But we are also witness to the fact that while a small majority accepted the Divine wisdom and accepted the reality of a One True God while others confronted the prophets with anger, arrogance for they never wanted to part with their centuries old beliefs and "faith" in their gods. If Allah wanted His commandments and wisdom be accepted, He could very simply do it and with just one Divine nod, the entire people could come running to enter the fold of the Divine faith. But this never happened.
We see prophets being tortured, even thrown into burning fire, pelted and stoned and even mercilessly killed by people averse to accepting the true Divine faith. Here the question arises: Couldn't prophets "enforce" faith? Well, the inability of prophets to enforce faith can be understood as part of a larger Divine plan that emphasizes freedom, personal responsibility, and the importance of genuine, voluntary belief. Unlike a very popular perception by non-Muslims that attribute spread of Islam through sword, it would be seen that were it be true, every Spanish would have been a Muslim after almost 800 years long Muslim rule over Spain or almost a similar time span of Musljjm rule over India, where the majority of Indians remained Hindu under the rule of Muslims.
Even father of revered Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham, peace be upon him) could not convince his father to accept the will of Allah and follow the true path, ;leaving idolatry (Lot, Nuh (Noah, peace be upon him) also could not convince his son and likewise Prophet Lut (Lot, peace be upon him) could not convince his wife to follow faith of Allah. Abu Talib, the beloved uncle of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who protected his orphan nephew against the cruelty of non-Muslims of his tribe, did not enter fold of Islam despite being uncle of a prophet.
Let us then examine some reasons why prophets did not enforce the Divine faith on the people they were sent to, for they always told their people that they are only messengers to bring Divine message to them and were not in any way demagogues or brute force to change their hearts and minds by force:
- Free Will: One of the core aspects of many religious teachings is the concept of free will. People are given the choice to believe or not believe, to follow guidance or reject it. If prophets were to force people into faith, it would contradict the idea of personal choice and responsibility, which is a foundational principle in many religious frameworks.
- Role as Guides, Not Enforcers: Prophets are often seen as role models or guides, offering wisdom, guidance, and knowledge. They are not meant to force change, but to inspire through example and communication. Their role is to invite others to faith, not to coerce or compel belief.
- Test of Faith: In many religious traditions, the challenges of life and the exercise of faith are seen as tests. Prophets help people navigate these challenges, but they cannot take away the need for individuals to make their own decisions about faith.
- Respect for Human Dignity: Many traditions hold that forcing someone into faith undermines the dignity and autonomy of that individual. Genuine faith, in this view, can only come from a heart that freely chooses to believe.
- Diverse Reactions to Divine Messages: Even with clear messages and miracles, people may still respond differently to prophets. Some may embrace the message, while others may reject or distort it. This shows that belief and faith are personal and deeply influenced by a range of factors, including personal experience, culture, and inner convictions.
Let us now listen to eminent Muslim scholar of present times, Nouman Ali Khan, explaining the "why" that irritate some minds on the subject:
About Nouman Ali Khan: Born to a Pakistani family, Nouman Ali Khan is an American Muslim speaker and Arabic instructor who founded the Bayyinah Institute for Arabic and Qur’anic Studies, after serving as an instructor of Arabic at Nassau Community College. He has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is our duty to convey only to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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