Preservation of Islamic Practice and Culture by Establishing Mu^i^ Quarters As stated above the Muslim army was required to live in the cantonments. Late». these cantO’iments were annexed to ,the civil quarters which ultimately resulted in the establishment of new cities These Muslim qu^rters or smilil colonies were established in the conquered territories m t{ie fornl of Model Islamic Towns in order to preserve Islamic practices and culture the puipose of such quarters was to save Muslit^s from the effect of non-Islamic culture and to show local non-Muslims the practical shape of Islamic society. These Muslim quatters attracted the local public towards Islam. It was the charm of ^sjam which ultimately caused them to accept it and to change thejr non-Islamic beliefs, traditions, culture and in many instances thQ« ianguage as well- Ail this cannot be done by force. Hearts and languages cannot be changed at the point of sword. If Muslim quarters had not been set-up at that tinne it would have been difficult for I^jamjc ways to prevail in the countries which are now proud to call t^emse|ves asMuslim States. Seeing the practical
258 Political and Cultural History of Islam
lives of Muslims their sense of equality, and high morals, the local
population was so attracted that they changed even their language.
Arabic was not the local language of Syria, Egypt and Iraq when
these places were conquered by Muslims. The love lor Allah His
Holy Prophet, His Last Book (the Holy Qur’an) caused the
inhabitants of these places, who accepted Islam, to change their
languages and treat the beautiful Arabic, the heavenl> language as
their own language raiher their mother tongue. In this way Hazrat
Umar’s (Rad.A) act of setting up Muslim quarters, ultimately became
the cause of the spread of Islam.
