Since the principles and tenets of Islam are not based on shaky grounds or guesses and wild interpretations, and since they derive their essence from rationality and wisdom, therefore Allah has not coerced his creations into accepting these truths. Moreover, when the distinctions between Islam and Kufr, Iman and Shirk and the like have become so vivid and clear then where lies the need to coerce a person to have belief in Allah and forsake the path of Kufr and Shirk. Such a thing is similar to the case where the sun is shining clearly yet somebody forcibly coaxes a person to proclaim that it is day and not night. After the sun rises, if one does not accept this undiluted truth, would the world accept him as a same person?
Allah has clearly laid out the line of demarcation between Islam and Kufr from different angles before the people. Further, he has been given the right to chose and accept the Truth for his well-being, success in this life and Hereafter as well as qualify to enter the Paradise and earn eternal bliss after death or set himself firm on the path of vice and misguidance out of utter ignorance, blind judgement and irrationality to qualify for eternal degeneration and the Fire of Hell. Amongst all His creations, Allah has bestowed the right to chose between the Truth and the Falsehood, only to human beings and Jinns, not even to the Angels. He has not granted them the right to be disobedient. About the Quran, that there shall be no coercion in the matters of religion since the paths of Guidance and Misguidance have stood out without any doubt. He further says, “ O Muhammad (SAW), if people do not embrace Islam despite the Truth being crystal clear before them, tell them to stay put on their faith and we shall follow our own faith. Both of us shall be duly adjudged after our death. O Muhammad! You have not been sent as a dictator over them, that you may coercively draw them into the folds of Islam no matter what. If someone does not bring Iman, anyway, he shall have to come to Me and be accountable for each and every deed. Subsequently, I shall make him destined to the most horrifying if chastisements. You keep on with your task of reprimanding and admonition. Whoever has to understand shall understand it invariably. Only an unfortunate shall be bereft of this bounty.”
In the light of these teachings of the Quran, one finds not a single incidence of coercive conversion in the entire Islamic history. Even today, Islam does not permit anybody to be forced into Islam by coercive means. Such a person shall be deemed to be violating the teachings of Islam. On the other hand, the person who is forcibly made to do so, shall not be deemed to be a part of Islam. He shall not be recognized as a Muslim. It is so, because Islam does not entail asserting the oneness of Allah by tongue alone. Its affirmation by the heart is equally important. Let’s make it clear that faith is not the name given to reading the Kalimah by one’s tongue or simulating the Islamic practices simply.
This is the reason why under an Islamic government, non-Muslims cannot be stopped from following erroneous beliefs and irrational rites and rituals. If they wish to stay put on the path of Shirk and Kufr and lend their lives peacefully living along with Muslims, they shall be allowed full freedom to practice their faith by the Islamic government, necessarily. Muslims have ruled in India for nearly 11 hundred years. Had there been any room for coercion or force in Islam, why not did the rulers use all possible strength under their command to convert the entire native population of the country to Islam, despite being ever so powerful? What could have stopped them? It was the teaching of Islam, which was restraining them to go ahead. The five hundred million population of Muslims spanning the Indian sub-continent do not have any foreign origin nor have they been coercively brought into the folds of Islam. They have been natives of this place itself. Their forefathers and ancestors had embraced Islam, having been mesmerized with the impeccable and admirable character of the Muslim saints and scholars, the foremost amongst who was Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti and Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia.
Although Islam refutes all concepts of self-proclaimed pseudo-gods and despite the firm belief that non-believers and polytheists are on the wrong track, their religious feelings are given due respect and consideration, such that Muslims were told straightaway in the Quran that, “ O Muslims, do not curse, vilipend or calumniate those gods whom the Kafirs and Mushriks worship leaving Allah. Because, in a fit of reaction, they may also revile Allah and you may unintentionally become the cause for it.”
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