Absolute Justice, Kindness and Kinship — Page 180
Freedom of Conscience in Matters of Faith 175 The Quranic ideal of absolute justice applies equally well to every situation. Having demolished the false notion that force is permissible in religious affairs, it absolves all Prophets as of the allegation that they coerced people into their religion and, in doing so, extends them (the people) the same right of being treated with justice. The most potent argument the Quran builds is with respect to God Almighty, the Creator. If He had decided to coerce people to accept the truth, He could easily have done it without creating any fuss regarding the choice between right and wrong. The very existence of right and wrong, and the option given to man to choose between the two, presents incontrovertible proof that coercion is not a part of God’s scheme of things. As God says in the Holy Quran: And if your Lord had enforced His will, surely, all who are on the earth would have believed together. Will you, then, force men to become believers? (S u rah Y u nus; Ch. 10: V. 100) Some Muslim theologians maintain that although no Prophet as before the Holy Prophet sa of Islam was granted coercion in matters of faith, the Holy Prophet sa of Islam was granted this power to prove his