Through Force or Faith? — Page 187
Chapter 3 — Holy Prophet and Wars 187 become a Muslim. The answer to the Papal accusation, that the teachings were different during the early period and they were changed later, is provided in the second chapter of this book. Therefore, we shall leave this part alone and only focus on the issue as to what did the Holy Prophet s as teach regarding coercion in faith, and did he force anyone to become a Muslim? We will also look at what the historic facts tell us about the events of that time. Islamic teachings about the freedom of faith are so well known that, despite his inadequate knowledge of Islamic teachings, the Pope must know that the Holy Quran has made the bold declara- tion of ِ َ إِكْرَاه َ فِي الدِّين ل ( S u rah al-Baqarah, 2:257), ‘There should be no compulsion in religion…’ Not only this, the Holy Quran has reiterated the same message over and over again. For instance: ْنَمَف َءٓاَش ْنِمْؤُيْلَف َّو ْنَم َءٓاَش ْرُفْكَيْلَف١ۙ … wherefore let him who will, believe, and let him who will, disbelieve… ( S u rah al-Kahf, 18:30) ْمُكَل ْمُكُنْيِد َو َيِل ِنْيِد ‘For you your religion, and for me my religion’ ( S u rah al-K a fir u n, 109:7). Then, even beyond declaring the freedom of religion, the Holy Prophet Muhammad s as further said that the followers of other religions shall also deserve reward and paradise. َو ىٰرٰصَّنلا ْنَم َنَمٰا ِهّٰللاِب َو ِمْوَيْلا ِرِخٰاْلا َو َلِمَع َ ابِـُٔوْن َّ الص اًحِلاَص اَلَف ٌفْوَخ ْمِهْيَلَع َو اَل ْمُه َنْوُنَزْحَيَّنِا َنْيِذَّلا اْوُنَمٰا َو َنْيِذَّلا اْوُداَه َو