No Compulsion in Religion

[servant_of_Allah]

Question : Assalamu Alaykum A Christian recently said that in a Muslim country, where Sharia Law is implemented, they would make sure that the Muslim women are properly dressed. This Christian said that isn't this considered 'compulsion in religion'? Also, the Christian and we were discussing the issue of homosexuals. We said, that in Muslim countries, committing sodomy is a crime, and a person will be punished if they indulge in this hideous act. Again, the Christian said that this is 'compulsion in religion'. Allah says in the Qur'an : "Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error; whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things." (Quran, 2:256) How do we respond to the comments made by the Christian? Wassalamu Alaykum.

Answer : Wa `Alaykum As-Salam Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All thanks and praise are due to Allah and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear questioner, we would like to express our deep appreciation to you for the great confidence you have in us and we pray to Almighty Allah to make our efforts pure for His sake.

As regards the question you posed, we would like to state that the verse that states that there is no compulsion in religion is a very brilliant rule of Shari`ah. The verse makes it clear that no one is forced to embrace Islam and that all people can choose whatever religion to follow. The role of Muslims is to make their religion known to people and to let them understand what true Islam is and then it is people who choose for themselves. This means that no one is forced to believe in something that he does not want to believe in. True conviction is not forced by a dagger and beliefs are not propagated by a sword.

However, once a person embraces Islam and accepts it as a course of life, this means that that such a person accepts all the rulings of Islam and is to abide by them. In case of transgressing these rules or violating these laws, the person places himself at stake and makes himself subject to the punishment established by Islam. If a person lives in the US, for example, he will have to adhere to the laws applied therein. If a person lives in the UK, he is to abide by the laws of the country. In case he/she commits a crime, he will have to pay for what he has done that is to be punished in return of transgression. Then, is there any compulsion in this?

When one accepts Islam, he is to accept it part and parcel. This means that the person is convinced with all Islamic teachings. This means that the person is responsible for any act of transgression or any violation of the teachings he has given his word to abide by. Thus, no compulsion is there.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Fatwa editor: Ahmad M. Sa`d


I had asked this question to the Muslim scholars because Tita was confused about the ayah : "Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error; whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things." (Quran, 2:256)

I am hopeful that now Tita has understood.

Wassalamu Alaykum,
servant of Allah.

[Lulua]

Assalaamu alaikum.

I find it interesting and rather confusing that the non-muslims, when going into a muslim country which in particular attempts to follow the shariah law of Allah, that they condemn it to being compulsion in religion for those non-muslims in that foreign country. Yet when muslims travel to a different non-muslim country, with different laws (some of which are obviously against Islamic teachings, and even insulting to an Islamic way of life)...it is not considered compulsion in religion, but rather an 'opening' or 'enlightening' experience designed for those muslims who the non-muslims view as deprived by previously living in areas which did not permit or outlawed various things which are made legal in non-muslim communities.

Each country is sovereign in it's own right to make and upkeep laws which the inhabitants and citizens of that country deem fitting and desirable for their way of life. It should not be a matter of interest or pursuit for those from outside that country to judge and change.

And...for those visiting into a country of foreign policy to theirs, it behooves them well to know the laws of that land before traveling to it, in order to keep themselves from within the laws, and therefore avoid possible damaging and embarrassing and undesirable situations.

As the old saying goes: 'while in Rome, do as the Romans do'.

Lulua.