No Compulsion In Religion- Threat Of Punishment
In the name of the all-forgiving. As I see it. The question has been answered already in the previous posts though partially. The compulsion in religion has some facets that are not apparent immediately. For example, can we compel some one to believe? Does it actually happen? We can try to but the heart is allusive and resistant to interrogation. One can profess but still not own it. Religion is always a voluntary acceptance. This is from the perspective of the one on the receiving end. Consider the forced conversions of Muslims to Christianity in Andalusia viz-a-viz Spanish inquisition but those converts would continue to practice Islam in their homes. Now the one on the giving end is not allowed to because of the futility of this action again because of the above elaboration. Qur’ān forbids it and invites logic to differentiate between the truth and the falsehood. Secondly, in the day of judgement, after having practiced free will in this life, on my own terms, knowing well the consequences of my actions; I will have to pay the price like I bought a product and I have to pay the price on exit. For the immediate audience of the Qur’ān that day of judgement had been brought forth “now,” not after death. Now consider this. The deniers of the truth would go to hell on the day of judgement but now, in this life, they are “used” as an example for others to come. Take this analogy. A murderer is put to death, in a private room with no audience versus in public. He was destined to die anyways but his death is used for the benefit of others when done in public. The kuffaar were destined to go to hell anyways but their destiny in this life is used for the benefit of others. So I could say they didn’t die in vain rather they taught others what not to do. No compulsion and Itemaam-e-hujjat are 2 different processes. Stay blessed, always.