Quran Commentary 2.12 — Freedom of the Soul and No Compulsion in Faith (2:255–257; 2:193; 2:284–286)

Quran 2:255 — Allah’s Knowledge, Justice, and the Freedom of the Soul

255. Allāh – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursī extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great. ^*

The Vastness of Creation and the Freedom of the Soul

This is a true verse.

The heavens and the earth are only part of creation. The worlds of creation are beyond counting. The entire Universe is within the sphere of the Sustainer, and He knows the past, the present, and the future.

Yet knowledge does not mean coercion.

The Almighty does not predetermine the future of the soul as a sentence imposed without choice. He gives each soul the freedom to choose its path.

Yet even knowing which souls will not pass into the next world, He still gives them the time of choice until the Day of Judgment. He does this because He is the Absolute of justice.

Therefore, no soul that departs into dust will be able to doubt the justice of its own fate.

Quran 2:256–257 and 2:193 — No Compulsion in Faith or Religion by the Sword?

256. There shall be no compulsion in the religion. The right course has become distinct from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in ṭāghūt and believes in Allāh has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.

257. Allāh is the Ally of those who believe. He brings them out from darknesses into the light. And those who disbelieve – their allies are ṭāghūt. They take them out of the light into darknesses. Those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein.

The Pages of the Quran Are Territory for the Soul

“There is no compulsion in religion.”

This is a true verse.

Faith cannot be imposed. It cannot be forced into the heart. If belief is compelled, it ceases to be belief.

But compare this with Quran 2:193:

Fight them until there is no [more] fitnah and [until] religion [i.e., worship] is [acknowledged to be] for Allāh. But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression [i.e., assault] except against the oppressors.”

Quran 2:193

That is: fight until religion is wholly devoted to Allah.

The essence of this phrase does not speak of a teaching from Allah given to all humanity. It speaks of dedicating religion to Allah and of a command to fight the wrongdoers.

But what is the guilt of the wrongdoers? Is it that they have their own faith?

True faith cannot be carried by the sword.

Compare these verses and understand which one speaks from conscience, and which one bears the mark of those who distort.

Many interpreters defend the distorters with inflated speech, spending a long time “proving” their correctness: they say that this phrase means this or that, that it must be understood in some special way. But the majority of people do not listen to such explanations. They receive the literal words of the distorters.

And literal words that command violence can become a weapon in the hands of ignorance.

The pages of the Quran are like territory for your soul.

Do not allow the distorters to litter this territory. Do not fear the anger of the ignorant. Fear only showing weakness before distortion.

Then the Almighty and the Prophet will smile upon you, because you have stood on the side of the truths in the Quran against those who distort the sacred Quran.

True faith cannot be imposed. It must be recognized through conscience.

Quran 2:284–286 — When “Advisers to the Creator” Enter Sacred Text

284. To Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. Whether you show what is within yourselves or conceal it, Allāh will bring you to account for it. Then He will forgive whom He wills and punish whom He wills, and Allāh is over all things competent.

285. The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allāh and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination.”

286. Allāh does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. “Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people.”

Sacred Scripture Requires Sacred Responsibility

This is a glorious passage.

But to what was spoken from truth, “advisers to the Creator” were added. They advise the Almighty how He should act:

“Do not impose blame upon us if…”

“Do not lay upon us a burden…”

“Do not burden us with that which…”

“Pardon us…”

There is no sin if an ignorant person does not understand that he is advising the Almighty how to act.

But religious custodians must think for a long time and consult with one another when interpreting what was spoken by a prophet.

Sacred Scripture is not a place where scribes without sacred knowledge or spiritual sight may enter and leave their additions.

A text that calls people to reflection must itself be read with conscience. A verse that carries truth must not be used to protect additions that lower the dignity of the Almighty, weaken the soul into servile fear, or turn prayer into instruction addressed to the Creator.

The Almighty does not need advice. The human soul needs awakening.

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* The text of the Quran is quoted from Surah Al-Baqarah 2:255–257; 2:193; 2:284–286 — Quran.com (Translation by Saheeh International) ↑ back