Islam_in_Focus_text

is simply an appeal to those of such ari opinion to make
more careful studies of the case and present more responsi-
ble conclusions. However, they have to remember that what-
ever loot collected by the Muslims was very little compared
to what they had lost by confiscation, usurpation, persecu-
tion and other provocative action inflicted on them from the
hostile camps.
Whether or not the critics of these various grades accept
the point of view of this survey, the fact remains that Islam
is the Religion of peace in the fullest sense of the term; that
unjust war was never among its teachings; that aggression
was never in its tenets or tolerated by it; that foree was never
employed to impose it on anyone; that the expansion of Is-
lam was never due to compulsion or oppression; that misap-
propriation was never forgivable by God or acceptable to Is-
lam; and that whoever distorts or misrepresents the Islamic
teachings will do more harm to his own self and his asso-
ciates than to Islam. Because it is the Religion of God and
the Straight Path to Him, it survived under the most difficult
conditions, and it will survive to be the safe bridge to happy
eternity. Should these critics have any doubt about this fact,
they would be wise to study Islam, re-read the Qur'an, and
refresh their memory of history.
The fact that economic prosperity and eultural renaissance
followed the spread of Islam into the "conquered" regions
does not necessarily mean that the Muslims were after eco-