There is no compulsion in religion - Quran Chapter 2- 256a (Pt-3, Stg-1) (L-327) - درس قرآن

Quran Chapter 2- 256a (Pt-3, Stg-1) (L-327) - درس قرآن

There is no compulsion in religion

Surah ‘Al-Baqarah (The Cow) – Chapter – 2)

‘A-‘uu-zu  Billaahi minash-Shay-taanir- Rajiim. 
(I seek refuge in God from Satan the outcast.)

 
Bis-Millaahir-Rah-maanir-Rahiim.
(In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful.)

لَآ إِكْرَاهَ فِى ٱلدِّينِ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ ٱلرُّشْدُ مِنَ ٱلْغَىِّ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِٱلطَّٰغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱسْتَمْسَكَ بِٱلْعُرْوَةِ ٱلْوُثْقَىٰ لَا ٱنفِصَامَ لَهَا وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ 256
 

256a.  There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error.

256a.  Laaa  ‘ikraaha  fid-Diin.  Qatta  bayyanar-Rushdu  minal-Gayy.

Commentary

Laaa  ‘ikraaha – (there is no compulsion), this word has been derived from karhun. Such deed which is not done by own will, but there is violence and forcibility in it. That is called ‘with repression and coercion’.

‘Ad-Diini – (the Religion), this word is used in two meanings:

·       Reward and punishment against goodness and badness, that is to say; Retribution.

·       Way of life (manners of conception and acts)

Here, the word ‘ad-Diini is used in second meaning.

‘Ar-Rushdu – (The right direction, guidance, admonition), Origin of this word is Raashid, which means ‘Guided’. In this verse the meaning of ‘ar-Rushdu may also be taken as Islam itself besides its common meaning as ‘the guidance’.

‘Al-Gayy – (the error), ‘ga-wa-ya’ is its Substance, ‘agwaa has also been made from it which means ‘to seduce,  to entice, to tempt, to mislead’. Here, the aim from the word ‘al-Gayy is error of infidelity and ascribing plurality to God Almighty.

Religious independence according to Islam has been evident from this verse. Islam bestows power of choice regarding religion to every individual. It doesn’t compel anyone to embrace Islam. Islam is the duty of believers to preach, but the fact that it doesn’t allow anybody to force someone to embrace Islam and force to convert to Islam.

Complete history of Islam is witness on this fact that the Muslims never compelled their neighbors as well as subordinate common people to embrace Islam. If it were so, then there would not be the temples and pagodas along with the mosques in sub-continent Indo-Pak. There would not be temples, churches, synagogues and non-Muslims’ places of worships under the shades of imperial forts in the capitals of Muslims’ sovereignty.

It should be noted thoroughly that it doesn’t aim from it that any person is independent after embracing Islam, that he admits/believes in whatever he wishes and doesn’t admit whatever he doesn’t want.

Whereas, once someone has embraced the religion Islam, then, he would have to believe in all its orders and instructions. Now there is no question regarding choice of power or independence. The independence is only in embracing or rejecting the religion Islam, not in deeds. If (God forbid) it becomes so, then any recognized position of the religion will be no more.

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif). https://youtu.be/dl-DMtw8Ov8