The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 374
374. Essence of Islam II transgresses beyond the limits of humanity and good behaviour and has recourse to shamelessness and abuse and designs every kind of persecution and carries it to the limit, the jealousy of God Almighty is roused and He destroys the wrongdoer out of regard for His Messenger as He destroyed the people of Noah, and the people of. Lot. Such chastisement is inflicted only on account of the persecution and cruelties to which God's Messengers and their followers are subjected. Mere rejection is not punished in this life. God has reserved another world for such punishment. Chastisement in this life follows upon such rejection as is accompanied with mockery, jesting and persecution. . If a person confines himself to the position that he is unable to accept as he has not yet fully understood the matter, such denial does not attract punishment because it results from simplicity and lack of understanding. I affirm truly that if the objection of the people of Noah had been presented in a decent manner God Almighty would not have seized them. People are punished on account of their misbehaviour. God Almighty has directed that those of the enemy who should come to listen to the Holy Qur'ān should be thereafter conveyed to their place of security. There is no compulsion or coercion in Islām, as it is said: لا إكراه في الدين 156. But if anyone resorts to killing or conspiring to kill, or embarks upon mischief and persecution, he is bound to be chastised. [Malfūzāt, vol. III, pp. 162-163] 156 There should be no compulsion in religion. '-Al-Baqarah, 2:257 [Publisher]