Punishment of Apostacy in Islam — Page 30
30 ones. God would inflict the chastisement at its due time according to His perfect Wisdom (Ruhul Bayan Vol. VI p. 338). In the commentary Ruhul Maani this verse is interpreted as follows: Thy duty is to convey the commandments that We have sent down to thee with promises of reward and warnings of chastisement. It is for Us to call them to account for their evil conduct and to punish them for it, without forcing them into thy obedience or by exhibiting the signs which they demand from thee (Ruhul Maani Part XIII p. 172). Thus even God Almighty would not force anyone to follow Muhammad, peace be on him, inasmuch as that which is done under compulsion merits neither reward nor punishment. That is why birds and animals and stones and diamonds and jewels are neither rewarded nor punished. The occasion for reward and punishment arises only where there is freedom of conscience and belief. It stands to reason that if God’s Messenger points out that a certain course of conduct is good in the estimation of God, a person would be entitled to ask what would he gain if he acts in conformity to it; or if a course of action is evil in the estimation of God what retribution should he fear in case of indulgence in it. God Almighty says that He too would not force anyone to believe in the Holy Prophet, but would call them to account and punish them for their denial. He would also not exhibit such miracles as they demand. He is God and is not subordinate to anyone, nor does He compel anyone. The basis of the whole project of creation of man is freedom of conscience and freedom of belief. That is why it is said: I have created men , high and low, that they may worship Me (51:57); that is to say, man has been created so