Although, it is admitted, that there are certain Ulema who believe that Islam neither permits the non-Muslims to preach nor allows its adherents to change their faith but in reality, this belief of these Ulema is baseless and is in complete contradiction of the Islamic teachings. In the Holy Quran Allah has repeatedly asked the disbelievers to bring forth arguments in support of their claims; thus He says:
قُلۡ ہَلۡ عِنۡدَکُمۡ مِّنۡ عِلۡمٍ فَتُخۡرِجُوۡہُ لَنَا ؕ اِنۡ تَتَّبِعُوۡنَ اِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَاِنۡ اَنۡتُمۡ اِلَّا تَخۡرُصُوۡنَ
"Say, 'Have you any knowledge? Then produce it for us. You follow nothing but mere conjecture. And you do nothing but lie.'" (6:149)
Elsewhere He says:
نَبِّـُٔوۡنِیۡ بِعِلۡمٍ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِیۡنَ
"Inform me with knowledge, if you are truthful." (6:144)
It is clear, that if Islam were against granting the non-Muslims the rights to preach their religion, how could the Holy Quran had invited them to put forth their arguments.
Again Allah says:
وَاِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ فِیۡ رَیۡبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلۡنَا عَلٰی عَبۡدِنَا فَاۡتُوۡا بِسُوۡرَۃٍ مِّنۡ مِّثۡلِہٖ ۪ وَادۡعُوۡا شُہَدَآءَکُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِیۡنَ
"And if you are in doubt as to what We have sent down to Our servant, then produce a Chapter like it, and call upon your helpers beside Allah, if you are truthful." (2:24)
Again He says:
قُلۡ اِنَّمَاۤ اَعِظُکُمۡ بِوَاحِدَۃٍ ۚ اَنۡ تَقُوۡمُوۡا لِلّٰہِ مَثۡنٰی وَفُرَادٰی ثُمَّ تَتَفَکَّرُوۡا ۟ مَا بِصَاحِبِکُمۡ مِّنۡ جِنَّۃٍ ؕ اِنۡ ہُوَ اِلَّا نَذِیۡرٌ لَّکُمۡ بَیۡنَ یَدَیۡ عَذَابٍ شَدِیۡدٍ قُلۡ مَا سَاَلۡتُکُمۡ مِّنۡ اَجۡرٍ فَہُوَ لَکُمۡ ؕ اِنۡ اَجۡرِیَ اِلَّا عَلَی اللّٰہِ ۚ وَہُوَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ شَہِیۡدٌ … قُلۡ اِنۡ ضَلَلۡتُ فَاِنَّمَاۤ اَضِلُّ عَلٰی نَفۡسِیۡ ۚ وَاِنِ اہۡتَدَیۡتُ فَبِمَا یُوۡحِیۡۤ اِلَیَّ رَبِّیۡ ؕ اِنَّہٗ سَمِیۡعٌ قَرِیۡبٌ
"Say, 'I only exhort you to do one thing: that you stand up before Allah in twos and singly and then reflect. You will then know that there is no insanity in your companion; he is only a Warner to you of an impending severe punishment.' Say, 'Whatever reward I might have asked of you—let it be yours. My reward is only with Allah; And He is Witness over all things' … Say, 'If I err, I err only against myself; and if I am rightly guided, it is because of what my Lord has revealed to me. Verily, He is All-Hearing, Nigh." (34:47, 48, 51)
It is clear from the above-quoted verses of the Holy Quran that to compel anyone to forsake his faith is something very unreasonable and futile. And even if it were allowed to compel anyone in religious matters, then God Himself was enough to compel. He was not in need of any help for this. He Himself says:
وَلَوۡ شَآءَ رَبُّکَ لَاٰمَنَ مَنۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ کُلُّہُمۡ جَمِیۡعًا ؕ اَفَاَنۡتَ تُکۡرِہُ النَّاسَ حَتّٰی یَکُوۡنُوۡا مُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ
"And if thy Lord had enforced His will, surely, all who are on the earth would have believed together. Wilt thou, then, force men to become believers." (10:100)
Thus when God Himself has left the matter of religion to the man, who else has the right to compel anyone? In short, neither does Islam encourage its adherents to compel the disbelievers to join Islam nor does it tolerate others to compel the Muslims to turn faithless. The call to faith, according to Islam, should be based on sincerity and human sympathy. Therefore it is, that in the face of opposition, the Prophets of Allah have always said:
اُبَلِّغُکُمۡ رِسٰلٰتِ رَبِّیۡ وَاَنَا لَکُمۡ نَاصِحٌ اَمِیۡنٌ
"I deliver to you the messages of my Lord and I am to you a sincere and faithful counsellor." (7:69)
Elsewhere the Holy Quran pointing out the two primary duties of God’s messengers says:
رُسُلًا مُّبَشِّرِیۡنَ وَمُنۡذِرِیۡنَ لِئَلَّا یَکُوۡنَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَی اللّٰہِ حُجَّۃٌۢ بَعۡدَ الرُّسُلِ ؕ وَکَانَ اللّٰہُ عَزِیۡزًا حَکِیۡمًا
"Messengers, bearers of glad tidings and warners, so that people may have no plea against Allah after the coming of the Messengers. And Allah is Mighty, Wise." (4:166)
The meanings of this verse are quite clear. If the disbelievers are not even permitted to put forth their own arguments in support of their faith then what is the significance of the words So that people may have no plea against Allah.
Elsewhere the Holy Quran speaks of the wrath of God against those who use force to stop others to preach their religion. It says:
وَاضۡرِبۡ لَہُمۡ مَّثَلًا اَصۡحٰبَ الۡقَرۡیَۃِ ۘ اِذۡ جَآءَہَا الۡمُرۡسَلُوۡنَ اِذۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡہِمُ اثۡنَیۡنِ فَکَذَّبُوۡہُمَا فَعَزَّزۡنَا بِثَالِثٍ فَقَالُوۡۤا اِنَّاۤ اِلَیۡکُمۡ مُّرۡسَلُوۡنَ قَالُوۡا مَاۤ اَنۡتُمۡ اِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثۡلُنَا ۙ وَمَاۤ اَنۡزَلَ الرَّحۡمٰنُ مِنۡ شَیۡءٍ ۙ اِنۡ اَنۡتُمۡ اِلَّا تَکۡذِبُوۡنَ قَالُوۡا رَبُّنَا یَعۡلَمُ اِنَّاۤ اِلَیۡکُمۡ لَمُرۡسَلُوۡنَ وَمَا عَلَیۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِیۡنُ قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّا تَطَیَّرۡنَا بِکُمۡ ۚ لَئِنۡ لَّمۡ تَنۡتَہُوۡا لَنَرۡجُمَنَّکُمۡ وَلَیَمَسَّنَّکُمۡ مِّنَّا عَذَابٌ اَلِیۡمٌ قَالُوۡا طَآئِرُکُمۡ مَّعَکُمۡ ؕ اَئِنۡ ذُکِّرۡتُمۡ ؕ بَلۡ اَنۡتُمۡ قَوۡمٌ مُّسۡرِفُوۡنَ
"And set forth to them the parable of a people of the town, when the Messengers came to it. When We sent to them two Messengers and they rejected them both; so we strengthened them by a third, and they said, 'verily we have been sent to you as Messengers.' They replied, 'You are but men like us and the Gracious God has not revealed anything. You only lie. 'They said, 'Our Lord knows that we are indeed His Messengers to you; And on us lies only the plain delivery of the Message.' They said, 'Surely we augur evil fortune from you; if you desist not, we will certainly stone you, and a painful punishment will surely befall you at our hands.' They replied, 'Your evil fortune is with your own selves. Is it because you have been admonished? Nay, you are a people transgressing all bounds." (36:14-20)
All these verses and the examples from the life of the Holy Prophet (sas) related in the foregoing pages, clearly prove that contrary to the beliefs of certain so-called Muslim Ulema and critics of Islam, it not only grants to the non-Muslims the freedom to preach and convey the message of their faith but also encourages the holding of religious dialogues between the adherents of different religions. The only restriction imposed by Islam is that such debates should be held in an atmosphere of good-fellowship and should be conducted in a positive and constructive manner.
The fact of the matter is that only that religious community fears to allow other peoples to preach their faith which, either realizing the weaknesses and unreasonableness of its own religion tacitly acknowledges the superiority of other faiths, or whose elders, ignoring their duty to teach their people in the fundamentals of their faith, leave them ignorant of their own religion, so that when attacked by others, knowing nothing about their own beliefs, they have to remain silent. Because any religion, which has reasonable and irrefutable arguments behind it and which can satisfy the questions of the human mind, has nothing to fear from allowing other religions to preach. Similarly any community whose people are educated in the fundamentals of their faith and are satisfied with what they believe in, has nothing to be afraid of.
A man changes his faith only when he feels dissatisfied with his own faith. And when he thinks he can find satisfaction in a new faith he joins it. If there is any faith which satisfies the questioning mind of a man and removes all his doubts and answers all the cravings of his nature, its adherents will never think of changing their faith, even if all the preachers in the world were to preach to them. On the other hand, if any people are dissatisfied with their beliefs, no measure of force could make them stick to their own beliefs. Because although, by the use of force, the people can be compelled to conform to the outward observance of their faith but in their hearts they would no longer belong to that religion.
Further, any restriction on free exchange of views will cause a mental inertia in a people. The confrontation of different civilizations and the free exchange of views among the followers of different ideologies is the main source of development of knowledge.
Without the free exchange of views, the human mind will become like stagnant water and will lose all its freshness. And this will undoubtedly cause the downfall of any people who are stupid enough to impose such restrictions. As regards Islam, it should be noted that all the earliest wars that the Muslims fought were fought because their opponents denied them the basic human right of freedom of speech. After the advent of the Holy Prophet (sas), when he began to preach to the people of Mecca, the chiefs of Mecca tried to persuade him to keep his views with him and not to preach them. First they tried to buy his silence by offering him wealth and chiefdom of Mecca. When the Holy Prophet (sas) refused, they decided to use force in silencing him. They decided not to meet argument by argument but to draw the sword and put down the new teaching by force. The Holy Prophet (sas) and his followers suffered continuously and consistently at the hands of the Meccan disbelievers and even after they escaped to Medina to uphold their right to profess, practice and preach what they believed, they were not left alone. The ruthless Quraish attacked them time and again. The enemy was out to extirpate Islam, it was therefore necessary to fight the enemy in defence to truth and freedom of belief. Otherwise they would have been forced to surrender their conscience to the disbelievers.
How then, could it be possible for the Holy Prophet (sas) to usurp the very right to uphold which he underwent untold miseries and sufferings at the hands of his enemies. Especially since in the very early days of Islam when only a handful and weak persons had joined him Allah said to him:
فَذَکِّرۡ ۟ؕ اِنَّمَاۤ اَنۡتَ مُذَکِّرٌ لَسۡتَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ بِمُصَۜیۡطِرٍ
"Admonish, therefore, for thou art but an admonisher; Thou hast no authority to compel them." (88:22, 23)
The Prophet (sas) was told that a day would come when he would be given power and authority over all his enemies and he was enjoined in advance that when he should have power he should not use it for usurping his enemy’s right to freedom of speech and should not try to impose his own opinions on them. God says:
لَاۤ اِکۡرَاہَ فِی الدِّیۡنِ ۟ۙ قَدۡ تَّبَیَّنَ الرُّشۡدُ مِنَ الۡغَیِّ ۚ فَمَنۡ یَّکۡفُرۡ بِالطَّاغُوۡتِ وَیُؤۡمِنۡۢ بِاللّٰہِ فَقَدِ اسۡتَمۡسَکَ بِالۡعُرۡوَۃِ الۡوُثۡقٰی ٭ لَا انۡفِصَامَ لَہَا ؕ وَاللّٰہُ سَمِیۡعٌ عَلِیۡمٌ
"There should be no compulsion in religion. Surely, right has become distinct from wrong; so whosoever refuses to be led by those who transgress, and believes in Allah, has surely grasped a strong handle which knows no breaking. And Allah is All-Hearing, All Knowing." (2:257)
The verse is the clearest declaration of the fundamental human right of the freedom of religion. In the face of such a declaration it is the height of injustice to accuse Islam of countenancing the use of force in matters of religion. It not only commands the Muslims not to use force to convert the non-Muslims to Islam, but also gives reason why it should not be used, saying: 'Surely, right has become distinct from wrong', i.e. the true path has become distinct from the wrong one and anyone who desires to see this true path can easily see it, but if anyone does not desire to see it, no force can possibly make him do so.' Faith or Iman according to Islam consists in believing in a thing with the heart or mind and the expressing that belief with the tongue. The use of force can compel a man to proclaim the faith with his tongue but no measure of force can bring about a change in the heart.
Allah says:
قُلۡ یٰۤاَیُّہَا الۡکٰفِرُوۡنَ … لَکُمۡ دِیۡنُکُمۡ وَلِیَ دِیۡنِ
(O Prophet!) "Say: 'O Ye disbelievers! … For you your religion, and for me my religion.' (109:2, 7)
Referring to the differences among the religions God says:
لِکُلِّ اُمَّۃٍ جَعَلۡنَا مَنۡسَکًا ہُمۡ نَاسِکُوۡہُ فَلَا یُنَازِعُنَّکَ فِی الۡاَمۡرِ وَادۡعُ اِلٰی رَبِّکَ ؕ اِنَّکَ لَعَلٰی ہُدًی مُّسۡتَقِیۡمٍ
"To every people have We appointed ways of worship which they observe; so let them not dispute with thee in the matter; and invite thou to thy Lord, for surely, thou followest the right guidance." (22:68)
Elsewhere He says:
لِکُلٍّ جَعَلۡنَا مِنۡکُمۡ شِرۡعَۃً وَّمِنۡہَاجًا ؕ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ اللّٰہُ لَجَعَلَکُمۡ اُمَّۃً وَّاحِدَۃً وَّلٰکِنۡ لِّیَبۡلُوَکُمۡ فِیۡ مَاۤ اٰتٰٮکُمۡ فَاسۡتَبِقُوا الۡخَیۡرٰتِ ؕ اِلَی اللّٰہِ مَرۡجِعُکُمۡ جَمِیۡعًا فَیُنَبِّئُکُمۡ بِمَا کُنۡتُمۡ فِیۡہِ تَخۡتَلِفُوۡنَ
"For each of you We prescribed a clear spiritual Law and a manifest way in secular matters. And if Allah had enforced His will, He would have made you all one people, but He wishes to try you by that which He has given you. Vie, then, with one another in good works. To Allah shall you all return; then will He inform you of that wherein you differed." (5:49)
Again addressing the Holy Prophet (sas) God says:
وَقُلۡ لِّلَّذِیۡنَ اُوۡتُوا الۡکِتٰبَ وَالۡاُمِّیّٖنَ ءَاَسۡلَمۡتُمۡ ؕ فَاِنۡ اَسۡلَمُوۡا فَقَدِ اہۡتَدَوۡا ۚ وَاِنۡ تَوَلَّوۡا فَاِنَّمَا عَلَیۡکَ الۡبَلٰغُ ؕ
"And say to those who have been given the Book and to the unlearned, 'Have you submitted?' If they submit, then they will surely be guided; but if they turn back, then thy duty is only to convey the message." (3:21)