Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 256

256. 1. In its context of revelation, it is mentioned that some young men from the Ansar had become Jews and Christians. Then, when these Ansar became Muslims, they wanted to forcibly convert their young children, who had become Christians, to Islam as well, upon which this verse was revealed. Due to this context, some commentators have considered it specific to the People of the Book, meaning that the People of the Book living in a Muslim state, if they pay jizyah, should not be forced to accept Islam. However, in terms of ruling, this verse is general, meaning that no one should be compelled to accept Islam, because Allah has made both guidance and misguidance clear. However, jihad for the eradication of disbelief and polytheism and to break the power of falsehood is something different from compulsion and coercion. The purpose is to eliminate the force and pressure from society that stands as an obstacle in the way of practicing and preaching Allah’s religion, so that every person, if he wishes, may remain on his disbelief, and if he wishes, may enter Islam. Since the obstructing powers will continue to arise, the command and need for jihad will also remain until the Day of Judgment, as it is mentioned in the hadith: "Al-jihad maadhin ila yawm al-qiyamah" — Jihad will continue until the Day of Judgment. The Prophet ﷺ himself waged jihad against the disbelievers and polytheists and said: "Umirtu an uqatil al-naas hatta yashhadu..." (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab al-Iman, Bab fa-in tabu wa aqamu al-salat...) — I have been commanded to fight the people until they testify that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Similarly, the punishment of apostasy by death does not contradict this verse, as some people try to suggest, because the purpose of the punishment for apostasy is not compulsion or coercion, but the protection of the ideological status of the Islamic state. In an Islamic state, a disbeliever may indeed be allowed to remain on his disbelief, but once he enters Islam, he cannot be allowed to rebel and deviate from it. Therefore, he should embrace Islam after careful thought, because if this permission were given, the ideological foundation could be undermined, which would spread ideological confusion and intellectual anarchy, endangering the peace of the Islamic society and the stability of the country. Therefore, just as crimes like murder, theft, adultery, robbery, and banditry cannot be permitted in the name of human rights, likewise, ideological rebellion (apostasy) cannot be permitted in the name of freedom of opinion in an Islamic state. This is not compulsion or coercion, but the killing of the apostate is true justice, just as giving severe punishments to those who commit murder, violence, and moral crimes is true justice. The purpose of one is the ideological protection of the country, and the purpose of the other is to save the country from evil and corruption, and both purposes are indispensable for a state. Today, most Islamic countries, by ignoring both these objectives, are facing such confusions, difficulties, and troubles that need no explanation.