Noah's Ark: An Invitation to Faith — Page 118
HAZRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMAD (AS) In which place, part or chapter of the Holy Quran is such a teaching sanctioned? The entire Quran repeatedly states that there is no compulsion in religion and evidently demonstrates that the battles which took place in the time of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, were not to propagate religion by force. Instead, they were in the nature of retribution, that is to say, they served as a penalty against those who had murdered a large party of Muslims and who had forced others from their homes, and committed immensely grave injustices against them. Allah the Exalted says: أَذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقْتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوا وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرُ That is, permission to fight is given to those Muslims who are being subjected to war by the disbelievers, because they have been 6To suggest that it was lawful to convert the Arabs to Islam by force is a notion that is categorically rejected by the Holy Quran. However, what is established is that the whole of Arabia caused immense pain to the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, slayed many of his companions—both men and women-and expelled from their homeland the rest who were victims of persecution. Therefore, all those who were guilty of murder, or aided in this crime, had become worthy of being slain in the eyes of God Almighty due to the bloodshed they had caused. In retribution, although they actually deserved to be slain, God who is the most Merciful of all, showed clemency by stating that their earlier crime, which made them worthy of punishment by death, would be forgiven to those of them who entered Islam. Where lies the allegation of compulsion in the presense of such mercy? (Author) 7 Surah Al-Hajj, 22:40 [Publisher] 118