36 Consolidation of the Islamic Conquests
The Muslims liberated many countries and ruled them by Islam. Islam has commanded them to hold the reins of power and leadership. They are forbidden from being ruled by non-Muslims. Allah (swt) says in Surah al-Nisa,
“And never will Allah grant to the disbelievers a way (triumph) over the believers.” [An-Nisa, 4:141]..
Allah (swt) has bestowed the ‘Izzah upon the Believers. He I says in Surah al-Munafiqeen:
“But honor belongs to Allah,His Messenger (Muhammad (pbuh)) and to the Believers, but the hypocrites know not.” [Al-Munafiqun, 63:8].
However, Allah (swt) did not give them the might, nor had He given them the rule and the leadership until they had acquired an Islamic mindset. This mentality carried the idea of viewing the task of ruling as a means to implement Islam and propagate its Message, and not to possess a lust for power. Until they had acquired an Islamic mentality (having the ability to understand what the rule entailed and its responsibility before Allah) the authority to rule and look after the people’s affairs was kept away from them. The splendor of Islam was reflected in the actions of those rulers and in their words and it reached the people that they ruled over through the implementation of the Shari’ah. This inevitably resulted in convincing these people to the extent that they embraced Islam in crowds. The might, leadership and the rule then belonged to them too. Their countries became an Islamic household and part of the Islamic State.
The Islamic conquests were consolidated by ruling the conquered countries according to Islam, followed by the people’s adoption of the Islamic belief until the conquests of countries by the Islamic State was a given until the Day of Judgment. It detached its people from their former condition and ruling authority and transformed them from disbelievers to Muslims and their country from Dar ul-Kufr to Dar ul-Islam. This state of affairs remained intact until Islamic rule was destroyed. However, its people remained Muslims and their land remained Islamic even after the Islamic rule had perished and the authority of the State dissipated. Although the Islamic State is currently absent, the countries originally conquered by the Muslims continue to be Muslim lands and the people still remain Muslims, and this land still has potential for the return of Islamic rule and the spreading of its authority over its territory.