No compulsion in accepting Islam
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Q: Some of the brothers say: One who does not enter Islam is considered free and is not compelled to accept Islam. They cite the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Yunus: 99], and His saying: [al-Baqarah: 256]. What is your opinion, Your Eminence, on this?
A: These two noble verses, and the other verses with the same meaning, are understood by the scholars to apply to those from whom the jizyah is taken, such as the Jews, the Christians, and the Zoroastrians. They are not compelled, but rather they are given the choice between Islam and paying the jizyah.
Other scholars have said that this applied at the beginning, and was then abrogated by the command of Allah the Exalted to fight and strive in His path. Therefore, if one refuses to enter Islam, it is obligatory to fight him, if able, until he enters Islam or pays the jizyah, if he is from those who are subject to it. Thus, it is obligatory to compel disbelievers to accept Islam if they are not from those from whom the jizyah is taken; because their Islam brings them happiness and salvation in this world and the Hereafter. Compelling a person to the truth, which contains guidance and happiness, is better for him than falsehood, just as a person is compelled to the truth that is due to the children of Adam, even by imprisonment or beating. Therefore, compelling disbelievers to the oneness of Allah and entering the religion of Islam is more preferable and more obligatory; because it contains their happiness in the immediate and the ultimate, except if they are from the People of the Book, such as the Jews and the Christians, or the Zoroastrians. For these three groups, the Shari'ah has stated that they are given the choice: either they enter Islam, or they pay the jizyah with their own hands while they are humbled.
Some scholars have held the view that others should be included with them in the choice between Islam and the jizyah. However, the stronger position is that others are not included with them, but rather these three groups are the ones who are given the choice. This is because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) fought the disbelievers in the Arabian Peninsula and did not accept from them anything but Islam. Allah the Exalted said: [al-Tawbah: 5], and He did not say: "or pay the jizyah." So the Jews, the Christians, and the Zoroastrians are required to accept Islam; if they refuse, then the jizyah; if they refuse that, then it is obligatory for the people of Islam to fight them, if they are able to do so. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: : [al-Tawbah: 29].
And since it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he took the jizyah from the Zoroastrians, and it is not established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or from his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) that they took the jizyah from anyone other than the three groups mentioned, the original ruling in this matter is the saying of Allah the Exalted: [al-Anfal: 39], and His saying: [al-Tawbah: 5]. This verse is called the Verse of the Sword, and it, along with similar verses, is the abrogator of the verses that contain no compulsion to accept Islam.
And Allah is the One who grants success.
Then, [O Muhammad], would you compel the people in order that they become believers?
أَفَأَنْتَ تُكْرِهُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مُؤْمِنِينَThere shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion
لا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِA: These two noble verses, and the other verses with the same meaning, are understood by the scholars to apply to those from whom the jizyah is taken, such as the Jews, the Christians, and the Zoroastrians. They are not compelled, but rather they are given the choice between Islam and paying the jizyah.
Other scholars have said that this applied at the beginning, and was then abrogated by the command of Allah the Exalted to fight and strive in His path. Therefore, if one refuses to enter Islam, it is obligatory to fight him, if able, until he enters Islam or pays the jizyah, if he is from those who are subject to it. Thus, it is obligatory to compel disbelievers to accept Islam if they are not from those from whom the jizyah is taken; because their Islam brings them happiness and salvation in this world and the Hereafter. Compelling a person to the truth, which contains guidance and happiness, is better for him than falsehood, just as a person is compelled to the truth that is due to the children of Adam, even by imprisonment or beating. Therefore, compelling disbelievers to the oneness of Allah and entering the religion of Islam is more preferable and more obligatory; because it contains their happiness in the immediate and the ultimate, except if they are from the People of the Book, such as the Jews and the Christians, or the Zoroastrians. For these three groups, the Shari'ah has stated that they are given the choice: either they enter Islam, or they pay the jizyah with their own hands while they are humbled.
Some scholars have held the view that others should be included with them in the choice between Islam and the jizyah. However, the stronger position is that others are not included with them, but rather these three groups are the ones who are given the choice. This is because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) fought the disbelievers in the Arabian Peninsula and did not accept from them anything but Islam. Allah the Exalted said:
But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
فَإِنْ تَابُوا وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ فَخَلُّوا سَبِيلَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌFight 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 َورَسُولُهُ وَلا يَدِينُونَ دِينَ الْحَقِّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حَتَّى يُعْطُوا الْجِزْيَةَ عَنْ يَدٍ وَهُمْ صَاغِرُونَAnd since it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he took the jizyah from the Zoroastrians, and it is not established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or from his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) that they took the jizyah from anyone other than the three groups mentioned, the original ruling in this matter is the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And fight them until there is no fitnah and [until] the religion, all of it, is for Allah
وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ كُلُّهُ لِلَّهِAnd 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 رَحِيمٌAnd Allah is the One who grants success.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.