Quran says there is no compulsion in religion

This is yet another favorite quote of everyone who wants to showcase Islam as religion of peace -- Zakir Naik, Shahrukh Khan, Barrack Obama and ‘My Name is Khan’ lovers etc. Even we agree that Surah Bakar 2:256 is one of the most benevolent verses of Quran. Had this been the only verse in Quran, I would have hailed it as the greatest slogan for tolerance and peace -- an echo of Vedas. Let me reproduce this great verse here:
“La ikraha fee addeeniqad tabayyana arrushdu mina alghayyi faman yakfur bittaghootiwayu/min billahi faqadi istamsaka bilAAurwatialwuthqa la infisama laha wallahusameeAAun AAaleem”
“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.”
I believe this verse must be belonging to the original Quran. This was the time when Muhammad was joining people together in Medina for his great faith. He wanted to make it as lenient and tolerant as one could. But this is only a small part from beginning of Quran. The real story unfolds from here:
a. In modern Quran, many Ayats/ verses are supposed to have been abrogated and replaced with new Ayats. Sounds confusing! But thats true! Because there was no other way to create a new Quran from old message of Muhammad. Let me explain this concept of abrogation a bit here:
This doctrine of abrogation is based on two verses that Allah allegedly instructed Mohammed to put into the Quran.
“None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar: Knowest thou not that Allah Hath power over all things?” Surah 2: 106
“When We substitute one revelation for another, and Allah knows best what He reveals (in stages), they say, “Thou art but a forger”: but most of them understand not.” Surah 16:101
As per these, new verses (Nasikh) in Quran replace old verses (Mansoukh). Out of 114 Chapters of Quran, at least 71 are supposed to have been affected by this concept of abrogation. Refer “al-Nasikh wal-Mansoukh” (The Abrogator and the Abrogated) which was authored by the revered Muslim scholar Abil-Kasim Hibat-Allah Ibn-Salama Abi-Nasr. The book goes through every Surah (chapter) in the Quran and cites in great detail every verse that was cancelled-out/overridden by particular verses that were written later. You can find more details on abrogation from another kafir site: http://www.islamreview.com/articles/quransdoctrine.shtml (Note that it only summarizes findings from Islamic texts and has nothing new to offer on this weird topic)
The summary conclusion is clear:
Out of 114 chapters of Quran, maximum of 43 chapters remain which can be taken as authentic.
Without getting into much details, let us come to the main point -- Verse 2.256 that claims there is no compulsion in religion was abrogated and replaced by Verse 9:5 -- The verse of sword. Now let us see what this verse is:
Sahih International
And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Pickthall
Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
Shakir
So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
Jalalayn
Then, when the sacred months have passed — that is, [at] the end of the period of deferment — slay the idolaters wherever you find them, be it during a lawful [period] or a sacred [one], and take them, captive, and confine them, to castles and forts, until they have no choice except [being put to] death or [acceptance of] Islam; and lie in wait for them at every place of ambush, [at every] route that they use (kulla, ‘every’, is in the accusative because a [preceding] genitive-taking preposition has been removed). But if they repent, of unbelief, and establish prayer and pay the alms, then leave their way free, and do not interfere with them. God is Forgiving, Merciful, to those who repent.
The essence is that kill the idol worshippers wherever you can. The next verses explain why you can never have treaty with idol worshippers and there are other verses which say that even if you have to make friends with Kafirs, make sure you have hatred against them in your heart. (Surah Imran 28)
1. Now, in recent times, many scholars have started arguing that 2.256 was not abrogated and it remains a valid verse of Quran. But this argument is contradictory of facts and itself:
a. If indeed there is no compulsion in religion, why is punishment for apostasy DEATH in Islamic Shariat? Why does no scholar like Zakir Naik or anyone else ever proclaim that Suadi Arabia and all those countries who give death punishment for apostasy and insulting Islam/Prophet are against Islam and anti-Muslim?
b. If indeed this peaceful verse is valid, why is propagation of non-Muslim religions prohibited in Muslim countries?
c. If indeed there is no compulsion in religion, why are there countless verses asking to have hatred against non-believers and kill them or force them to become Muslim? Refer Islamic Jehad article.
2. Some other scholars say that this verse was indeed abrogated but abrogation means that in a different context of war, verse of Sword (9.5) would be valid, else in non-war situation verse of no-compulsion would be applicable. If that be so, this implies double standards. It basically means that if you are not powerful enough, let there be no compulsion. So talk peacefully, but having hatred in heart for non-Muslims as per Imran 28 and work for your agenda tactfully. But moment you attain power, verse of Sword gets applicable. Then kill the non-believers unless they ask for mercy and agree to become Muslims.
This has been testified in history of growth of Islam. Wherever they were powerless they talked of peace and no-compulsion. And moment they got powerful, they started forcing Islam through threat of sword.
Even in history of Quran, no-compulsion verse was revealed when Muhammad was still trying to get a set of followers for his mission. And the verse of sword was allegedly revealed after Islam had already become dominant. We suspect, by this time, Muhammad would have been imprisoned all false verse inserted in his name. Or perhaps, after his death, this verse was inserted by his followers who were killing each other on might of sword.
In any case, only a very few scholars have started claiming that no-compulsion verse is not abrogated, primarily after Islam has been in scrutiny in last few years after its extremist face came to fore. They represent a minority and no one dare condemn Muslim countries for having capital punishment for apostasy and ‘denigrating’ Islam.
3. Please also note that Islam claims to be the only religion of world. It refuses to provide status of religion to other belief systems and puts them in forever Hell. Thus the verse on ‘no compulsion in religion’ only relates to minute differences within Islamic fold and does not refer to non-Muslims.
4. Some Muslim scholars say that only religions are Islam, Christianity and Judaism and Islam is the only true one among them. So perhaps some terrorists may spare Christians and Jews as per this verse, but idolators like Hindus are for sure not under purview of this verse. This is evident from history where Islam was spread in India, merely on force of sword after killing and rapes of crores. They say Hitler performed largest genocide. But if one looks into deeds of each of the barbaric Muslim looter from Muhammad Bin Qasim to Babur to Akbar to Aurangzeb to Tipu Sultan, each of them had been miles ahead of Hitler in brutality with added flavor of sexual perversion amounting to rape and sexual punishments.
5. As per Zakir ‘Terrorist’ Naik, if a country follows Islamic law (and Islamic law is best law as per Him, since islam is best religion!), then it is justfied to kill an apostate as per Holy Quran! Watch this video:

Here is another:

In fact, Zakir Naik quotes from Quran to claim that Islam alone is religion! Hence the concept of no-compulsion is valid only for Muslims!
For more on this subject also review http://www.danielpipes.org/2110/the-issue-of-compulsion-in-religion-islam-is-what-its
I appeal to all Muslims and non-Muslims alike to come out of trap of such an inhuman ideology. Neither is there any evidence of Quran available today being actually a work of Muhammad, nor is it a book which stands anywhere on parameters of human rights, tolerance, peace and rationality. It remains a book written by barbarians for a barbaric society that is no way applicable today. It is the only book on earth where God is supposed to have revised and canceled his own previous message causing bulk of Quran to be abrogated. There is nothing new in Quran that is not already there in Vedas or other ancient texts. Belief in modern Quran is based basically on blind belief on imaginary stories that provide no evidence or logic to be true. And blind belief can only breed intolerance.
The evil designs of these fanatics is clear. They will showcase Islam as peaceful and friendly and tolerant and go all extent to prove this when they are not in majority. The moment their power increases, they will start showing their true face and start applying verse of Sword. This is how they plundered India and rest of the world. This is how Islam contributes to almost entire supply of terrorism today. This is how any peaceful place in world becomes violent as Muslim population rises above a minimum level. At least Hindus should be aware of their evil designs. This is how they grabbed Pakistan and Bangladesh and became 20% of Indian population at least. Hindus have been having their sisters, daughters and mothers raped by barbaric looters shouting Allah-Hu-Akbar for 1000 years and its high time they start understanding true meaning of no-compulsion. An amnesiac person who enjoys feeding milk to snakes despite being bitten innumerable times, is bound to be killed one day.
The worst victims of this blinded intolerant cult are those innocent Muslims who cannot get out of its clutches due to fear of death and repression, and can also not gain trust of rest of the world due to misdeeds of terrorists and extremists who predominantly hail from Islam in last 1400 years. I appeal to them to come to the true original Vedic dharma -- the first and only religion for humanity, which is beyond barriers of caste and race, has no superstitions and only demand belief in path of truth. Even truth is defined not as blind dogma in any book including even the Vedas. Truth implies adopting what is best for self and world as per one’s best understanding and putting all efforts to enhance this understanding to best of one’s abilities and intent. For more details, visit Vedic religion in brief (Vedic Religion in brief) Also note that this Vedic religion was the original religion of forefathers of almost all Muslims in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh who were forced to convert either on threat of sword, or deceit or a stupid caste system that was never part of Vedic religion. Also note that Vedic Dharma does not mean idol worship. It means La-Ilaha-Illallah (There is none else but Allah) removing any association with any Muhammad. Vedas worship a shapeless, omnipresent, perfect, timeless, kind, just, flawless, all-powerful Ishwar/Allah who never takes birth, never alters his eternal laws and acts only for our benefits.
May the true religion of no-compulsion prevail and let all false dogmas be eliminated.
Please Contact us if you are keen to know more and come back to the original and only true tolerant Vedic Dharma.
Addendum: As with other articles, all criticisms are directed to version of Islam as presented by fanatic mindsets like Zakir Naik, and their followers. It is not directed towards a host of minor sects and ideologies in Islam which themselves face lot of atrocity for their beliefs. Some of them are:

Hashamiya / Taraqibiyah: They Predicate a body to Allah and also allege Prophet (pbuh) of disobedience to Allah.

Khazimiyah: They believe Allah loves men of all faiths even if one has been disbeliever most of his life.

Nazzamiyah: Followers of abu-Ishaq Ibrahim ibn-Saiyar. They do not believe in the miraculous nature of the Holy Quran nor do they believe the miracles of Holy Prophet (pbuh) like splitting the moon.

Ibriyah: They believe that Holy Prophet (pbuh) was a wise man but not a prophet.

Fikriyya: They believe that doing Dhikr and Fikr (Remembering and thinking about Allah) is better than worship.

Tanasikhiya: They believe in the re-incarnation of soul.

Ahadiyah: They believe in the Fardh (obligations) in faith but deny the sunnah.

Ammaliyah: They believe that faith for one is what he/she sincerely practices.

Hujjatiya: They do not believe in the punishment for deeds on the grounds that because everything is determined so whatever one does s/he is not responsible for it.

Lafziyah: They believe that Quran is not the word of God but only its meaning and essence is the word of God. Words of Quran are just the words of narrator.

 

source:--agniveer.com