Does the Quran teach freedom of religion?
I picked up the Quran to look into what it says about how to treat others with different beliefs. I collected every passage I could find on the subject. Here’s are the three main themes I found.
1. “There is no compulsion in religion.”
This is the main sentiment I found repeated over and over. There is no compulsion in religion. The right path and the wrong path are marked clearly, and it is up to each one of us to follow the path they choose.
“There is no compulsion in religion: true guidance has become distinct from error, so whoever rejects false gods and believes in God has grasped the firmest handhold, one that will never break.”
2. The prophet is “no more than a bearer of warning.”
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is instructed to say over and over to people that he is “no more than a bearer of warning, and good news to those who believe” (Quran 7:188). Even the prophet is not authorized by God to compel people to believe.
“Had your Lord willed, all the people on earth would have believed. So can you [Prophet] compel people to believe?”
The prophet is reminded by God that he has no control over benefit or harm, that he is no more than a bearer of God’s message. He is instructed to patiently and politely endure the ridicule of those who don’t believe his message, to “bear with them graciously”", and not grieve over the fact that he was not able to convince them. Instead, he should go on paying his attention to those who believe.
“Say [Prophet], ‘I have no control over benefit or harm, [even] to myself, except as God may please: if I had knowledge of what is hidden, I would have abundant good things and no harm could touch me. I am no more than a bearer of warning, and good news to those who believe.’”
“So [Prophet] ignore those who turn away from Our revelation, who want only the life of this world. Their knowledge does not go beyond that. Your Lord knows best who strays from His path and who follows guidance.”
“Patiently endure what they say, ignore them politely, and leave to me those who deny the truth and live in luxury.”
“So [prophet], bear with them graciously… Do not grieve over the [disbelievers], but lower your wings over the believers and say, ‘I am here to give plain warning,’… So proclaim openly what you have been commanded [to say], and ignore the idolaters.”
“So ignore them [Prophet]-you are not to blame-and go on reminding [people], it is good for those who believe to be reminded.”
3. To each what they worship.
In fact, the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims can be summed up perfectly in one entire chapter of the Quran, aptly titled “The Disbelievers”.
“Say [Prophet], ‘Disbelievers: I do not worship what you worship, you do not worship what I worship, I will never worship what you worship, you will never worship what I worship: you have your religion and I have mine.’”
