There is no compulsion in religion

[hypnotix-2000]

Re: There is no compulsion in religion

@USResident

I know this will probably be a controversial topic and also it is a much debated one here before, now and maybe in the future.

Hopefully not for long.. hope springs eternal you know

In words of Hafiz:

بـخـت خواب آلود ما بیدار خواهد شد مـگر
زان کـه زد بر دیده آبی روی رخـشان شـما

@USResident

Recently I have been into detailed study of Sirah and context of revelation of many Quranic verses.

I finally came across when this famous verse was revealed. A synopsis of it is such:

This verse was revealed after the battle between muslim of Al-Madinah and jews of Banu An Nadir, which eventually led to the expulsion of this jewish tribe from Al-Madinah after muslims led a victorious siege of their fortresses. Before the advent of Islam the arab women of the Madinah inhabitants (either Aus or Khazraj tribes), when they had children die in their infancy they would vow to convert them to Judaism if they survived. Naturally some of the survivors grew up to be jews in the tribe of Banu An Nadir. When the jews were expelled after the battle some or many of the parents muslim arab whose children were jews did not want their children to leave. This verse was revealed in relation to those arabic jews of the Banu An Nadir tribe whose parents were muslim of Al Madinah.

Now given this context, what the verse really meant was that those who had converted to Judaism out of their parents vow were not compelled to remain steadfast in Judaism as the truthfulness of Islam had clearly been established by then. They could renounce their jewish beliefs and convert to Islam.

What are your thoughts about this given the way this verse is used nowadays by every other muslim, scholar or alim etc. This verse had often been linked with counter-apostacy arguments, it may appear related and conversely not as well. I only want constructive discussion here from those who are knowledgible enough to discuss this.

This seems like a sword that cuts both ways… so they are free to choose what they will, and it is hoped they would choose the right path.