سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 256
لَآ إِكْرَاهَ فِى ٱلدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ ٱلرُّشْدُ مِنَ ٱلْغَىِّ ۚ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِٱلطَّـٰغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱسْتَمْسَكَ بِٱلْعُرْوَةِ ٱلْوُثْقَىٰ لَا ٱنفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿256﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Tâghût and believes in Allâh, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لَآ
lā
(There is) no
إِكْرَاهَ
ik'rāha
compulsion
فِى
fī
in
ٱلدِّينِ ۖ
l-dīni
the religion
قَد
qad
Surely
تَّبَيَّنَ
tabayyana
has become distinct
ٱلرُّشْدُ
l-rush'du
the right (path)
مِنَ
mina
from
ٱلْغَىِّ ۚ
l-ghayi
the wrong
فَمَن
faman
Then whoever
يَكْفُرْ
yakfur
disbelieves
بِٱلطَّـٰغُوتِ
bil-ṭāghūti
in false deities
وَيُؤْمِنۢ
wayu'min
and believes
بِٱللَّهِ
bil-lahi
in Allah
فَقَدِ
faqadi
then surely
ٱسْتَمْسَكَ
is'tamsaka
he grasped
بِٱلْعُرْوَةِ
bil-ʿur'wati
the handhold
ٱلْوُثْقَىٰ
l-wuth'qā
[the] firm
لَا
lā
(which) not
ٱنفِصَامَ
infiṣāma
(will) break
لَهَا ۗ
lahā
[for it]
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
سَمِيعٌ
samīʿun
(is) All-Hearing
عَلِيمٌ
ʿalīmun
All-Knowing
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
256. There is no compulsion in religion. [364] The right path has become distinct from error. So whoever disbelieves in Taghut [365] and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold [366] that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
[364]
No Compulsion in Accepting Islam:
Man has been given the power of will so that if he wishes, he can submit himself to the will of Allah. Such obedience is called religion, and this is guidance, and the beliefs of the religion have been clearly stated in this Ayat al-Kursi. And if he wishes, he can use this power of will independently, and this is called disbelief and also misguidance, and both of these matters have been fully explained. Now, every person is free to the extent of accepting the religion of Islam; if he wishes, he may accept it, and if he wishes, he may reject it. But after accepting Islam, he no longer has the option to start judging the commands and guidance of the religion by the standard of his own intellect, accepting what seems reasonable to him and rejecting the rest, or acting upon some commands and leaving those that are burdensome or disliked by his nature. This too is misguidance, and he also does not retain the option to leave the religion of Islam. Because Islam is a movement, not a traditional type of religion. Therefore, apostasy from the religion is tantamount to rebellion against the entire Ummah. [تفصيل كے ليے سورة توبه كا حاشيه نمبر 38 ديكهئے]
[365]
The Meaning of Taghut:
Taghut is every false power that imposes its command over others in opposition to Allah, or people begin to accept its commands in opposition to Allah, whether it is a specific person or an institution, and obviously, these can only be people of authority, whether they are religious or political. For example, all the national, linguistic, or regional movements running nowadays are all, according to Islam, unlawful. Now, any person or institution that runs such movements is Taghut. Similarly, Satan is also Taghut, and so are those spiritual leaders who themselves commit sins and also encourage others to do the same. In the same way, every person's own self can also be Taghut when he is deviating from obedience to Allah.
[366] By the strong handhold is meant the entire Shariah and its system, and this is the handhold that can save a person from every kind of misguidance, provided he clings to it and does not even glance towards the side paths that lead elsewhere. Such a person will surely be successful.
[364]
No Compulsion in Accepting Islam:
Man has been given the power of will so that if he wishes, he can submit himself to the will of Allah. Such obedience is called religion, and this is guidance, and the beliefs of the religion have been clearly stated in this Ayat al-Kursi. And if he wishes, he can use this power of will independently, and this is called disbelief and also misguidance, and both of these matters have been fully explained. Now, every person is free to the extent of accepting the religion of Islam; if he wishes, he may accept it, and if he wishes, he may reject it. But after accepting Islam, he no longer has the option to start judging the commands and guidance of the religion by the standard of his own intellect, accepting what seems reasonable to him and rejecting the rest, or acting upon some commands and leaving those that are burdensome or disliked by his nature. This too is misguidance, and he also does not retain the option to leave the religion of Islam. Because Islam is a movement, not a traditional type of religion. Therefore, apostasy from the religion is tantamount to rebellion against the entire Ummah. [تفصيل كے ليے سورة توبه كا حاشيه نمبر 38 ديكهئے]
[365]
The Meaning of Taghut:
Taghut is every false power that imposes its command over others in opposition to Allah, or people begin to accept its commands in opposition to Allah, whether it is a specific person or an institution, and obviously, these can only be people of authority, whether they are religious or political. For example, all the national, linguistic, or regional movements running nowadays are all, according to Islam, unlawful. Now, any person or institution that runs such movements is Taghut. Similarly, Satan is also Taghut, and so are those spiritual leaders who themselves commit sins and also encourage others to do the same. In the same way, every person's own self can also be Taghut when he is deviating from obedience to Allah.
[366] By the strong handhold is meant the entire Shariah and its system, and this is the handhold that can save a person from every kind of misguidance, provided he clings to it and does not even glance towards the side paths that lead elsewhere. Such a person will surely be successful.
