FORCED CONVERSION & ISLAM

“THERE SHOULD BE NO COMPULSION IN THE MATTERS OF RELIGION.” (HOLY QURAN, 2:257)

By: Laiq Ahmed Atif

Freedom is a great blessing. Freedom is the cornerstone of any free and prosperous society and underlines the idea of protecting the most important right of people – the right to believe, practice and preach what they want, without fear, coercion, persecution, punishment or discrimination.I recently read a report on the incidents of persecution of the Christian community living in Pakistan and there have been incidents of forced marriages and forced conversions. Among them, there was a report about a Christian girl, Arzoo Raja, from Pakistan, who had been abducted and forced to marry and convert to Islam. The case of Arzoo Raja has raised many questions against forced marriages and forced religious conversion. According to Islamic teachings, coercion in matters of religion as well as in marriage is not allowed under any circumstances. Every person has the freedom to choose a partner in marriage and to believe in any religion of the person’s choice. Islam believes in religious freedom and does not allow the use of force as an instrument for spreading its message. Islam clearly states:

“There should be no compulsion in the matters of religion.” (Holy Quran, 2: 257)

This categorically shows there is no need for any coercion. Leave it to an individual to determine where the truth belongs.

Moreover, addressing the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, God told him not to use any force for the reformation of society. His status as a reformer is very clearly defined in the following verses:

Admonish, therefore, for thou art but an admonisher; thou hast no authority to compel them. (88:22-23)

It is not thy responsibility to make them follow the right path; but Allah guides whomsoever He pleases. (2:273)

But if they turn away, We have not sent thee as a guardian over them. Thy duty is only to convey the Message. Leave it to God to make the Message effective. (42:49)

Furthermore, God Almighty makes it abundantly clear that if compulsion was to be made permissible in the matters of faith, then why God would have left it upon people, when He himself would have forced people to believe in religion? Allah says that introducing the element of compulsion in religion was never a part of His scheme, and He never allowed any linkage between religion and compulsion. God Almighty says in the Holy Quran:

And if thy Lord had enforced His will, surely, all who are on the earth would have believed together. Wilt thou, then, force men to become believers? (10:100)

These verses clearly show that Islam categorically states that religion is a personal matter and everyone is free to choose their religion. Faith is a matter between man and his God and should not be interfered with in any way.

Everyone has the right to live according to their faith and to perform their religious rituals. Therefore, when one interferes in this matter which is personal between man and God, and where the law interferes with this right, it is an act of great wickedness and persecution, and should be condemned.

In a nutshell, Islam firmly believes in freedom of religion. People often ask me that if Islam believes in religious freedom then why do we find religious persecution in certain countries where there are Muslims in the majority? Why do they want to impose their choice on others? Why not allow others to believe, practice, and preach the religion of their choice? Why are people of other faiths persecuted in Muslim countries?

These are very valid questions. I would say that it is a great misfortune that there are Muslims who do not practice Islamic teaching in its true sense. But we must also understand that, if a person does not follow any particular teaching properly while admitting to embracing that teaching, then it is the person who is wrong, and not the teaching that is wrong. The word ‘Islam’ actually means peace, love, and security. There can be no coercion when it comes to faith; it is a clear direction in the Holy Quran. From cover to cover, the Holy Quran conveys the message of love, affection, peace, reconciliation, and the spirit of sacrifice. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community follows the teachings of Islam in letter and spirit and works purely to please the Almighty God. If a church or other place of worship needs some form of protection and if Christians or people of other faith need it, they will find us side by side with them to help them. This is because we firmly believe in the Islamic teaching that, “There is no compulsion in religion” and in our revolutionary and peaceful motto which is, “Love for all, hatred for none.”