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science and decides to lead a life pleasing to Allah, the other can be a
denier who reacts badly to such an invitation. However this denial
should not cause hopelessness or sorrow in the person calling to faith.

Allah says the following in the Surah Yusuf:
But most people, for all your eagerness, are not believers. You do
not ask them for any wage for it. It is only a reminder to all beings.
(Surah Yusuf: 103-104)

The important thing to bear in mind here is that the person who
invites others to follow the guidance of the Qur’an must remain true to
Allah’s recommended morality, does not compromise on this and has
faith in Allah, regardless of the reaction he gets. Allah has given man
reason and a conscience. He has shown the true path His messengers
and the Divine message revealed to them. Everyone is ultimately re-
sponsible for their own decisions. True Islamic morality can only be
practiced by sincere committal, genuine submission to Allah, and fol-
lowing at all times the voice of conscience. Forcing someone to worship
is wholly incompatible with Islamic morality, because what matters is
that a person wholeheartedly submits to Allah and genuinely believes

in Him. If a system were to force people into a religion and compel
them to worship, people would only appear to be religious because of
their fear of the system. From a religious perspective only religiosity
lived for Allah and based on free and conscious choice is acceptable.
Allah says the following to our Prophet in the Surat al-Ghashiyya:
So remind them! You are only a reminder. You are not in control of
them. But as for anyone who turns away and is unbeliever. Allah
will punish him with the Greatest Punishment. Certainly it is to Us
they will return. Then their Reckoning is Our concern. (Surat al-
Ghashiyya: 21-26)
The Islamic religion leaves people free to choose their faith and
commands them to respect other people’s religious choice. Even if

Islam And Far Eastern Religions