I dont know much about ottoman history but it seems to me that one of ottoman empire leaders Sultan Mehmet IV In July 1683 (thank you wikipedia
) officialy opened jihad (holly war) against Europe. I know there is more meanings of jihad. For example fight against myself (to be good muslim) and so on. But as far as I know jihad can be opened only as a defensive war - so did he mistaken when he opened it?
The correct word is Fisabelilah (fighting in the cause of Allah). I dont like using the word jihad, it has become such a political term nowdays.
Sultan Muhammed (Mehmet) was the leader who was mentioned in the book of hadeeth.
“salvation in the Hereafter for the first participants of Jihaad on this city (Constantinople), and their commander (Sultan Mehmet) as a better commander and their army as a better army”.
The wars between the Romans and the Muslims simply didn't start with Sultan Mehmet. It goes back to the days of the prophet.
The wars between Muslims and the Romans, and the Muslims and the Persians were undertaken during the time of Abu Bakr. When he became the Khalifa he opened two fronts, one against the Persian (sassanid empire) and the other against Byzantium Roman Empire.
Example: Battle of Yarmuk against the Romans, lead by Khalid bil Walid.
If you study the books of histories (Islamic history), which I suggest you do.
If you do ever read the book, keep in mind the book contains some narrations that are weak (not Sahih).
(The begining and the End by Ibn Katheer is an excellent book).
Then you will come to the conclusion that the war against Persians and Romans was not a defensive Jihad, rather offensive. It was the Muslims who provoked the Persians and the Romans into fighting.
I don't see any reason why Muslims need to be apologetic about the how Islam spread in the lands of former Persian and Roman empire.
The Sahabas (RA's) had a clear understanding that they will be fighting the Romans and the Persians.
That is the reason why Abu Bakr wasted no time in sending out armies against the Persians and the Romans, even though the Muslims at the time were weak, small in number, and were dealing with many internal problems.
The Prophet SWA spoke of defeating.
1. O my people! You are about to conquer Egypt. Keep the welfare of the conquered people in view. You shall have to abide by the divine covenant that their life and property and their honor should be protected.
2. Kisra (Khosrau, King of Persia) will die; there will be no Kisra after him, and Qaisar (Caesar, King of Rome) will die; there would be no Qaisar after him, but, by One in Whose Hand is my life, you will spend their treasures in the cause of Allah. 12
There are few other hadeeths concerning Persians and Rome, but you get the point.
Keep in mind, this is not how Islam spread in other place. Central Asians eventually adopted Islam after the invasion of Tatars.
The Tatars (Mongol/turks) eventually accepted Islam, even though they were conquers, as a result their people accepted Islam also.
Elsewhere, in the Indian Sub-continent, Malasya, Philliphines (up untill the time Spanish conquered the area) Indonesia. West Africa,etc These people eventually came to accept Islam, without any Muslim army going there or any wars being fought.
Present day it's only defensive wars against the Kuffars who are trying to conquer Muslim lands. So in places like Checnya, Somalia, Kashmir, Palestine, it is defensive Jihad.
To answer your question. Yes the war was opened to establish the rule of Allah SWT on the land. Establishing the rule does not mean forcing people into Islam. There is a clear distinction between the two. The people who undertook in Fisbaelilah against the Persians and the Romans, are according to us, the finest human beings after the prophets of Allah. The Sahabas (companions of the prophet), ruled with dignity, justice, and humility on the land. You can find the examples by studying about some of the Sahabas, such as Umar bin Al Khattab, Abu, Bakr, and the Sahabas who were appointed as governors, over newly annexed states.
This principle was kept alive by many later Muslim leaders. Just to give you an example.
This is the treaty between Sultan Mehmet and the Bosnians.
AHDNAMA OF THE FATIH SULTAN MEHMET
MEHMET THE SON OF MURAT KHAN, ALWAYS VICTORIOUS!
THE COMMAND OF THE HONORABLE, SUBLIME SULTAN'S SIGN AND SHINING SEAL OF THE CONQUEROR OF THE WORLD IS AS FOLLOWS:
I, THE SULTAN MEHMET - KHAN INFORM ALL THE WORLD THAT THE ONES WHO POSSESS THIS IMPERIAL EDICT, THE BOSNIAN FRANCISCANS, HAVE GOT INTO MY GOOD GRACES, SO I COMMAND:
LET NOBODY BOTHER OR DISTURB THOSE WHO ARE MENTIONED, NOT THEIR CHURCHES. LET THEM DWELL IN PEACE IN MY EMPIRE. AND LET THOSE WHO HAVE BECOME REFUGEES BE AND SAFE. LET THEM RETURN AND LET THEM SETTLE DOWN THEIR MONASTERIES WITHOUT FEAR IN ALL THE COUNTRIES OF MY EMPIRE.
NEITHER MY ROYAL HIGHNESS, NOR MY VIZIERS OR EMPLOYEES, NOR MY SERVANTS, NOR ANY OF THE CITIZENS OF MY EMPIRE SHALL INSULT OR DISTURB THEM. LET NOBODY ATTACK INSULT OR ENDANGER NEITHER THEIR LIFE OR THEIR PROPERTY OR THE PROPERTY OF THEIR CHURCH. EVEN IF THEY BRING SOMEBODY FROM ABROAD INTO MY COUNTRY, THEY ARE ALLOWED TO DO SO.
AS, THUS, I HAVE GRACIOUSLY ISSUED THIS IMPERIAL EDICT, HEREBY TAKE MY GREAT OATH.
IN THE NAME OF THE CREATOR OF THE EARTH AND HEAVEN, THE ONE WHO FEEDS ALL CREATURES, AND IN THE NAME OF THE SEVEN MUSTAFAS AND OUR GREAT MESSENGER, AND IN THE NAME OF THE SWORD I PUT, NOBODY SHALL DO CONTRARY TO WHAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN, AS LONG AS THEY ARE OBEDIENT AND FAITHFUL TO MY COMMAND.
MAY 28th 1463