What You Need To Know About The Islamic Expansion And The Christian Crusades

We often hear critics use the Crusades to smear Christianity and define it as a religion of violence. Most Christians do not know how to respond to this, but the answer is simple: the so-called “Christian Crusaders” waged a religious war in Christ’s name, but their lives and behaviors and war acts contradicted Jesus’ teachings in the Bible.

But critics also rarely discuss why the Crusades began in the first place. Unbiblically, the Crusades were the incorrect response from Christians in light of the spread of Islam (AD 633-1017), or the Islamic Crusades. 

How did Islam spread after Muhammad died? The Islamic Crusades 

The detailed early expansion of Islam (AD 632-732)

Mohammad died in AD 632, but Islam’s growth had only just begun. Before his passing, Muhammad and his warriors had already succeeded in capturing the vast majority of the Arabian Peninsula and had made incursions on the Byzantine Roman Empire. William Federer covers this history in detail in What Every American Needs to Know about the Qur’an: A History of Islam & the United States.

After Muhammad’s death, the Islamic Crusades first took Mesopotamia, completely conquering the area in just a year. Through the conquests of the Islamic Caliph Omar, Syria, Egypt, and the Fertile Crescent were all conquered for Allah between AD 634-636. This Caliph, Omar, was responsible for the first Islamic overthrow of Jerusalem in AD 638.

It took only 14 years for Mohammed’s successors to dominate large areas in the Middle East region and North Africa by AD 644. Then Alexandria (AD 645) and Cyprus (AD 649) also fell to Islamic conquerors.

After its victories in the Middle East and North Africa, Islam targeted southern Europe and Asia Minor (AD 661). At the turn of the century, the Umayyad Caliphate began spreading Islam by the sword from the Iberian Peninsula to Central Europe.

Due to the might of this Caliphate, Islam was then fortified as a formidable militant force. Islamic warriors then proceeded to ambush the capital city of Byzantium, Constantinople, failing at their first attempt.

By AD 693, all of the North African Christian lands were captured. Spain and Portugal suffered the same fate after 80,000 Muslims invaded.

The Islamic expansion was only stopped by Charles Martell and his fellow Franks at the AD 732 Battle of Tours (at Poitiers) in France, or else the expansion would have continued throughout central Europe much quicker.

Altogether in the first hundred years of Islam’s existence, Muslims overthrew Arabia, Damascus, Syria, Persia, North Africa, the Holy Land, Spain, and desecrated the Byzantine Empire’s capital city of Constantinople (Federer, page 66).   

The expansion of Islam (8th Century- 10th Century) 

The loss to Charles Martell did not cause the Jihadis to give up; they instead continued to attack the French cities:

• Avignon in AD 734

• Lyons in AD 743

• Marseilles in AD 838

By AD 750, the followers of Mohammed had successfully occupied Spain, North African lands around the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Middle East.

Italy was also conquered; collectively, the Port of Rome (AD 813), Naples (AD 837), Sicily (AD 842), and Rome (AD 846) were sacked. And the island of Crete, formerly a part of the Byzantine Empire, remained under Islamic rule from AD 826-961. 

For nine long months, beginning in AD 878, Islamic fighters devastated the Byzantine city of Syracuse. In AD 902, Islam broke into the heart of Greece (Thessaly), bringing it to its knees. Italy also continued to be berated by Muslim armies, as evidenced by several major attacks:

• Northern Italy and Toulon in AD 889

• Genoa in AD 935

• Cosenza in AD 1010

• Sardinia in AD 1015

Why did Islam expand by militant power and not by willing conversions?

It is important to note that Islam did not spread through the preaching of the Quran and willing conversions of non-Muslims. The hatred and intolerance of infidels fueled the violent expansion of Islam, as well as the belief that Islam must rule the world, a teaching rooted in the Quranic and Hadith traditions (Read more about the ummah and expansion of Islam here).

Islam singled out the most influential religious group of all – Christianity. Islamic parties specifically attacked Christian groups, seen in the murder of English pilgrims in AD 921 and the crucifixion of Christians carried out by the Muslim ruler of Sardinia, Mujahid bin Abd Allah.

For a listed timeline of the Islamic Crusades and an explanation of the Crusades, read The Crusades in Detail.

How did Islam develop so quickly?

To answer this question, the shortest way is to study the legacy of Mohammed. His last words describe his legacy clearly: “I have been made victorious with terror.” (Bukhari 4.52. 220)

The Islamic Crusades are true to the Islam that Muhammad built during his life. Mohammed was a man of dark spiritual passion, political schemes, and a love of war and bloodshed.

He modeled to his followers that weakness was to be taken advantage of.

So when empires such as the Byzantine and Persian empires were failing, Islamic invaders were ready to pounce on the chance to plunder and forcibly kill or subjugate all people groups around them.

“O believers! Take neither Jews nor Christians as guardians—they are guardians of each other. Whoever does so will be counted as one of them. Surely Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.” Surah 5:51

The call to Jihad in the Quran

Muslims who were devout and obedient to Muhammad and the Quran were willing to fight in these Islamic crusades because of the commands from Allah in the Quran. These verses of the Quran and the example of Mohammed in the Hadith, calls Muslims to Jihad (holy war). 

“Fighting has been made obligatory upon you believers, though you dislike it…” Surah 2:216

“Fight those who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day, nor comply with what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, nor embrace the religion of truth from among those who were given the Scripture, until they pay the tax, willingly submitting, fully humbled.” Surah 9:29

Failure to perform Jihad leads to eternal punishment according to Surah 9:39: “If you do not march forth, He will afflict you with a painful torment and replace you with other people.” 

Martyrdom through Jihad is idolized by Muslims as it is the only assurance of paradise (Surah 3:157, Surah 3:169-170). Martyrs for Islam are promised more rewards than other Muslims, even forgiveness for their family members.

Learn more about Jihad here: The Uncomfortable Conversation: Talking with your Muslim friends about Jihad and Sharia Law.          

Why do the Islamic Crusades matter today? Why should Christians care about Islam’s growth?

As a Christian today, the history of the Islamic crusades is still important for us to learn from.

First, the rapid growth of Islam is not a thing of the past. According to Pew Research, Islam is now the fastest growing religion in the world, due to birth rates. Also Islamic mission (Da’awah) to non-Islamic countries is very aggressive and intentional. While the number of Christ-followers is higher than the number of Muslims, this reality will change if we as Christians do not act daily on the Great Commission.

Secondly, we must recognize that the Quran and Hadith have not changed with the times. Islam continues to confuse the lost, entangle the hopeless, and motivate the true Muslims to idolize death in the pursuit of martyrdom. Islam is actively trying to conquer territory much more important than lands– the souls of people.

As Christians, we have the perfect, unchanging Word of God, the Bible. We must write the words on our hearts and always be able to share the true message of love and hope through Jesus Christ to those who do not know Him yet. 

A prayer for being active in sharing the gospel with Muslims

Dear Jesus, We ask that you strengthen your church and provide us with courage as you use us to start a revival in the hearts of Muslims worldwide through your Spirit. Use me to share the gospel and proclaim Your name. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

Resources that assisted in this post: 

What Every American Needs to Know about the Qur’an: A History of Islam & the United States by William J. Federer, 2007.