Let there be no compulsion...-01

Assalaamu alaikum [peace be to you],

The Almighty God says in the Final testament:
لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ ۚ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ لَا انفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
"Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects the Taghoot* and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing."
^{translation of Qur'an 2:256
*The Arabic word الطَّاغُوتِ -the Taghoot- means false gods.
some other translators of the Qur'an translated it as "Evil", "Shaytan (Satan)", and "idols, devils and seducers".}

So, what does it mean when the God says "There is no compulsion in religion"?

When it says “Let there be no compulsion in religion”, it is stated in an absolute manner. And the verse continues to say: “The Right Way stands clearly distinguished from the wrong”, which implies that guidance has been made plain and distinct from the error.
God has made His message plain, the truth and error are now distinct and there is no need to compel anyone to be this or that (religion). In fact, it would be wrong to compel anyone. If you compel somebody to be a Muslim then they wouldn’t really be a Muslim, because to be a Muslim means that you have to be a Muslim at heart. The classical Muslim scholars said that it involves the affirmation by the tongue and also the conviction of the mind; the two things have to come together.
So you can only force a person to confess verbally and say: “Yes, I am Muslim; yes I declare the testimony of faith of Islam." But then, in their mind, there belief could be something contrary to that.
Since that is what is required, then how can you compel somebody to be a Muslim? It is really impossible; you will be just fooling yourself if you think you can compel someone to be a Muslim.

One of the fundamental truths established by the sacred texts is that no one can be compelled to accept Islam. It is the duty of Muslims to establish the proof of Islam to the people so that truth can be made clear from falsehood. After that, whoever wishes to accept Islam may do so and whoever wishes to continue upon unbelief may do so. No one should be threatened or harmed in any way if he does not wish to accept Islam.

^{from: [link] and [link]}

... to be continued, in sha'Allah [God willing]


IN THE DRAWING:
- The "لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ" written in Farsi (Nastaligh) script.
- I was experimenting with a new way of coloring here. I think the soft colors come out well.



If I am right, it is from the God Almighty. If I am wrong, it is from myself.