Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 256

Mufti Taqi Usmani

There is no compulsion in Faith. The correct way has become distinct from the erroneous. Now, whoever rejects the Tāghūt (the Rebel, the Satan) and believes in Allah has a firm grasp on the strongest ring that never breaks. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Let there be no compulsion in religion, for the truth stands out clearly from falsehood.[[ This verse was revealed when some new Muslims tried to force their Jewish and Christian children to convert to Islam after the Prophet’s emigration (Hijrah) to Medina. The verse prohibits forced conversion. ]] So whoever renounces false gods and believes in Allah has certainly grasped the firmest, unfailing hand-hold. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

Ruwwad Translation Center

There is no compulsion in religion; the truth has been made distinct from falsehood. Whoever rejects Tāghoot [false gods] and believes in Allah, has indeed grasped the strong handhold that never breaks. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

A. J. Arberry

No compulsion is there in religion. Rectitude has become clear from error. So whosoever disbelieves in idols and believes in God, has laid hold of the most firm handle, unbreaking; God is All-hearing, All-knowing.

Abdul Haleem

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 hand-hold, one that will never break. God is all hearing and all knowing.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

No constraint is there in the religion; surely rectitude hath become manifestly distinguished from the error. Whosoever then disbelieveth in the devil and believeth in Allah, hath of a surety rain hold of the firm cable whereof there is no giving way. And Allah is Hearing, Knowing.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Let there be no compulsion in religion; Truth stands out clear from Error; whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.

Abul Ala Maududi

There is no compulsion and coercion in regard to religion. The right thing has been made distinct from the wrong thing: now whoever rejects taghut and believes in Allah has taken a firm support that never gives way.

Ahmed Ali

There is no compulsion in matter of faith. Distinct is the way of guidance now from error. He who turns away from the forces of evil and believes in God, will surely hold fast to a handle that is strong and unbreakable, for God hears all and knows everything.

Ahmed Raza Khan

There is no compulsion at all in religion; undoubtedly the right path has become very distinct from error; and whoever rejects faith in the devil (false deities) and believes in Allah has grasped a very firm handhold; it will never loosen; and Allah is All Hearing, All Knowing.

Ali Quli Qarai

There is no compulsion in religion: rectitude has become distinct from error. So one who disavows fake deities and has faith in Allah has held fast to the firmest handle for which there is no breaking; and Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.

Ali Ünal

There is no compulsion in the Religion. The right way stands there clearly distinguished from the false. Hence he who rejects the taghut (false deities, and powers of evil who institute patterns of faith and rule in defiance of God) and believes in God (as the only God, Lord and Object of Worship) has indeed taken hold of the firm, unbreakable handle; and God is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

Amatul Rahman Omar

There is no compulsion of any sort in religion (as) the right way does stand obviously distinguished from the way of error. Now he that shall reject the transgressor and accepts Allâh (let such know that he) has laid hold of a support firm and strong which knows no breaking. Allâh is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

English Literal

No compulsion/force in the religion, the correct/right had been clarified , from the misguidance/failure , so who disbelieves with the devil/every thing worshipped other than God and believes with God, so he had held fast/clung to with the tie/handle , the tight/affirmed, no breaking/cutting to it, and God (is) hearing/listening, knowledgeable.

Faridul Haque

There is no compulsion at all in religion; undoubtedly the right path has become very distinct from error; and whoever rejects faith in the devil (false deities) and believes in Allah has grasped a very firm handhold; it will never loosen; and Allah is All Hearing, All Knowing.

Hamid S. Aziz

There is no compulsion in religion; the right way is henceforth distinct from the wrong. And whoever rejects Taghut (false deities) and believes in Allah, he has grasped a firm handle which will not break; but Allah is both Hearer and Knower.

Hilali & Khan

There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

There is no compulsion in religion -- the right way is indeed clearly distinct from error. So whoever disbelieves in the devil and believes in Allah, he indeed lays hold on the firmest handle which shall never break. And Allah is Hearing, Knowing.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has become clearly distinct from error; therefore, whoever disbelieves in the Shaitan and believes in Allah he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle, which shall not break off, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error. And he who rejecteth false deities and believeth in Allah hath grasped a firm handhold which will never break. Allah is Hearer, Knower.

Muhammad Sarwar

There is no compulsion in religion. Certainly, right has become clearly distinct from wrong. Whoever rejects the devil and believes in God has firmly taken hold of a strong handle that never breaks. God is All-hearing and knowing.

Qaribullah & Darwish

There is no compulsion in religion. Righteousness is now distinct from error. He who disbelieves in the idol and believes in Allah has grasped the firmest tie that will never break. Allah is Hearing, Knowing.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the right path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

Wahiduddin Khan

There shall be no compulsion in religion: true guidance has become distinct from error. But whoever refuses to be led by Satan and believes in God has grasped the strong handhold that will never break. God is all hearing and all knowing.

Talal Itani

There shall be no compulsion in religion; the right way has become distinct from the wrong way. Whoever renounces evil and believes in God has grasped the most trustworthy handle; which does not break. God is Hearing and Knowing.

Tafsir jalalayn

There is no compulsion in, entering into, religion. Rectitude has become clear from error, that is say, through clear proofs it has become manifest that faith is rectitude and disbelief is error; this was revealed concerning the Ansr [of Medina] who tried to compel their sons to enter into Islam; so whoever disbelieves in the false deity, namely, Satan or idols (tght, `false deity', is used in a singular and plural sense), and believes in God, has laid hold of the most firm handle, the tight knot, unbreaking, that cannot be severed; God is Hearing, of what is said, Knowing, of what is done.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

No Compulsion in Religion

Allah says,

لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ

There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the right path has become distinct from the wrong path.

لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ
(There is no compulsion in religion),

meaning, "Do not force anyone to become Muslim, for Islam is plain and clear, and its proofs and evidence are plain and clear. Therefore, there is no need to force anyone to embrace Islam. Rather, whoever Allah directs to Islam, opens his heart for it and enlightens his mind, will embrace Islam with certainty.

Whoever Allah blinds his heart and seals his hearing and sight, then he will not benefit from being forced to embrace Islam."

It was reported that;

the Ansar were the reason behind revealing this Ayah, although its indication is general in meaning.

Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn Abbas said (that before Islam),

"When (an Ansar) woman would not bear children who would live, she would vow that if she gives birth to a child who remains alive, she would raise him as a Jew.

When Banu An-Nadir (the Jewish tribe) were evacuated (from Al-Madinah), some of the children of the Ansar were being raised among them, and the Ansar said, `We will not abandon our children.'

Allah revealed,
لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ
(There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the right path has become distinct from the wrong path)." Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i also recorded this Hadith.

As for the Hadith that Imam Ahmad recorded, in which Anas said that the Messenger of Allah said to a man,
أَسْلِم
"Embrace Islam."

The man said, "I dislike it." The Prophet said,
وَإِنْ كُنْتَ كَارِهًا
"Even if you dislike it."

First, this is an authentic Hadith, with only three narrators between Imam Ahmad and the Prophet.

However, it is not relevant to the subject under discussion, for the Prophet did not force that man to become Muslim.

The Prophet merely invited this man to become Muslim, and he replied that he does not find himself eager to become Muslim. The Prophet said to the man that even though he dislikes embracing Islam, he should still embrace it, `for Allah will grant you sincerity and true intent.'
Tawhid is the Most Trustworthy Handhold

Allah's statement,

فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُوْمِن بِاللّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىَ لَا انفِصَامَ لَهَا وَاللّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ



Whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

is in reference to, "Whoever shuns the rivals of Allah, the idols, and those that Shaytan calls to be worshipped besides Allah, whoever believes in Allah's Oneness, worships Him alone and testifies that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him,
فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىَ
(then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold).

Therefore, this person will have acquired firmness (in the religion) and proceeded on the correct way and the straight path.

Abu Al-Qasim Al-Baghawi recorded that Umar said,

"Jibt means magic, and Taghut means Shaytan.

Verily, courage and cowardice are two instincts that appear in men, the courageous fights for those whom he does not know and the coward runs away from defending his own mother. Man's honor resides with his religion and his status is based upon his character, even if he was Persian or Nabatian."

Umar's statement that Taghut is Shaytan is very sound, for this meaning includes every type of evil that the ignorant people of Jahiliyyah (pre Islamic era of ignorance) fell into, such as worshipping idols, referring to them for judgment, and invoking them for victory.

Allah's statement,

فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىَ لَا انفِصَامَ لَهَا

then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break,

means, "He will have hold of the true religion with the strongest grasp."

Allah equated this adherence to the firm handhold that never breaks because it is built solid and because its handle is firmly connected. This is why Allah said here,
فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىَ لَا انفِصَامَ لَهَا
(then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break).

Mujahid said,

"The most trustworthy handhold is Iman (faith)."

As-Suddi said that;

it refers to Islam.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Qays bin Abbad said,

"I was in the Masjid when a man whose face showed signs of humbleness came and prayed two Rak`ahs that were modest in length. The people said, `This is a man from among the people of Paradise.' When he left, I followed him until he entered his house, and I entered it after him and spoke with him. When he felt at ease, I said to him, `When you entered the Masjid, the people said such and such things.'

He said, `All praise is due to Allah! No one should say what he has no knowledge of. I will tell you why they said that.

I saw a vision during the time of the Messenger of Allah, and I narrated it to him. I saw that I was in a green garden, and he described the garden's plants and spaciousness, `and there was an iron pole in the middle of the garden affixed in the earth and its tip reached the sky. On its tip, there was a handle, and I was told to ascend the pole. I said, `I cannot.' Then a helper came and raised my robe from behind and said to me, `Ascend.' I ascended until I grasped the handle and he said to me, `Hold on to the handle.' I awoke from that dream with the handle in my hand.

I went to the Messenger of Allah and told him about the vision and he said,

أَمَّا الرَّوْضَةُ فَرَوْضَةُ الاِْسْلَمِ وَأَمَّا الْعَمُودُ فَعَمُودُ الاِْسْلَمِ وَأَمَّا الْعُرْوَةُ فَهِيَ الْعُرْوَةُ الْوُثْقَى أَنْتَ عَلَى الاِْسْلَمِ حَتَّى تَمُوت

As for the garden, it represents Islam; as for the pole, it represents the pillar of Islam; and the handle represents the most trustworthy handhold. You shall remain Muslim until you die.

This Companion was Abdullah bin Salam."

This Hadith was also collected in the Two Sahihs; and Al-Bukhari also recorded it with another chain of narration