The study of the phenomenal spread of Islam has tended to be dominated by historians who have assumed it to have been a concomitant of the Muslims political conquests. Yet a closer look reveals that in fact Islam has won its spiritual conquests in places where its political power was at the lowest ebb. Therefore it becomes essential to study to proselytising aspect of this religion independent of the political sphere.<-p>

To appreciate how deeply entrenched is this missionary zeal, the present study commences with examining the Prophet as preacher. The successful consolidation of the myriad warring tribes of Arabia into one was his singular achievement. The work discusses the subsequent spread of Islam in West Asia, Africa, Spain, Persia, Central Asia, among Mongols ad Tartars, in India, China and Malaya. Undoubtedly, there were political, social and economic factors that facilitated this spread. But on the whole, it was noncoercive. Its success in converting Jews, Christians, Hindus, as well as the followers of tribal religions is a tribute to the amazing and tireless efforts of its religious teachers.<-p>

The other intriguing aspect is the motives of the convents. The work examines evidences to ascertain what were the political, economic, social - other than religious - motives that were manifested. Also characteristic of Islam is the absence of missionary organisation, which confined missionary efforts to the zeal of individuals. Whether traders, merchants, saints or rulers, it is as individuals that they succeed against the more organised efforts of the Christian missionaries.<-p>

Hitherto Islam has suffered from the image of being a faith imposed by the sword. To help dispel this grossly unfair interpretation, this objective study, now reprinted, will be a singular contribution.<-p>