Freedom Before Accepting Islam, Responsibility After Accepting Islam
✍🏻 Muhammad Aadil Arariawi
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Respected Readers, these days non-Muslims spread all sorts of rumors. It is their profession to always say something or the other about Islam. Alhamdulillah, our elders have always refuted their claims with arguments. Who will make them understand that Islam gives a person the right to think, understand, and make independent decisions? Faith is not a matter of coercion or pressure, but rather a demand of the heart's consent and conscious choice. That is why Islam has kept the door of invitation open, but categorically rejects coercion. However, when a person recognizes the truth and accepts Islam of his own free will, then it does not remain merely a theory, but becomes a responsible covenant, the requirements of which are associated with both the individual and society. In Islam, there is definitely an order for invitation and preaching, but there is absolutely no permission for coercion. The Holy Quran explains this principle very clearly. Allah Almighty says to His beloved, peace and blessings be upon him, "Do you want to force people to become believers?"
أَفَأَنتَ تُكْرِهُ النَّاسَ حَتّىٰ يَكُونُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ (Yunus, verse 99) And in another place He said, "Say, 'This is the truth from your Lord; so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve.'"
وَقُلِ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِنْ وَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ
Similarly, it has been announced in clear words: "لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ (Al-Baqarah 256) There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong."
From these verses, it becomes as clear as day that Islam is not a religion of coercion, violence, and compulsion. It is not permissible to force a person into Islam through coercion, nor is such Islam valid with Allah. The Quran and Hadith agree on the fact that faith is only valid if it is chosen from the depths of the heart and with complete consent. Mere outward affirmation while the heart is empty of faith is called hypocrisy in Quranic terminology, and the Quran's verdict on hypocrites is very severe.
اِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ (An-Nisa 145)
Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire. Therefore, Islam's clear and unequivocal principle is that no one will be forced to accept Islam, and no injustice or unfair treatment will be meted out to those who do not accept Islam.
However, the fact cannot be ignored that a person who accepts Islam with his full consent, consciousness, and will, is not merely accepting an ideological affiliation, but is accepting a formal religious and moral responsibility. The issue of apostasy in Islam is understood in this context.
This can be understood by a well-known worldly example. No one is forced to join the army, but when he joins the army of his own free will, then he becomes bound by military discipline, laws, and responsibilities. In such a situation, he is not given the option to leave the army without any rules whenever he wants. If these laws of the world are considered reasonable and acceptable, then how can this principle of Islam be considered unreasonable? Furthermore, if a person had doubts about Islam or its teachings, then why did he rush to accept Islam? Apostasy does not remain merely a personal act, but through it, it causes damage to the religion of Islam, Islamic Sharia, and the Muslim society, and causes Islam to be defamed and discourages new Muslims. For this reason, it has been declared a serious collective crime in Islamic jurisprudence.
Before accepting Islam, a person was a free non-Muslim, but after accepting Islam, he becomes a part of the Islamic society and bound by its system and laws. The accepted principle of the world is also that a person who acquires the citizenship of a state is bound by its constitution and laws. If a citizen declares rebellion against the state laws and system, he is given the harshest punishment, even the death penalty in some cases. So, if rebellion against a country, its laws, or its leader is considered a serious crime, then how can open rebellion against Islam, its laws, and the Prophet of Islam, peace and blessings be upon him, be considered a mere trivial act?
For some years now, miscreants have falsely accused our leader and guide, the preacher of Islam, Hazrat Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui Sahib, of forcibly converting people to Islam and have imprisoned him, whereas Islam is accepted not by force but by love, morality, and good character. There has been no such incident in fourteen hundred years that anyone has forced anyone to accept Islam. No one can do such a thing because these are not the teachings of our Islam. One day, the trumpet of Islam will sound throughout the world, Insha'Allah. Al-Haqqu ya'lu wa la yu'laa - Truth always prevails and is supreme. Nothing can overcome it. Nowadays, these miscreants say that they will erase Islam, they will do this, they will do that, although this is only their illusion, which will not be fulfilled until the Day of Judgment, Insha'Allah Al-Aziz.
May Allah Almighty grant Hazrat Maulana release as soon as possible and grant us all a correct understanding of the religion and keep us steadfast on Islam forever.
Ameen, Ya Rabb al-Alameen.