Importance of Freedom of Choice

IMPORTANCE OF FREEDOM OF CHOICE Religious freedom is a basic human right. The Quran says: “There shall be no compulsion in religion.” (2:256) Islamic jurists hold that any attempt to coerce a person to accept Islam is a grievous sin. Religious freedom is a basic human right whose violation has caused conflicts, wars, and bloodshed in both ancient and modern societies. Centuries ago, the Quran declared, possibly for the first time in human history: “There shall be no compulsion in religion.” (2: 256) The Quran also states: “You have your religion, and I have mine.” (109:6) The principle reflected in the above two Quranic verses can be referred to in today’s context as ‘the principle of religious freedom’. Given the prohibition of compulsion in matters of religion, Islamic jurists hold that forcible conversion to Islam is, under all circumstances, null and void. Any attempt to coerce a person to accept Islam is a grievous sin. According to this principle of ‘non-coercion,’ it is not permissible to exploit or manipulate personal weaknesses or calamities (e.g., poverty, sickness, famine, etc.) for religious conversion. Once, a Jewish widow came to the Caliph Umar asking for some financial aid. Umar promised to take care of her needs and presented Islam to her. However, the woman refused this offer. Umar then gave her more than she had asked for. When she departed, Umar raised his hands towards heaven and said: “O God, bear witness that ‘There shall be no compulsion in religion.’” (Al-Muhalla, Ibn Hazm, Vol. 12, p. 120)