The Guiding Light — Page 359
S u rah al-Baqarah, Verse 255-258 359 I ω o ν # t ø. Î ) ’ Î û È Ï e $! $ # ( ‰ s % t ¨ t 6 ¨ ? ß ‰ ô © ” 9 $ # z Ï Β Ä c x ö ø 9 $ # 4 y ϑ s ù ö à õ 3 t ƒ Ï N θ ä ó ≈ © Ü 9 $ $ Î / - ∅ Ï Β ÷ σ ã ƒ u ρ « ! $ $ Î / Ï ‰ s ) s ù y 7 | ¡ ô ϑ t G ó ™ $ # Í ο u ρ ó ã è ø 9 $ $ Î / 4 ’ s + ø O â θ ø 9 $ # Ÿ ω t Π $ | Á Ï Ρ $ # $ o λ m ; 3 ª ! $ # u ρ ì ì ‹ Ï ÿ x œ î Λ Î = t æ ∩∪ [2:257] There should be no compulsion in religion. Surely, right has become distinct from wrong; so whosoever refuses to be led by those who transgress, and believes in Allah, has surely grasped a strong handle which knows no breaking. And Allah is All- Hearing, All-Knowing. Commentary The injunction to make special sacrifices in the cause of religion and to fight the enemies of Islam who had transgressed against the Faithful was likely to cause the misunderstanding that All a h desired Muslims to use force for propagating their religion. The verse under comment removes this misunderstanding. The object for which Muslims have been commanded to take up arms against the disbelievers is not to force them to accept Islam, but only to check mischief and put a stop to persecution. The verse