Absolute Justice, Kindness and Kinship — Page 174
Freedom of Conscience in Matters of Faith 169 Prophet sa , 'O Prophet of Allah! What will become of the good deeds I performed before I accepted Islam? Will they be rewarded?' Muhammad sa replied, 'Your Islam is your reward. ' 13 Having examined one aspect of the principle of Freedom of Consceience, we now turn to another aspect of the same which concerns the prohibition of converting others to a different religion by the application of force. The Quran is the one and the only book which upholds complete and unconditional freedom in matters of faith in unequivocal terms. It categorically refutes the age-old allegation, levelled against religion by the non-religious, that all religions promote coercion. There should be no compulsion in matters of faith. 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. (S u rah al-Baqarah; Ch. 2: V. 257) In matters of faith there is no compulsion, every person has complete freedom. No religion is given