The Stolen Land Of Iran

[MJB12741]

On that we do finally agree. All over the Arab world we have Muslims massacring each other rather than uniting as a civilized people striving to advance their culture & religion for peace.

Well, do we agree that while other religions advanced in morality & ethics over the ages, Islam regressed?

No. Though I will say that theologically speaking I think the institution of Itjihad which was phased out in the 13th and 14th centuries is much needed in order to allow Islam to better adapt to changing times and consensus among its population.

 

[Roudy]

You mean forced religious conversions. After all, that's what the Arab invasions were all about. Spreading Islam at the tip of the sword.

No. Islam was a minority religion in the Arab empire for some time. It would have been impossible for them to expand so fast if they sought forced conversion. Iraq was a majority Christian region for example (second largest religious grouping was Jewish), and they relied on Jewish and christian levies to invade and take over Spain, and Sassanian levies to invade Persia proper.

Having said that there were periods of persecution, particularly in What is now Iran against Buddhists, Hindus, Zoroastrians, etc, but even that would eventually end and was driven mostly by the invading generals. Obviously policies can change over time, but the early Empire largely adopted the pluralistic Sassanian model of handling religious diversity.

Nah, Arabs ATTACKED Iran, just like they did other empires and states and shoved Islam down their throats, after looting, raping, killing, and destroying everything in sight (also known as "Jihad"). And that goes for most of the countries that Muslims falsely declare "converted" to Islam. Those that weren't attacked and converted willingly, was out of fear of the consquences of what the invading Muslim Jihadists had done to those that didn't "cooperate".

Muslim conquest of Persia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Muslim conquest of Persia, also known as the Arab conquest of Iran[1] led to the end of the Sassanid Empire in 644, the fall of the Sassanid dynasty in 651 and the eventual decline of the Zoroastrian religion in Iran. Arabs first attacked the Sassanid territory in 633, when general Khalid ibn Walid invaded Mesopotamia (what is now Iraq), which was the political and economic center of the Sassanid state.[2] Following the transfer of Khalid to the Roman front in the Levant, the Muslims eventually lost their holdings to Iranian counterattacks. The second invasion began in 636 under Saad ibn Abi Waqqas, when a key victory at the Battle of Qadisiyyah led to the permanent end of Sassanid control west of Iran. The Zagros mountains then became a natural barrier and border between the Rashidun Caliphate and the Sassanid Empire. Owing to continuous raids by Persians into the area, Caliph Umar ordered a full invasion of the Sassanid Iranian empire in 642, which was completed with the complete conquest of the Sassanids by mid 644. The quick conquest of Iran in a series of well coordinated multi-pronged attacks, directed by Caliph Umar from Medina several thousand miles from the battlefields in Iran, became his greatest triumph, contributing to his reputation as a great military and political strategist.[3]

 

[MJB12741]

The near total annihilation of the indigenous Zoroastrian Persians by the follwers of peaceful Islam is the greatest genocide ever committed on this earth.

You mean forced religious conversions. After all, that's what the Arab invasions were all about. Spreading Islam at the tip of the sword.

No. Islam was a minority religion in the Arab empire for some time. It would have been impossible for them to expand so fast if they sought forced conversion. Iraq was a majority Christian region for example (second largest religious grouping was Jewish), and they relied on Jewish and christian levies to invade and take over Spain, and Sassanian levies to invade Persia proper.

Having said that there were periods of persecution, particularly in What is now Iran against Buddhists, Hindus, Zoroastrians, etc, but even that would eventually end and was driven mostly by the invading generals. Obviously policies can change over time, but the early Empire largely adopted the pluralistic Sassanian model of handling religious diversity.

Nah, Arabs ATTACKED Iran, just like they did other empires and states and shoved Islam down their throats, after looting, raping, killing, and destroying everything in sight (also known as "Jihad"). And that goes for most of the countries that Muslims falsely declare "converted" to Islam. Those that weren't attacked and converted willingly, was out of fear of the consquences of what the invading Muslim Jihadists had done to those that didn't "cooperate".

Muslim conquest of Persia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Muslim conquest of Persia, also known as the Arab conquest of Iran[1] led to the end of the Sassanid Empire in 644, the fall of the Sassanid dynasty in 651 and the eventual decline of the Zoroastrian religion in Iran. Arabs first attacked the Sassanid territory in 633, when general Khalid ibn Walid invaded Mesopotamia (what is now Iraq), which was the political and economic center of the Sassanid state.[2] Following the transfer of Khalid to the Roman front in the Levant, the Muslims eventually lost their holdings to Iranian counterattacks. The second invasion began in 636 under Saad ibn Abi Waqqas, when a key victory at the Battle of Qadisiyyah led to the permanent end of Sassanid control west of Iran. The Zagros mountains then became a natural barrier and border between the Rashidun Caliphate and the Sassanid Empire. Owing to continuous raids by Persians into the area, Caliph Umar ordered a full invasion of the Sassanid Iranian empire in 642, which was completed with the complete conquest of the Sassanids by mid 644. The quick conquest of Iran in a series of well coordinated multi-pronged attacks, directed by Caliph Umar from Medina several thousand miles from the battlefields in Iran, became his greatest triumph, contributing to his reputation as a great military and political strategist.[3]

 

[Osomir]

Nah, Arabs ATTACKED Iran, just like they did other empires and states and shoved Islam down their throats, after looting, raping, killing, and destroying everything in sight (also known as "Jihad"). And that goes for most of the countries that Muslims falsely declare "converted" to Islam. Those that weren't attacked and converted willingly, was out of fear of the consquences of what the invading Muslim Jihadists had done to those that didn't "cooperate".

Do you get off on making stuff up, or are you simply desperately seeking to validate a deep rooted hatred that you feel insecure about?

 

[Roudy]

The near total annihilation of the indigenous Zoroastrian Persians by the follwers of peaceful Islam is the greatest genocide ever committed on this earth.

No. Islam was a minority religion in the Arab empire for some time. It would have been impossible for them to expand so fast if they sought forced conversion. Iraq was a majority Christian region for example (second largest religious grouping was Jewish), and they relied on Jewish and christian levies to invade and take over Spain, and Sassanian levies to invade Persia proper.

Having said that there were periods of persecution, particularly in What is now Iran against Buddhists, Hindus, Zoroastrians, etc, but even that would eventually end and was driven mostly by the invading generals. Obviously policies can change over time, but the early Empire largely adopted the pluralistic Sassanian model of handling religious diversity.

Nah, Arabs ATTACKED Iran, just like they did other empires and states and shoved Islam down their throats, after looting, raping, killing, and destroying everything in sight (also known as "Jihad"). And that goes for most of the countries that Muslims falsely declare "converted" to Islam. Those that weren't attacked and converted willingly, was out of fear of the consquences of what the invading Muslim Jihadists had done to those that didn't "cooperate".

Muslim conquest of Persia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Muslim conquest of Persia, also known as the Arab conquest of Iran[1] led to the end of the Sassanid Empire in 644, the fall of the Sassanid dynasty in 651 and the eventual decline of the Zoroastrian religion in Iran. Arabs first attacked the Sassanid territory in 633, when general Khalid ibn Walid invaded Mesopotamia (what is now Iraq), which was the political and economic center of the Sassanid state.[2] Following the transfer of Khalid to the Roman front in the Levant, the Muslims eventually lost their holdings to Iranian counterattacks. The second invasion began in 636 under Saad ibn Abi Waqqas, when a key victory at the Battle of Qadisiyyah led to the permanent end of Sassanid control west of Iran. The Zagros mountains then became a natural barrier and border between the Rashidun Caliphate and the Sassanid Empire. Owing to continuous raids by Persians into the area, Caliph Umar ordered a full invasion of the Sassanid Iranian empire in 642, which was completed with the complete conquest of the Sassanids by mid 644. The quick conquest of Iran in a series of well coordinated multi-pronged attacks, directed by Caliph Umar from Medina several thousand miles from the battlefields in Iran, became his greatest triumph, contributing to his reputation as a great military and political strategist.[3]

Interesting how some try to whitewash the violent history of Islam and it's prophet.

 

[Roudy]

Nah, Arabs ATTACKED Iran, just like they did other empires and states and shoved Islam down their throats, after looting, raping, killing, and destroying everything in sight (also known as "Jihad"). And that goes for most of the countries that Muslims falsely declare "converted" to Islam. Those that weren't attacked and converted willingly, was out of fear of the consquences of what the invading Muslim Jihadists had done to those that didn't "cooperate".

Do you get off on making stuff up, or are you simply desperately seeking to validate a deep rooted hatred that you feel insecure about?

You need to ask yourself what your motivation is in lying about the history of Islam and how it was spread. Islam = Arab imperialism and nationalism

 

[Osomir]

The near total annihilation of the indigenous Zoroastrian Persians by the follwers of peaceful Islam is the greatest genocide ever committed on this earth.

Supporting evidence?

That's also a pretty disgusting stance to take given the horrors that other populations have suffered via genocide. It is pretty disturbing that you would trivialize them in such a way.

 

[Osomir]

The only source that you guys have cited has been wikipedia, which, consequently is also a source that disagrees with the arguments that you are trying to make. Forgive me for not being particularly impressed.

 

[Roudy]

The near total annihilation of the indigenous Zoroastrian Persians by the follwers of peaceful Islam is the greatest genocide ever committed on this earth.

Supporting evidence?

That's also a pretty disgusting stance to take given the horrors that other populations have suffered via genocide. It is pretty disturbing that you would trivialize them in such a way.

Supporting evidence? Why don't you ask any Iranian, even the devout ones, if Islam came to Iran violently through invasion and attack at the tip of the sword of Islam, or Iranians "peacefully converted". I bet you will be laughed at. You seem strong in some areas of history yet extremely weak in others. Perhaps you are letting your bias cause you to lie.

 

[Osomir]

Supporting evidence? Why don't you ask any Iranian, even the devout ones, if Islam came to Iran violently through invasion and attack at the tip of the sword of Islam, or Iranians "peacefully converted". I bet you will be laughed at. You seem strong in some areas of history yet extremely weak in others. Perhaps you are letting your bias cause you to lie.

Have you ever even met a Zoroastrian? I talk with them every day. And nice lack of supporting evidence by the way.

 

[Roudy]

The only source that you guys have cited has been wikipedia, which, consequently is also a source that disagrees with the arguments that you are trying to make. Forgive me for not being particularly impressed.

Questioning Wikipedia, eh? Pick and choose your battles. It doesn't do you any good questioning undisputed historical facts about the Arab Islamic conquest of Persia.

?ARAB ii. Arab conquest of Iran ? Encyclopaedia Iranica

During the first two centuries of the Muslim era (7th-8th centuries A.D.) the Sasanian state and much of the east Iranian region in Central Asia were conquered by the mostly Arab armies of the early Islamic state.

iranian.com: Khodadad Rezakhani, Arab invasion of Iran lies at the root of the Iranian inferiority complex

The Arab invasion of Iran is at the root of the Iranian inferiority complex. It is an important issue, and it may be not that unfair to suggest that it has indeed left deep scars in the Iranian psyche. The mechanics of it, as your average Iranian understands it, is that Iran was governed by a splendid empire (the Sasanians) who ruled over most of the Near East and Central Asia. They had fought the Romans for 400 years and had either defeated them or had kept them at bay. They were fierce defenders of their religion, Zoroastrianism, and they were powerful, glorious, cultured, and honest, all traits to be desired. However, in the middle of the seventh century CE, a group of nomadic Arabs, under the new banner of Islam, suddenly poured out of the desert sands of Arabia and in one swift move, defeated the Sasanian army and invaded the whole of their empire.

Zoroastrians Remember the Seventh Century Islamic Invasion of Iran

20 June 2007



arabs_in_iran.gif (72312 bytes)

LONDON, (CAIS) -- Iran has a sumptuous history and cultural heritage, that is on a ventilator in present times.

Zoroastrians Remember the Seventh Century Islamic Invasion of Iran - Latest Archaeological and Cultural News of the Iranian World

The Islamic regime in Iran has not shown much appreciation for the pre-Islamic history of Iran and its brand of Iranian nationalism takes no pride in those majestic times of yore. In fact Iran has a written history that dates back to 3200 BCE. Under Cyrus the Great and Darius the Great, Iran became the world's first superpower of the entire world that had been discovered till then.

Today Zoroastrians are a close-knit community. Their endangered status having brought them together. There are a few Zoroastrians in Iran and many live in the U.S and India. Many of the few Zoroastrians that are left, gathered in Chak Chak to remember the Islamic invasion of Iran and the heroes of that dark hour. One of those heroes was Nikbanou, the daughter of the last king of Persia, who resisted the Islamic invaders.

Majority of Iranians, Muslims or non-Muslims take great pride in their pre-Islamic roots. But it is the government that continues to despise the pre-Islamic heritage and the Zoroastrian religion. After the 1979 revolution, life has become an ordeal for everyone, but especially for the Zoroastrians, Christians, Jews and Baha’i communities; as the Islamic regime has shown close to no tolerance for other faiths.

 

[Osomir]

No one is disputing that the Arab Empire invaded the Sassanian Empire, so I'm not sure what your point is.

 

[Roudy]

Supporting evidence? Why don't you ask any Iranian, even the devout ones, if Islam came to Iran violently through invasion and attack at the tip of the sword of Islam, or Iranians "peacefully converted". I bet you will be laughed at. You seem strong in some areas of history yet extremely weak in others. Perhaps you are letting your bias cause you to lie.

Have you ever even met a Zoroastrian? I talk with them every day. And nice lack of supporting evidence by the way.

I doubt you talk to "Zoroastrians". Ha ha ha. Another lie. How about you show us your sources?

HISTORY OF IRAN (PERSIA)

The Arab conquests: 7th century

One of the most dramatic and sudden movements of any people in history is the expansion, by conquest, of the Arabs in the 7th century (only the example of the Mongols in the 13th century can match it). The desert tribesmen of Arabia form the bulk of the Muslim armies. Their natural ferocity and love of warfare, together with the sense of moral rectitude provided by their new religion, form an irresistible combination.


Persia falls to the Arabs as a consequence of the battle of Kadisiya, close to the Euphrates, in 637. After their victory the Arabs sack the city of Ctesiphon (carefully sharing out the famous Spring Carpet). The last Sassanian emperor, Yazdegerd III, is five at the time. He and his court escape to the east, but he is eventually assassinated, in 651, at Merv. His name remains, even today, in use in the chronology of the Parsees. They number their years from the start of his reign in 632.

Meanwhile the Arabs win another victory over Persian forces at Nahavand in 641. They capture Isfahan in 642 and Herat in 643. Persia becomes, for a century, part of the Umayyad caliphate.






Read more: HISTORY OF IRAN (PERSIA)

 

[Roudy]

No one is disputing that the Arab Empire invaded the Sassanian Empire, so I'm not sure what your point is.

You're not sure? Well you made the false claim that Muslim Arabs didn't force Iranian Zoroastrians into Islam by invasion and aggression. I'm glad we settled that one. Perhaps while we're at it you can also admit that is how most of the countries that are Muslim today became so, at the tip of the "peaceful" Sword of Islam.

 

[Osomir]

HISTORY OF IRAN (PERSIA)

The Arab conquests: 7th century

One of the most dramatic and sudden movements of any people in history is the expansion, by conquest, of the Arabs in the 7th century (only the example of the Mongols in the 13th century can match it). The desert tribesmen of Arabia form the bulk of the Muslim armies. Their natural ferocity and love of warfare, together with the sense of moral rectitude provided by their new religion, form an irresistible combination.


Persia falls to the Arabs as a consequence of the battle of Kadisiya, close to the Euphrates, in 637. After their victory the Arabs sack the city of Ctesiphon (carefully sharing out the famous Spring Carpet). The last Sassanian emperor, Yazdegerd III, is five at the time. He and his court escape to the east, but he is eventually assassinated, in 651, at Merv. His name remains, even today, in use in the chronology of the Parsees. They number their years from the start of his reign in 632.

Meanwhile the Arabs win another victory over Persian forces at Nahavand in 641. They capture Isfahan in 642 and Herat in 643. Persia becomes, for a century, part of the Umayyad caliphate.


Read more: HISTORY OF IRAN (PERSIA)

How is any of this in any way relevant to what we are talking about?

Have you even been following the conversation?

 

[Osomir]

You're not sure? Well you made the false claim that Muslim Arabs didn't force Iranian Zoroastrians into Islam by invasion and aggression. I'm glad we settled that one. Perhaps while we're at it you can also admit that is how most of the countries that are Muslim today became so, at the tip of the "peaceful" Sword of Islam.

Invasion isn't the same thing as forced conversion, and most of the Sassanian Empire wasn't Zoroastrian. Just like most of the Sassanian Empire wasn't Persian.

 

[Roudy]

Supporting evidence? Why don't you ask any Iranian, even the devout ones, if Islam came to Iran violently through invasion and attack at the tip of the sword of Islam, or Iranians "peacefully converted". I bet you will be laughed at. You seem strong in some areas of history yet extremely weak in others. Perhaps you are letting your bias cause you to lie.

Have you ever even met a Zoroastrian? I talk with them every day. And nice lack of supporting evidence by the way.

I don't think you associate with Zoroastrians. Here, how about you show this to your Zoroastrian "friend" and get back to me with their opinion? LOL

The History of Zoroastrians after Arab Invasion; Alien in Their Homeland

By: Dr. Daryoush Jahanian
Presented at the North American Zoroastrian Congress in San Francisco 1996
and the World Zoroastrian congress in Houston 2000-2001

The history of Zoroastrians of Iran after the Arab conquest can be summarized in three words: oppression, misery and massacre.

The Arabs invaded Persia not only for its reputed wealth, but to bring into the faith new converts and to impose Islam as the new state religion. They were religious zealots who believed that “in a religious war if one kills or is killed, one’s place in heaven is secure”. To impose the new religion, the old culture and creed had to be destroyed. Therefore first they targeted the libraries, universities and schools. Only few examples reflect the enormity of the calamity that befell upon Persia at 630 A.D. Although some events and figures appear legendary, nevertheless are considered to be true, as they have been recorded by many historians of the Islamic era.

When the Arab commander (Saad ibn-e Abi Vaghas) faced the huge library of Cteciphon, he wrote to Omar: what should be done about the books. Omar wrote back “If the books contradict the Koran, they are blasphemous and on the other hand if they are in agreement with the text of Koran, then they are not needed, as for us only Koran is sufficient”. Thus, the huge library was destroyed and the books or the product of the generations of Persian scientists and scholars were burned in fire or thrown into the Euphrates.[1] By the order of another Arab ruler (Ghotaibeh ibn-e Moslem) in Khwarezmia, those who were literate with all the historians, writers and Mobeds were massacred and their books burned so that after one generation the people were illiterate.[2] Other libraries in Ray and Khorassan received the same treatment and the famous international University of Gondishapour declined and eventually abandoned, and its library and books vanished. Ibn-e Khaldoun, the famous Islamic historian summarizes the whole anihilation and conflagration:” where is the Persian science that Omar ordered to be destroyed?” Only few books survived, because the Persian scholars translated them into Arabic.

To conquer Persia and force Islam, the Arab invaders resorted to many inhumane actions including massacre, mass enslavement of men, women and children, and imposition of heavy taxes (Jezyeh=Jizya) on those who did not convert. By the order of “Yazid ibn-e Mohalleb” in Gorgan so many Persians were beheaded that their blood mixed with water would energize the millstone to produce as much as one day meal for him, as he had vowed.[3] The event of blood mill has been quoted by the generations of Iranian Zoroastrian families to this day, yet our books of history have been silent about it. In recent years however, disenchanted Iranian scholars have been writing about the blood mills and in fact this event has been reported by our historians of the Islamic era. On the way to Mazandaran the same commander ordered 12,000 captives to be hanged at the two sides of the road so that the victorious Arab army pass through. Upon arrival, many more were massacred in that province and heavy tax (Jizya) was imposed on the survivors who did not convert. Some historians have estimated that a total of 400,000 civilians were massacred.[4] Even though the figure appears inflated, nevertheless it reflects the extent of atrocities committed by the Arab conquerors. After the battle of Alis, the Arab commander (Khalid ibn-e Valid) ordered all the prisoners of war be decapitated so that a creek of blood flows. When the city of Estakhr in the south put up stiff resistance against the Arab invaders, 40,000 residents were slaughtered or hanged.[5] One of the battles by the Arabs has been named, Jelovla (covered), because an estimated 100,000 bodies of the slain Iranian soldiers covered the desert.[6] It is reported that 130,000 Iranian women and children were enslaved and sold in the Mecca and Medina markets and large amount of gold and silver plundered. One respected Iranian scholar recently wrote, “Why so many had to die or suffer? Because one side was determined to impose his religion upon the other who could not understand ”.[7] The Arabs colonized, exploited and despised the population. In this context they called the Persians “Ajam” or mute. They even named the Iranian converts “Mavali” or “liberated slaves”. According to the Arab classification, this caste could not receive wages or booties of the war; they were to be protected and at times rewarded by their protectors. Mavalis were not allowed to ride horses and sometimes they were given away as gifts. One of the Umayyad Caliphs was quoted “milk the Persians and once their milk dries, suck their blood”.[8] With so much atrocities committed in the name of religion, how much truly the Arab invaders knew about Islam? By the order of Omar 1000 warriors who knew one Ayah of the Koran were to be selected to receive the booties of the war. But the problem was that among the Arab army there were not even 1,000 soldiers who could read one Ayah.[9]

During the Islamic period many Iranian poets and scholars attempted to revive the Persian culture and history and reintroduce the national identity to the despised nation. Zoroastrian poets, Daghighi and Zardosht Bahram Pazhdoh and the Persian poets as Ferdowsi, Hafiz and Khayyam among many are to be mentioned here.

As the Arabs destroyed and burned all the non-Arabic and Pahlavi writings, Iranian scholars found a solution to save the books that was to translate them into Arabic. One of the rare books that survived the carnage was “Khodai-namak”, a Pahlavi writing of the Sassanian era. It was translated into Arabic by Dadbeh “Ebn-e-Moghaffaa” under the title of “The Manner of the Kings.” Ferdowsi versified and named it “Shah-Nameh.” In 1991 Unesco recognized this book as the masterpiece of epics and Ferdowsi in Iran was glorified by the International Community.

Ferdowsi by versifying the “Khodai-namak” as his book of “Shah-Nameh,” a new Persian poetry almost devoid of Arabic words truly revived the Persian language, and by renewing the legend of Iranian victory under the leadership of Kauveh, the blacksmith and Fereidoun over the blood thirsty Zahhak the Arab, gave a new sense of pride and identity to the Iranians. He certainly does not exaggerate when recites”
“I labored hard in these years of thirty
I revived the Ajam (mute) by this Parsi.

Hafiz a beloved mystical poet always refreshes the love of Zoroastrian faith in his poetry by calling himself a follower of the old Magi. In a poem he reminds the readers “ In a garden renew your Zoroastrian faith” and:
“In the monastery of the Magi, why they honor us
The fire that never dies, burns in our hearts”[12]

Khayyam who was a poet, scientist, astronomist, mathematician and a true intellectual, abhorred the Moslem clergy and their blind adherents. There were however, intellectuals whose views were resented by the clergy and because of that they even received a dreadful death. Among them Dadbeh who was burned alive, and Sohravardi, the founder of school of illumination whose views were based on the teachings of Zarathushtra, and Mansour Hallaj are to be mentioned. Flame of the past glory could rekindle in the hearts of Iranians by a spark. Khaghani Sherwani on his return from Hajj Pilgrimage spent a night at the city of Baghdad. There, the ruins of palace of Anoushiravan, known as Kassra Hall inspired him to recite one of the masterpieces of Persian poetry reflecting the glory of the past and the history of Sassanian era.

Abstract: This is only a fraction of what actually happened to the Zoroastrians after the Arab invasion. The purpose of the presentation is not to generate hard feeling toward any people. Because no generation is responsible for the actions of past generations, although almost always they are unfairly blamed for. However, denial of historical facts is not an option either. The real goal in addition to presentation of an untold history is to make our community aware of their past history and the suffering and indignities that their ancestors received to preserve their religion, culture and identity. Once it is realized that nothing that we have inherited is to be taken as granted, our responsibility toward the young generation, the generation of the 21st century is better realized.

Due to continuous persecution, discrimination and massacre the population of Zoroastrians of Iran from an estimated five million at the turn of the fifteenth century dwindled to only seven thousand at the middle of the nineteenth century. At this time the French ambassador to Iran wrote “only a miracle can save them from total extinction”. By the support of their Parsi brethren and their own faith, the Zoroastrian community in Iran revived and their fate turned around. Today they are well educated and enjoy the respect and trust of the general population for their reputation of “scrupulous honesty”.

 

[Roudy]

You're not sure? Well you made the false claim that Muslim Arabs didn't force Iranian Zoroastrians into Islam by invasion and aggression. I'm glad we settled that one. Perhaps while we're at it you can also admit that is how most of the countries that are Muslim today became so, at the tip of the "peaceful" Sword of Islam.

Invasion isn't the same thing as forced conversion, and most of the Sassanian Empire wasn't Zoroastrian. Just like most of the Sassanian Empire wasn't Persian.

Please you are making yourself look very ignorant now. ALL Arab invasions were to spread Islam. You forget that Islam is not only a religion, but an ideology and way of life. That is what makes it incompatible with Western Civilization and democracy.

 

[Osomir]

Once again you are ignoring the fact that most Sassanian citizens weren't Zoroastrian. Not sure why you continuously make that error when I've pointed it out to you multiple times now.

From your own source by the way:

Coerced conversion was accordingly rare, the only significant exception being Qoṭayba b. Moslem’s campaign in Transoxania towards the end of the first Islamic century.

IRAN ix. RELIGIONS IN IRAN (2) Islam in Iran ? Encyclopaedia Iranica

And Muslim was the general who I already mentioned previously in the thread. Your own source supports everything that I have said.

 

[Roudy]

Iran?s Zoroastrian community remembers the Arab invasion - fravahr.org

Iran’s Zoroastrian community remembers the Arab invasion
Monday 18 June 2007
CHAK CHAK, Iran (AP) — Dressed in white to symbolize purity, a priest recited from the Zoroastrian holy book at a shrine as members of this ancient pre-Islamic religion marked what they see as one of the most bitter events in Iran’s history: the 7th century Arab invasion of Persia. The Arab invasion changed history for Iran: Islam was imposed as the new religion, replacing Zoroastrianism, whose followers were dispersed. Thousands of Zoroastrians — from Iran’s small remaining community and from India, the United States and other countries — gathered at this mountain shrine this week for five days of ceremonies that ended Monday, commemorating the event.

«We have all gathered at this sacred place to pray Ahura Mazda», he said, using the Zoroastrians’ name for God. «We are also here to remember Nikbanou and what happened to our ancestors by the Arab invaders.»

Belivani spoke to the crowd in modern Persian, before reciting the verses from the Avesta, the faith’s holy book, in an ancient version of the language.

According to legend, Nikbanou, the youngest daughter of the last king of the Persian Empire, took shelter in the mountain and prayed to Ahura Mazda for help from the attackers. Miraculously, the mountain opened up and gave her protection. Near the shrine, a slowly dripping spring emerges from the mountain, giving the site its name — Chak Chak means “drip drip” in Persian. The legend says the spring is the mountain shedding tears in remembrance of Nikbanou. An immense tree stands nearby, said to have grown from Nikbanou’s cane.