Page 96 - Islam Denounces Terrorism

94 Islam Denounces Terrorism

Other verses in which compulsion is prohibited read:

Say: "It is the truth from your Lord; so let whoever wishes have faith
and whoever wishes be irreligious"… (Qur'an, 18:29)

If your Lord had willed, all the people on the earth would have had
faith. Do you think you can force people to be believers? (Qur'an,
10:99)

We know best what they say. You are not a dictator over them. So
remind, with the Qur'an, whoever fears My threat. (Qur'an, 50:45)
Say: "Unbelievers! I do not worship what you worship and you do not
worship what I worship. Nor will I worship what you worship nor
will you worship what I worship. You have your religion and I have
my religion." (Qur'an, 109:1-6)

Since force and compulsion are prohibited in the Qur'an, there is
no justification for war, aggression, enmity or anger. What things,

apart from converting, would Muslims compel polytheistic communi-
ties to do? It is clear that it is unlawful for someone to be forced to con-
vert. Therefore, according to the Islam of the Qur'an, imposing Islam
can never be a pretext for war.

War Cannot Be Waged for Ideological or
Ethnic Superiority

Islam respects all ideologies, all nations, all ethnic groups, all
ideas and all faiths. Islam is a religion in which all ideas are listened to
and that permits the maximum possible freedom of thought and
expression. War due to any clash of ideas or clash of ethnicities is of

course impossible in a faith with such an excellent conception of
democracy and freedom.