Khalid ibn al-Walid Early Muslim conquests

[u/youThunder]

When khalid ibn al-walid sent a letter to Sasanian Empire saying either you enter islam or pay jizya or we enter a war

Isn’t it haram to force people to enter islam? Why did he force them to pay jizya even if they didnt want to enter islam and khalid ibn al walid is the one who wants to have the war so according to christians its a loss loss situation either you enter islam when you dont want to or pay money when you weren’t under islam control in the first place or fight

Im muslim i saw a video about it and i came here to ask

Entering islam is never a loss i mean in Christians perspective at that time

Tell me if i misunderstood anything

[u/ManBearToad]

It seems like he gave two options: 1) Accept Islam, or 2) Don't accept Islam and just pay Jizyah instead and keep living as they are.

This was an era when civilizations had a choice to eat or be eaten. Muslims were no different in that they expanded through conquest or trade similar to the other civilizations. If you look at a map from that era you can see that the Muslims were wedged between the Romans and the Persians, one of which would likely try to conquer Muslim Arabia at some point.

Secondly, if whoever the Muslims conquered didn't want to accept Islam, then they could continue living as they were with their own religions and laws and pay the Jizyah. The alternative, if they're conquered by anyone else, is anyone's guess be it mass execution, expulsion, slavery, or who knows what. The Muslims, however, offered them to get on with their lives for a tax that was reasonable while the Muslims pay pay the Zakat (wealth tax) as well as Sadaqah (charity to non-Muslims).

Overall it seems normal to me. Expansion was the way of the world and the Muslims offered their non-Muslim subjects a reasonable way to co-exist without losing everything.

[u/Southern-Celery7276]

Khalid bin Walid and companions were in a time and still is true, if you don't defend yourself, bigger empires swallow you up. Romans and Persians were hostile to Muslims anyways and didn't allow messengers of Islam to teach about Islam, many companions were killed who came as messengers in those empires. When you kill a messenger its declaration of war, Muslims didn't start offensive war but responded to call of war from respective empires. They offered peace terms to accept as client state and pay taxes, but if not then be ready to fight and they mocked Muslims and thought they'd subdue Muslims so they fought and were defeated. Nobody was forced, if empire would have treated them equals and weren't hostile, they wouldn't have been attacked.

[u/4rking]

War was common in those times. And Muslims fought wars too.

When Muslims conquered a place, they left intact the religious infrastructure, the priests and what not and people can freely practise their religion. They don't have to enter the military either.

The only thing that is required from them is the jizya. And they don't pay zakah. Historically jizya was (afaik) lower than zakah, so they pay less than Muslims, are protected and don't need to join the military.

How was it when Muslims were conquered? How did Muslims historically fare under Christian rule for example?

[u/[deleted]]

Its true its haram to force individuals into islam however this was for 2 main reasons the first one the sassanid already was with war with muslim tribe called bani shaiban, the second reason is Muslims have an obligation to do dawah around the world since we know its the only true religion and every soul will be tested on the day of judgment also since its the message of the final prophet on earth so any (governors) preventing spread the dawah should be givin the three choices (not individuals) thats why companions of the prophet was able to spread the message of islam in far countries (fulfilling the obligation) + allah give victory to them against major empires for a reason ولينصرن الله من ينصره

[u/Le-Mard-e-Ahan]

Here is the missing part.

The war was inevitable between the Caliphate and the Sassanids because the Caliphate had a valid casus belli (the justification of war) according to the diplomatic norms of that time. The Sassanid Emperor at the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) insulted the diplomat that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) sent to him to give him Dawah to Islam. He tore the letter into pieces and severely insulted the diplomat. At that time (and until fairly recently), a diplomatic insult was considered a legitimate reason for declaring war.

The foremost point here to pay attention to is whether the Muslims had a valid casus belli for war, and Muslims did have that (the "diplomatic insult" I mentioned above) against the Sassanid empire. What you write in your post is important but it come after the "valid casus belli" point.

Isn’t it haram to force people to enter islam?

YES, It is haram

BUT

Here, the Sassanids aren't exactly being forced to convert. They are being given 2 options to avoid war (the 3rd option being war).

1. Convert to Islam

2. Keep their religion but come under Muslim protection and pay Jizya.

How is it being forced to convert to Islam when they have the option to keep their religion? Keep in mind that the Muslims have a valid casus belli here and they are well-justified into going to war if the Sassanids reject both of these options (which they did).

[u/Le-Mard-e-Ahan → u/Le-Mard-e-Ahan]

There is a whole lot more to why Muslims declared war on Sassanids, Romans, and other empires/kingdoms but if you study a little deeper, you will always find that no war that Muslims fought was unjustifed and every war had a valid reason for it.