Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: {There is no compulsion in religion...} the verse
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Q: It is mentioned in the Noble Qur'an: [al-Baqarah: 256] What is the meaning of this?
A: The scholars of knowledge (may Allah have mercy on them) mentioned in the exegesis of this verse what its meaning is: that this verse is a statement whose meaning is a prohibition, namely: do not compel anyone who does not wish to enter it into the Islamic religion, for the right path has become clear, and it is the religion of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence. It is the oneness of Allah by worshipping Him, obeying His commands, and leaving His prohibitions And it is: the religion of Abu Jahl and his like among the polytheists who worship other than Allah, such as idols, awliya (close friends of Allah), angels, prophets, and others. This was before Allah the Exalted legislated jihad with the sword against all polytheists, except those from the People of the Book and the Zoroastrians who pay the jizyah (tax on protected non-Muslims). Accordingly, this verse is specific to the People of the Book and the Zoroastrians if they pay the jizyah and submit to humiliation, for they are not compelled to Islam because of this noble verse and because of His saying in Surat al-Tawbah: [al-Tawbah: 29] So Allah the Exalted lifted the obligation of fighting from the People of the Book if they pay the jizyah and submit to humiliation.
It is established in the authentic hadiths from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he took the jizyah from the Zoroastrians of al-Hajar. As for those other than the People of the Book and the Zoroastrians among the disbelievers, polytheists, and atheists, the obligatory thing, with the ability to do so, is to call them to Islam. If they respond, praise be to Allah; and if they do not respond, it is obligatory to fight them until they enter Islam, and the jizyah is not accepted from them. This is because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not demand it from the disbelievers of the Arabs, nor did he accept it from them. And because his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) , when they fought the disbelievers after his death (peace and blessings be upon him), did not accept the jizyah except from the People of the Book and the Zoroastrians. Among the evidence for this is His saying the Exalted: [al-Tawbah: 5] So He did not give them the choice between Islam and remaining on their religion, nor did He demand the jizyah from them. Rather, He commanded fighting them until they repent from shirk (associating partners with Allah), establish the prayer, and pay the zakah (the obligatory alms). This indicates that nothing is accepted from all polytheists, except the People of the Book and the Zoroastrians, but Islam, and this is with the ability to do so. The verses in this meaning are numerous.
It is authentic from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) many hadiths indicating this meaning, among them: the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "I have been commanded to fight the people until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and they establish the prayer and pay the zakah. When they do that, their blood and property are protected from me except by the right of Islam, and their account is with Allah the Mighty and Majestic." It is agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim that it is authentic. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not give them the choice between Islam and remaining on their false religion, nor did he demand the jizyah from them. This indicates that the obligatory thing is to compel the disbelievers to Islam until they enter it, except for the People of the Book and the Zoroastrians, because of the happiness and salvation for them in this world and the Hereafter that lies in this. This is among the excellences of Islam, for it came to rescue the disbelievers from the causes of their destruction, humiliation, lowliness, and punishment in this world and the Hereafter, to the causes of salvation, honor, dignity, and happiness in this world and the Hereafter. This is the opinion of the majority of the scholars of knowledge in the exegesis of the verse in question.
As for the People of the Book and the Zoroastrians, they were specifically granted the acceptance of the jizyah and the cessation of fighting them if they pay it, for reasons that necessitated this. In compelling them to pay the jizyah is humiliation and lowliness for them, and assistance for the Muslims in their jihad against them and others, and in implementing the matters of the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) and spreading the Islamic call throughout the inhabited world. Also, in compelling the People of the Book and the Zoroastrians to pay the jizyah is carrying them to enter Islam and leaving what they are upon of falsehood, humiliation, and lowliness; so that they may attain happiness, salvation, and honor in this world and the Hereafter.
And I hope that what we have mentioned is sufficient and clarifies what was difficult for you.
And I ask Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) to make us and you and the rest of the Muslims successful in understanding the religion and steadfast upon it. He is the best of those asked. And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong.
لا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّA: The scholars of knowledge (may Allah have mercy on them) mentioned in the exegesis of this verse what its meaning is: that this verse is a statement whose meaning is a prohibition, namely: do not compel anyone who does not wish to enter it into the Islamic religion, for the right path has become clear, and it is the religion of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence. It is the oneness of Allah by worshipping Him, obeying His commands, and leaving His prohibitions
from the error
مِنَ الْغَيِّFight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled.
قَاتِلُوا الَّذِينَ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلا بِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَلا يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَلا يَدِينُونَ دِينَ الْحَقِّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حَتَّى يُعْطُوا الْجِزْيَةَ عَنْ يَدٍ وَهُمْ صَاغِرُونَIt is established in the authentic hadiths from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he took the jizyah from the Zoroastrians of al-Hajar. As for those other than the People of the Book and the Zoroastrians among the disbelievers, polytheists, and atheists, the obligatory thing, with the ability to do so, is to call them to Islam. If they respond, praise be to Allah; and if they do not respond, it is obligatory to fight them until they enter Islam, and the jizyah is not accepted from them. This is because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not demand it from the disbelievers of the Arabs, nor did he accept it from them. And because his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) , when they fought the disbelievers after his death (peace and blessings be upon him), did not accept the jizyah except from the People of the Book and the Zoroastrians. Among the evidence for this is His saying the Exalted:
And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
فَإِذَا انْسَلَخَ الْأَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدْتُمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ وَاحْصُرُوهُمْ وَاقْعُدُوا لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ فَإِنْ تَابُوا وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ فَخَلُّوا سَبِيلَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌIt is authentic from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) many hadiths indicating this meaning, among them: the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "I have been commanded to fight the people until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and they establish the prayer and pay the zakah. When they do that, their blood and property are protected from me except by the right of Islam, and their account is with Allah the Mighty and Majestic." It is agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim that it is authentic. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not give them the choice between Islam and remaining on their false religion, nor did he demand the jizyah from them. This indicates that the obligatory thing is to compel the disbelievers to Islam until they enter it, except for the People of the Book and the Zoroastrians, because of the happiness and salvation for them in this world and the Hereafter that lies in this. This is among the excellences of Islam, for it came to rescue the disbelievers from the causes of their destruction, humiliation, lowliness, and punishment in this world and the Hereafter, to the causes of salvation, honor, dignity, and happiness in this world and the Hereafter. This is the opinion of the majority of the scholars of knowledge in the exegesis of the verse in question.
As for the People of the Book and the Zoroastrians, they were specifically granted the acceptance of the jizyah and the cessation of fighting them if they pay it, for reasons that necessitated this. In compelling them to pay the jizyah is humiliation and lowliness for them, and assistance for the Muslims in their jihad against them and others, and in implementing the matters of the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) and spreading the Islamic call throughout the inhabited world. Also, in compelling the People of the Book and the Zoroastrians to pay the jizyah is carrying them to enter Islam and leaving what they are upon of falsehood, humiliation, and lowliness; so that they may attain happiness, salvation, and honor in this world and the Hereafter.
And I hope that what we have mentioned is sufficient and clarifies what was difficult for you.
And I ask Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) to make us and you and the rest of the Muslims successful in understanding the religion and steadfast upon it. He is the best of those asked. And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.