How to be Free from Sin — Page 10
10 says: 1 'There is no compulsion in religion. ' The sword was raised [by the early Muslims] because the sav- ages of Arabia, who had lost all sense of morality and human values, had become the sworn enemies of Islam. When the Unity of God and the truth of Islam was shown to them through unequivocal arguments, and it was im- pressed upon their minds that idolatry was wrong and against the dignity of man, they were unable to counter these arguments. The sensible among them, therefore, in- clined towards Islam resulting in the separation of brothers from brothers and sons from their fathers. At this point the idolaters were reduced to severely punishing those who became Muslims as a means of preserving their false religion and dissuading people from Islam. These crimes were perpetrated by the Chiefs of Mecca, Ab u Jahl being one of them. Those who are acquainted with the early history of Islam are no doubt aware of the cruelty and barbarity that was perpetrated by the opponents in Mecca, and the number of innocent people who were killed as a result. But this did not deter people from embracing Islam. Even those of limited intelligence could see that its teachings were far more rational and convincing than those of the idol- worshippers. When the opponents saw the futility of their efforts, they decided that the only solution was to assassi- nate the Holy Prophet sa, but God rescued him from their hands and led him to Medina in safety. The Meccans, 1 Al-Baqarah, 2:257 [Publishers]