“Allah the Exalted does everything for the purpose of education and nurturing. As the era of prestige is long-lasting and the strength and prestige of Islam lasted for centuries, with its conquests reaching far and wide, some foolish individuals have come to believe that Islam was spread by force. However, the teaching of Islam is:
لاَ اِکْرَاہَ فِی الدّیْنِ
[‘There should be no compulsion in religion.’ (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.257)]
“To prove the veracity of this matter, that Islam was not spread by force, Allah the Exalted brought forth the ‘Seal of the Caliphs’ [Khatam al-Khulafa] and set his task as ‘یضع الحرب’ [i.e., ‘he will abolish war.’], while also establishing لِیُظْھِرَہٗ عَلَی الدّیْنِ کُلِہٖ [‘that He may cause it to prevail over all religions’ (Surah as-Saff, Ch. 61: V. 10)].
“This means that he will establish the dominance of Islam over destructive ideologies through proofs and arguments, and he will put an end to war and disputes. Those who are waiting for a bloody Mahdi or Messiah are gravely mistaken.”
(Al Hakam, 10 July 1902, p. 3)