28- HE SAID: “DO YOU SEE, IF I HAVE A CLEAR
UNDERSTANDING OF MY LORD AND, AND HE BESTOWED UPON ME MERCY FROM HIM, WHICH YOU
CAN NOT SEE, WOULD I FORCE YOU TO FOLLOW IT WHILE YOU HATE IT”.
It is clear that Noah peace upon him that he would not force
his people to follow his faith if they hate to, even if he knows that it has a
mercy from Allah the Highest to him which he likes his people to enjoy to.
We see that the principle of “No compulsion in Religion”,
which Allah the Highest stated in Ayah 256 of Sorah Al-Baqarah, has been there
throughout.“THERE IS NO COMPULSION IN
RELIGION.THE RIGHT HAS BEEN CLEARLY
DISTINGUISHED FROM THE WRONG.WHOEVER
DISBELIEVES IN WHAT IS EVIL AND BELIEVES IN ALLAH, HE HAS HELD FIRMLY TO MOST
TRUSTWORTHY HAND-HOLD WHICH NEVER BREAKS AND ALLAH HEARS AND KNOWS ALL THINGS”.
(S:2 A:256)
I will relate to the reader again the explanation of this
Ayah, for this principle is very important in Islam.
It is reported that this Ayah was sent down upon Allah’s
messenger prayer and peace upon him in response to 2 incidents:
First; when the Jewish tribe of
Bano Al Nadeer left Medina, some of the children of the Ansar who were the
original Arab inhabitant of Medina adopted the Jewish faith, and wanted to
leave with the Jews.Their families
wanted to stop them by force, and they asked Allah’s messenger prayer and peace
upon him about this, and this Ayah was the answer.
Second;it has
also been reported that a Muslim from the Ansar called Hassan had two children
who were Christians and he was Muslim.He asked Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him if he can force
them to adopt Islam.In an another
narration they were leaving to Sham (Syria, Jordon, Lebanon) and he asked to
send after them to get them back, as the Sham was a Christian country then.
All the above enforce each other, and the principle that no
one should be compelled to adopt a religion.In fact no one can in reality be compelled to have any particular
faith.Even if one adopts a faith on the
surface, one can not have a real faith under compulsion.
The Muslims enlarged their state by force, but did not
spread Islam by force.In fact there were long times when in the
Muslim state had more non-Muslims than Muslims during the Omiya and Abasi
Dynasties in particular. The Khalifas then had more Christian and Jewish
citizens than they had Muslim citizens.The Christians and Jews enjoyed freedom of worship and safety during
these times under the Muslim rule as Islam instructs and commands the Muslims
to do so.When Christians or Jews were
captured by an enemy, the Khalifa paid their ransom to free them, just as he
did with the Muslim captives.
Allah the Highest is saying that Islam is like a strong hand
hold to hang on to,
those who do, will always be secure in this life and in the Hereafter.Then Allah the Highest reminds us that He
hears and sees what we do.This is as
far as our faith is concerned as well as, as far has how we deal with others
concerning their faith.
Idle worshipping was not allowed and should not be allowed in
the Muslim state.According to the
Islamic Faith, People of the Book are however free to worship and practice
their religion in the Muslim State.Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him and his followers did not
prevent them, or interfere with their worship, churches etc.
Nagran in Yemen was Christian, and it came under Muslim rule
during Mohamed prayer and peace upon him life, and he did not interfere with
their religion or prevent them from practicing their religion then.
While Omar Ibn El-Khatab was Khalifa, the Muslim armies seized
Jerusalem. The leaders of the city agreed to surrender
to the Muslim armies provided they guaranteed them total safety for their lives
and places of worship.They also made a
condition of having this agreement made with and signed by the Khalifa, Omar
Ibn El-Khatab himself.When Omar was
told, he travelled to Jerusalem with a servant riding one camel, alternating
riding the camel with the servant.He
travelled just to sign this agreement himself, to reassure the Christians and
Jews of Jerusalem of their safety and freedom of worship under Muslims Rule.
These are not the actions of people who compel others to follow
their Faith, but the actions of people who ensure every one’s freedom of
freedom of choice of faith and safety and freedom of worship.
