Through Force or Faith? — Page 9
Refutation of the Allegations Made Against Islam 9 to exile for some of their excesses and transgressions, the An sa r 1 wanted to take back their children whom they had given to Ban u Na di r since their birth. The Holy Prophet s as intervened and said, ‘No, what you have given them is theirs now. There is no compul- sion in faith. They will now stay with them’. It was due to his teachings that his Khulaf a’ ra [successors] and companions ra understood this dictum well and abided by it. Thus, one slave of Hadrat Umar ra narrates himself that Hadrat Umar ra asked him many times to become Muslim, but on his refusal, he would only reply, ‘That’s fine, for Islam does not permit coercion’. Then, when the time of his death came near, he said, ‘I set you free. You are free and may go wherever you please’. So, these are the standards for freedom of faith in Islam, both in precept and in practice. Even a slave could not be forced [to accept Islam], yet the Pope says that the religion of Islam has tyranny and oppression in it. Then the Holy Quran says: َكْيَلَع ُغٰلَبْلا١ؕ َو ُهّٰللا ٌۢرْيِصَب ِداَبِعْلاِبَو ْلُق َنْيِذَّلِّل اوُتْوُا َبٰتِكْلا َو َنّٖيِّمُاْلا ْمُتْمَلْسَاَء١ؕ ْنِاَف اْوُمَلْسَا ِدَقَف اْوَدَتْها١ۚ َو ْنِا اْوَّلَوَت اَمَّنِاَف … 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 servants. ( S u rah A l-e-‘Imr a n, 3:21) 1. The Arabic term An sa r (lit. ‘Helpers’) is used here to denote those Muslims who lived in Madinah and supported the Makkan Muslims who migrated there. [Publisher]