Religious Freedom
4 items across 2 content types
Questions (2)
Does Islam support violence against non-Muslims?
No. The Qur'an explicitly states 'there is no compulsion in religion' (2:256) and permits fighting only in self-defense. Verses about warfare were revealed in specific historical contexts of persecution and self-defense, not as blanket commands.
How can Islam be called the religion of peace when it was spread by the sword?
The claim that Islam was spread by the sword is historically false. The word 'Islam' itself comes from 'salaam' (peace). Historian De Lacy O'Leary called this 'one of the most fantastically absurd myths.' Muslims ruled Spain for 800 years without forced conversions, over 80% of India remained non-Muslim after centuries of Muslim rule, and Indonesia — the world's largest Muslim country — was never invaded by a Muslim army.
Qur'an Verses (2)
لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ
La ikraha fid-din. Qad tabayyana ar-rushdu min al-ghayy
“There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong.”
وَقُلِ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَمَن شَآءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَآءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ
Wa qulil-haqqu min Rabbikum. Fa man sha'a falyu'min wa man sha'a falyakfur
“And say, 'The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills — let him believe; and whoever wills — let him disbelieve.'”