified Judaism, Hinduism, as well as Zoroastrianism as non-missionary religions, while he classified Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam as missionary religions.
This classification was based on his definition of a missionary religion as “a religion in which the spreading of the truth and the conversion of unbelievers are raised to the rank of a sacred duty”. According to him, it is the committedness of Muslims to the truth of their faith that has motivated them to convey the Islamic message to the whole world.
The Islamic Missionary Model “Da’wah”
So, in order to avoid misinterpretation, let us substitute the word “Islamic Missions” with the word “Islamic Da’wah”.
In contrast to churches, that mainly depended on Colonial activity followed by establishing the international missionary societies that worked on the translation of the Bible into local languages, publishing and freely distributing the Bible, and establishing schools that in fact alienate Indigenous peoples from their own cultures and beliefs.
In addition to providing them with Church propaganda materials, providing medical care in order to gain the trust of the Indigenous population, opening the way for public preaching and the establishment of churches.
Hansking, a Christian cleric, commented on the work of these organizations:
“Christian proselytizing in the Third World is not moral; it depends on force and exploitation of the poor social conditions in these countries. Religious proselytizing must take place in a climate free from pressure.”
Hence, it is clear that the real motives for embracing Christianity under colonial domination were due to social and economic reasons. This is in addition to defamation of the Islamic religion through publications, internet websites, and videos.
On the other hand, the methodology of Islamic da’wah or the peaceful invitation to Islam is very different from the methods used by the Church. No force, oppression, or deception is acceptable in the propagation of Islam.
Is Islamic Missionary Da’wah Compulsory?
Da’wah, or the call to Islam is (فرض كفاية – Fard Kefayah) which means if a certain group of people of the community do da’wah, then, this obligation is taken away for the rest of the members of the community.
However, because we are in an immoral age, Da’wah has become (فرض عين – Fard Ayn) on all the members of the Muslim community according to their knowledge and ability.
The Muslim Scholar Ibn Baaz said:
“At a time when there is a shortage of callers, when evil is prevalent and ignorance dominates, da’wah becomes fard Ayn on everyone according to their ability.”
How did missionaries spread Islam?
Now, let us explore What role did missionaries play in the spread of Islam?
Islam was rarely spread by organized missionaries but by highly influential and powerful individuals. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) himself and his close companions were strong and honest people whom everyone appreciated. This helped the initial propagation of Islam in its early years.
Historically, Islam was spread by different methods. The first call to Islam was through the ties of kinship. Later on, Islam was widely propagated through trading routes.
Although military conquests were also a factor in Islamic propagation, non-Muslims were always given the choice to peacefully live under Islamic jurisdiction without converting to Islam. Mostly, the Islamic principle of “no compulsion in religion” has been implemented following these conquests.
The role of military missions in Islamic spread
Both Christianity and Islam have seen a role for military conquest as a means of propagation of their faiths. However, this has been far more prevalent in Christianity than in Islam.
Nevertheless, the role of military conquests in the spread of Islam was mainly in the form of liberation conquests against kings and rulers who did not support the freedom of belief.
There was also extensive historical evidence supporting that Islamic conquests did not allow the compulsory entry of the conquered nations into Islam. On the contrary, keeping the cultural integrity of these nations was always encouraged.
Islamic spread through trade routes
The spread of Islam farther away from its birthplace was intimately linked to Islamic trade routes. The Islamic state dominated the network of the international trade routes connecting Asia to Europe (and to North Africa by sea).
With complete Muslim control of the western part of the Silk Road (Hareera Road) by the middle of the 8th century, any long-distance trade had to cross the Muslim lands, giving trade a principal role in the wider propagation of the Islamic religion.
Additionally, Muslim merchants carried the noble message of Islam wherever they traveled. This was attainable because of the Muslim introduction of “direct” trade, which is one of the most significant innovations of Islam.
Prior to Islam, trade was conducted through a group of local merchants who exclusively traded in their homelands.
In other words, traders before Islam acted as intermediary agents transporting goods from one carrier to another through short journeys, forming a trade relay.
Instead of relying on intermediaries, Muslims personally went across the entire length of the journey, which was crucial for the spread of the religion along these trade routes as well as at the destination. The spread of Islam was therefore strongly influenced by the social interaction that resulted from trade.
Modern Islamic Da’wah methods
In our attempt to answer the question, How did missionaries spread Islam? We shall not forget the role of modern technology in the spread of the Islamic faith.
Modern methods of spreading the Islamic religion are numerous. Satellite television channels, Islamic websites, Islamic publishing, educational institutions, and Islamic centers. Most of these methods also serve the Muslim community itself to a great extent rather than just reaching non-Muslims.
Sufi missionaries And the spread Islam:
Sufi missionaries spread Islam through a mix of proselytization, trade routes, and cultural outreach. Traveling along trade routes from Southeast Asia to Spain, they shared Islamic teachings, attracting diverse communities.
Charismatic dervishes used poetry, music, and dance to engage people, while Sufi orders became hubs for learning and spiritual guidance. Support from local rulers helped Sufism flourish, even amidst opposition from traditional scholars, making it a key driver in the global spread of Islam.
The Islamic missionaries And The spread Of Islam in Africa:
Islam spread in Africa through peaceful trade and cultural exchange. In the 7th century, merchants and scholars carried the faith across the Sahara and along East Africa’s Swahili Coast, where trade hubs like Zanzibar flourished. Muslim traders introduced Islam along caravan routes, and by the 10th century, many African kings, such as the ruler of Gao, embraced the faith, contributing to its widespread influence.
Read more: How did missionaries spread Islam in Africa?
Conclusion:
Islam spread primarily through peaceful “Da’wah” (invitation), a key aspect of the religion that differs from traditional missionary work seen in other faiths. While Islam was not spread by formal missionary groups, influential individuals such as the Prophet Muhammad and his companions led the way, inviting others to Islam through example rather than compulsion.
This method was often supported by trading routes, where Muslim merchants carried the message of Islam across regions. Additionally, military conquests in Islam were generally liberation-based, allowing people to live peacefully under Islamic rule without forced conversion, adhering to the principle of “no compulsion in religion.”
Sufi missionaries played a significant role in spreading Islam, particularly through their cultural outreach along trade routes from Southeast Asia to Spain. Using poetry, music, and spiritual practices, Sufis attracted followers to Islam, often aided by local rulers’ support.
The spread of Islam also accelerated through trade, with Muslim merchants introducing the religion across vast networks. In Africa, Islam reached through peaceful methods, such as trade and scholarly interaction, particularly in West Africa, where Muslim rulers and traders converted and promoted Islam. Modern methods, such as satellite TV and online resources, continue to spread Da’wah globally, reflecting Islam’s ongoing outreach efforts.
Appendix: Evangelism Vs Christianization, Are they the same?
While the word “Evangelism – التبشير” is commonly used nowadays interchangeably with the word “Christianization – التنصير”, they technically carry different meanings.
Evangelism or Al-tabsheer is linguistically derived from the word “bashara” which is to carry good tidings. In this context, Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, as well as all Muslims who follow him are on a mission to spread the word of Allah.
Allah Almighty says in Surah Surah Al-Anam, verse 48:
“And We send not the messengers except as bringers of good tidings and warners. So whoever believes and reforms – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve”.
(Sahih International).
While technically, Evangelism, as mentioned in encyclopedias, is “a religious, political, colonial movement that began to appear after the failure of the Crusades with the aim of spreading Christianity in different nations, in Third World countries in general, and among Muslims in particular, with the aim of tightening control over these peoples.”
The missionary ”Raymond Lull” was considered the first Christian to undergo evangelism following the failure of the Crusades in their mission, after he learned the Arabic language with difficulty, he began to enter the Levant, debating with Muslim scholars.
Ever since the fifteenth century AD, and during the Portuguese discoveries, Catholic missionaries moved into Africa, and later, English, German, and French Protestant missions started to arrive.
However, other researchers define Christianization as being: “an organized political, colonial, crusader movement that uses religion as a cover, aiming to remove Muslims and others from their religion, and convert them to Christianity, or to alienate them, and push them towards atheism, irreligion, and immorality, according to a well-studied, integrated approach based on exploiting all available material and moral means in all areas of life”.
To Sum Up!
Our main focus in this article was to answer the question, How Did Missionaries Spread Islam? Although organized missionary activity is not one of the Islamic spread methodologies, the peaceful call to the word of Allah remains the noble mission of each and every Muslim. This is done through actions rather than just words.
All through the history of Islam, the values of honesty, equity, justice, acceptance, and many other Islamic values and attributes have been the real factors favoring the fast spread of Islam to millions of people world wide.
Explore More?!
We appreciate your interest in exploring the Islamic religion! So, feel free to sign up for our newsletter, contact us in case you have any inquiries concerning the Islamic faith and practices, or simply drop us a line and we will contact you as soon as possible.
References
