Introduction
This topic aims at explaining how Islam was introduced to Europe in general and Eastern Europe in particular, and how it was developed and how it is viewed at the present age. Among the objectives of this topic is to defend what may some circulate as a justification to the fast growing of Islam and its followers in past and present times. From the oasis cities of Makkah and Madinah in the Arabian Desert, the message of Islam went forth with electrifying speed. Within half a century of the Prophet's death, Islam had spread to three continents. Islam is not, as some imagine in the West, a religion of the sword or did it spread primarily by means of war. It was only within Arabia, where a crude form of idolatry was rampant, that the Muslims was forced to defend themselves against the aggressions of those tribes who opposed the message of God and who persecuted the Muslims, prevented them from practicing their religion. However, according to the Divine teachings of Islam and prophetic Traditions the Muslims should ensure complete freedom to the adherents of the different religions such as Christians and Jews who are living under the Muslim rule, there. There is no compulsion in religion is one of the principles in this regard that should applied to everyone. As far as the lands outside is concerned which were conquered by the Arab armies in a short period its inhabitants became Muslim not by force of the sword but by the appeal of the new religion. It was faith in One God and emphasis upon His Mercy that brought vast numbers of people into the fold of Islam. The new religion did not coerce people to convert. Many continued to remain Jews and Christians and to this day important communities of the followers of these faiths are found in Muslim lands.
Moreover, the spread of Islam was not limited to its miraculous early expansion outside Arabia. During later centuries the Turks embraced Islam peacefully as did a large number of the people of the Indian subcontinent and the Malay-speaking world. In Africa also, Islam has spread during the past two centuries even under...
Introduction
...the mighty power of European colonial rulers. Today Islam continues to grow not only in Africa but also in Europe and America where Muslims now comprise a notable minority. One of the great aspects of the Islamic religion is its spreading out from its initial base in the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East to a host of areas in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Islam appealed to people in a variety of societies and cultures, bringing important changes as a result of contact while often in some respects merging with the established local belief.
On of the evidences which support the fact that Islam did not spread out by force is that the Muslim country of the biggest population is Indonesia while Muslims never invaded Indonesia. In the following part, we shall shed some light on the advent of Islam to Europe, Eastern European countries. For its noticeable case, Cyprus and Muslims there will have more focus then we will conclude this paper with reference to some key contemporary Islamic issues in Europe and European countries. It is sufficient to imagine the fact that the mission of spreading the religion of Islam was initiated just by one person that is the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Thus there is no room for anyone to claim that this religion which is now followed by one fifth of the population of the globe spread by force. This is besides the clear-cut facts that a large number of notables and famous persons who could not by any stretch of the imagination have been converted by force (examples: Abu Bakr, Umar Ibn al-Khatab, Talaha, al-Zoubeir, S'aad Ibn Abi Waqqas, Hamza, Musab, and Abderrahman Ibn 'Awaf). Moreover Muslims went through periods of weaknesses following their victories. Nevertheless, they remained Muslim. This means that they converted to Islam out of pure individuals choice. Finally, Islam is spreading out on a daily basis in all continents, including Europe and America, without there being any use of force. This is all happening at a moment when the means used by Muslims are very weak as is clear to everyone.
