The Holy Quran Does Not Approve Of Forced Religious Conversion
The
Stance of the Quran Is In Accordance With Modern International Laws on
Conversion
Main
Points:
1. Quran
asks its followers only to spread its message peacefully
2. People
have full freedom to profess their religion according to the Quran.
3. Quran
says Muslims are not supposed to behave as religious police.
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New Age
Islam Correspondent
25
September 2021
In modern
times, religious conversion has become a controversial issue. Religious
organizations and religious activists are often accused of forced religious
conversions. They are accused of coercing poor or illiterate people into
converting to their professed religion. Some extremist organizations forcefully
convert people into their professed religion after abducting them. These organizations
and individuals do this to expand their religion.
This
phenomenon of forced or coerced religious conversions has prompted modern
governments to bring legislations to prevent such people and organizations from
converting people by force or coercion. Citizens are protected under human
rights and religious rights and are free to profess any religion or to convert
to any religion at the call of their conscience.
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When we
study the Quran and try to find out its stance on religious conversion, we come
across clear guidelines and instructions on the issue. Though the Quran is
revealed for the guidance of the people and it enjoins on its followers to
spread its message, it also strictly instructs them no to force any one to
accept their religion. The Quran also asks them not speak ill of the followers
of other religions. God sent messengers to guide people with good news of
rewards for good deeds and a warner against bad deeds. They are not asked to
force people to accept their religion. Therefore, the followers of the prophets
are also told to adopt the same policy.
And We send not the messengers except as
bringers of good tidings and warmers. (Al Kahf: 56)
The Quran
does not want violence and bloodshed in the name of spreading religious
messages.
"And were it not that Allah checks the
people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries,
churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allah is much mentioned
[i.e., praised]. (Al Hajj: 40)
The Quran
enjoins the followers of Islam only to struggle in the path of God, to spread
the message of God telling people what is good and what is bad. The
responsibility of accepting the message is upon the people. God says that there
is wisdom behind many religions on Earth and if He wanted, all would follow one
religion. So God only wants to see if His followers struggled to spread His
message or not. The Quran says:
“Your duty is only to deliver ˹the message˺. Judgment is for Us”. (Ar-Ra’d:40)
And when they hear ill speech, they turn away
from it and say, "For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. Peace
will be upon you;1 we seek not the ignorant."(Al Qasas: 55)
Those who
coerce people or force them to convert to a particular religion and commit
violence against them if they don’t accept their religion are called
transgressors. God hates such people.
Allah likes not the transgressors (Al-e-Imran:
140)
The onus of
accepting the message of the evangelists or missionaries is totally on the
people. They are free to convert to any religion. They Quran clearly says:
And say, "The truth is from your Lord, so
whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him
disbelieve."(Al Kahf: 29)
You are not over them a controller.
(Al-Ghashiyah: 20)
Yet remind them by this ˹Quran˺, so no one should be ruined for
their misdeeds. (Al An’am: 70)
And if they deny you, [O Muḥammad], then say, "For me are my deeds, and for you are your deeds.
You are disassociated from what I do, and I am disassociated from what you
do."(Yunus: 41)
And do not argue with the People of the
Scripture except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice
among them, and say, "We believe in that which has been revealed to us and
revealed to you. And our God and your God is one; and we are Muslims [in
submission] to Him."(Al Ankabut: 46)
In modern
times, the mission of religious conversion has become inspired by political
ambitions of nations. In past, wars were fought on religious grounds and
violence and bloodshed was perpetrated in the name of expanding religions. But
in modern times, the issue of religion conversion has been brought under human
rights and religious rights. No one can force anybody to convert to any
religion.
In modern
times, Freedom of religion or belief is guaranteed by article 18 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 18 of the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights and the Declaration on the Elimination of All
Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.
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Also
Read: Forced Conversion is Unethical and Against the Will
of Allah
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Article18.2
bars coercion that would impair the right to have or adopt a religion or
belief, including the use of threat of physical force or penal sanctions to compete
believers or non-believers to adhere to their religious beliefs and
congregations, to recant their religion or belief or to convert.”
Thus, the
stance of the holy Quran on the issue of religious conversions is in accordance
with the modern international laws. It does not allow followers of Islam to
force or to coerce anybody to convert to Islam and to commit violence in the
name of spreading Islam.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-human-rights/forced-religious-conversion-quran/d/125434
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