Today is our Focus: QURAN REJECTS COMPULSION IN MATTERS OF RELIGION
QURAN REJECTS COMPULSION IN MATTERS OF RELIGION
The Quranic declaration about individual’s freedom of conscience is T rooted in the concept that ‘right stands distinguished from wrong’ and each individual has the freedom of will and action to make a choice. It says There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the right path has become distinct from wrong path. He who rejects Evil and believes in God, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break’ (2.256).
The context of the abovementioned verse is given in a prophetic narration reported by Abu Dawood (1135). It says that ‘when the children of a woman (in pre-Islamic days) did not survive, she took a vow that if her next child survives, she would make it a Jew. When Banu Nadir (a Jewish tribe) were expelled from Medina, there were some such children among them. The parents of these children said: ‘We shall not allow our children to go’ So this verse was revealed and the parents were not allowed to stop the children against their will.
Theoretically speaking the right to freedom of religion consists in freedom of choice and Quran unlike later day Muslim Legists place no restriction on the enjoyment of this right. It is true that Quran repeatedly makes promise of great reward to those who believe and do righteous acts and warns the wrongdoers of grave punishment but leaves the choice entirely to the individuals.
In a remarkable declaration Quran reminds man of his origin and being in possession of the faculties that enable him to acquire knowledge and discernment to make choices. It says: ‘Verily, We created Man from a drop of mingled sperm in order to try him: so We gave him (the gifts) of Hearing and Sight Verily, We showed him the Way: whether he be grateful or ungrateful (rests on his will) (76.2-3).
In another verse Quran describes itself as a reminder (guidance) and not command and underlines that one, who so wills may pursue the straight path in the light of the guidance of the book: ‘Verily, this is a Reminder. Let him, who wills, then set out on a way to his Lord’ (73.19) This line of argument is further endorsed by another verse which affirms the right of an individual to believe or disbelieve: ‘Say! The Truth is from your Lord: let him who will believe and let him who will reject it’ (18.29)
In another context Quran highlights that one has freedom of choice in matters of faith and worship and gives usual warning to be heedful of consequences: ‘Say! It is God alone I serve with my sincere (and exclusive) devotion. Serve you what you will, besides Him (39.14-15). This position is corroborated by another verse that says: “To you be your Religion and to me mine’ (109.6)
The freedom of faith and worship underlined by above verses fits perfectly into the larger Quranic scheme that admits no compulsion in matters of conscience. Quran repeatedly emphasises that the diversities of faith, belief and practices that we witness are but manifestations of divine will. In one verse, it goes to the extent of saying that if God had so willed, all would have subscribed to one religion and warns against any attempt to compel people to believe. It says:
‘If it had been the Lord’s Will they would all have believed all who are on earth! Will you then compel mankind against their will to believe! No soul can believe except by the Will of God and He will place Doubt (or obscurity) on those who will not understand (10.99.100).
The same argument against compulsion in religion finds expression in another verse that says: ‘We know best what they say: and you are not one to ever awe them by force. So admonish with the Quran such as fear My Warning!” (50.45)
Finally, we must remember that the word ‘religion’ does not adequately convey the import of Arabic term ‘Deen’ which more appropriately means ‘way of life’ with religion being only a part of it If this meaning is applied, then it becomes clear that Quran rejects compulsion or force as arbiter not only in religion but in all human affairs.
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