Through Force or Faith? — Page 120
?— A Reply to Pope Benedict XVI 120 to Allah, and also those who follow me’. And say to those who have been given the Book and to the unlearned, ‘Have you submitted?’ If they submit, then they will surely be guided; but if they turn back, then thy duty is only to convey the message. And Allah is Watchful of His serv- ants. ( S u rah A l-e-‘Imr a n, 3:21) By declaring in one of the verses quoted above, ‘strive and be steadfast,’ it is emphasized that ‘steadfastness’ is also a great form of jihad. Therefore, in that Meccan period even when such influ- ential, brave, and strong companions like ‘Umar bin Al-Kha tta b, H amza, and ‘Abdur-Ra h m a n bin ‘Auf sought permission of the Holy Prophet Muhammad s as to respond to the tyranny of the opponents, they were advised to be patient ( Sunan Nasā’ī, Kit a bul Jih a d, Chapter Requisites for Jihad). In other words, steadfastness was the jihad at that time. Is Coercion-in-Faith Sanctioned by Islam? In a comprehensive response to the allegations made against Islam by the Pope, it is essential to review what Islam does teach about coercion in religious matters, that is, is it permissible, according to Islamic teachings, that people be forced to accept Islam and to spread Islam by the sword? If Islam permits coercion, the matter will certainly become suspect and it would open the possibility that perhaps Islamic wars were waged to force people into Islam. But if it is proven that such is prohibited in Islamic teachings, it would be a strong argument to support the contention that there