Street Prophets

Ramadan Day 12: Verses from the Quran

by lauramp

Sun Oct 16, 2005 at 10:08:55 PM PDT

Each day during Ramadan, I am presenting a verse from the Quran with a few thoughts or comments. An introduction to this series is here. Inshallah (God willing), I hope that this may be of benefit to any who are interested in learning a bit more about Islam and Muslim belief.

Quran 10:99:

If your Lord had willed, all who are in the earth would have believed together. How would you then compel humankind until they believe?
This is one of several places in the Quran where it states clearly that there is no compulsion in the religion.

Even if you force someone to adopt the outward forms of a religion, you cannot actually change what is in their heart or mind or compel them to believe in something that they didn't before. So it would profit you nothing and them nothing to do this.

But more than that, compelling others to religion is going contrary to God's will and command. Here, He points out that if He had wanted everybody to all be believers, it would already be that way.

In fact, He has given everybody free will. Not everybody will use it "correctly". If He does not force anybody to believe against their will, how then do we dare to do so? That would truly be the height of arrogance against Him.


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  • Thank you (0 / 0)

    I read the verses every day.

    "There ain't no sanity clause." Chico Marx http://wfmu.org/playlists/RX

    by Asbury Park on Sun Oct 16, 2005 at 10:21:57 PM PDT

  • I'm glad you're enjoying the series! (0 / 0)

    Sorry for posting it so late today, the day kind of got away from me, lol.

    I enjoy writing these up and posting them, in part just because the response here is so wonderful.

    "Riches does not mean having a great amount of property, but riches is self-contentment." (Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him)

    by lauramp on Sun Oct 16, 2005 at 11:33:31 PM PDT

  • Asalaamu Alaikum (0 / 0)

    I agree wholeheartedly with your comments. I believe any act of obedience and any act of worship has to come from within to be fully beneficial. I am however sometimes unclear if the ayah you listed and 2:256 are just in regard to compulsion to religion/deen or acts of obedience within deen like hijab etc.

    thanks for posting

    m

    by ayah4913 on Tue Oct 18, 2005 at 09:11:32 AM PDT

    • difference of opinion (0 / 0)

      As-salaamu alaykum,

      It's good to see another Muslim posting here, al-hamdulillah. I'm sorry I didn't see your comment earlier.

      I have heard both interpretations given, so my understanding is that there is a difference of opinion on the matter. I would be interested to learn more about those who believe that it is OK to compel people within the religion and what benefit they believe is gained by this.

      "Riches does not mean having a great amount of property, but riches is self-contentment." (Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him)

      by lauramp on Fri Oct 21, 2005 at 08:13:27 PM PDT

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