The reason for this is that leaning on something is only done when there is a need. If the preacher needs support—for example, if he is weak and needs to lean on a staff—then this is sunnah, because it helps him to remain standing, which is itself sunnah. Whatever assists in fulfilling a sunnah is also sunnah. But if there is no need, then there is no need to carry a staff.

Moreover, their reasoning that it symbolizes the fact that this religion was established by the sword is also open to objection.

For the religion was not spread by the sword. The sword is only used in relation to the religion when there is open confrontation: if the disbelievers refuse either to embrace Islam or to pay the jizyah, they are fought. But if they pay the jizyah, they are left alone. This is the view indicated by the evidence.

Furthermore, the Muslims did not conquer lands until they had first won hearts through calling people to Islam and demonstrating its virtues in word and deed. This is unlike our time today: we explain the virtues of Islam in words—if we explain them at all—but as for deeds, we ask Allah to grant the Muslims success in properly upholding Islam. When a foreigner sees the Muslim lands and observes in some Muslims traits that have no connection whatsoever to Islam—such as the prevalence of lying among them, widespread cheating, and the spread of injustice and oppression—he is astonished and asks: “Where is Islam?!”

In reality, lands were opened through Islam, not by the sword. The sword is used only when necessary: when they do not embrace Islam or pay the jizyah willingly while submitting, as mentioned previously.

Likewise, we do not use the sword except after attaining the capability to do so. But when