“it goes against our religion to try and force Islam on anybody”

Muhammad Ali

He became a personal hero when he, understanding exactly what was going to occur afterwards, refused to step forward.

HOWEVER…

On the authority of Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
I have been ordered to fight against the people until they testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and until they establish the Salah and pay the Zakah. And if they do so then they will have gained protection from me for their lives and property, unless [they commit acts that are punishable] in accordance to Islam, and their reckoning will be with Allah the Almighty.

Sorry, big fella, but all of history, and the words of that other Muhammad argue differently, and all of the tortuous logic required to argue what the ‘people’ means, or ‘fight’ means cannot turn aside the facts of history, and the facts of the present, ..well… FIGHT.

Here you go