Why Does Islam Possess Coercion?

[Muhammed Ali]

The thread starter's post has been removed due to a request by them. Their question has been quoted just below:

 

 

There are many things we have to do, or things we have to disagree with, even when we personally don't believe it to be the right way, truth or simply just inconvenient. If not, we are to be punished in hell.
 
If God is great and has left us with choice to judge us on our goodness, why is one way the only right way?
 
An atheist can be just as good as a believer or even better. Yet one is granted heaven, while the other isn't, on the grounds that (s)he did not believe in the Oneness of God, the hereafter or the prophet's message. 
 
If a muslim woman gets discriminated against wearing a headscarf, if it stands in the way of integrating in her community, why is she obliged to continue wearing it? We are social animals, surely God knows. It is easier for the males to live,commute and work among the foreign communities, but the practising muslim women are left to suffer the consequences of muslim male brutality elsewhere. A little unfair. This unfairness does not compare to much more going around in the world.
 
The only question I want answered is the one in the title, why does islam possess so much coercion?

An atheist can be just as good as a believer or even better.

 
An atheist who knowingly rejects the truth can't be that good because:
 
1, They have been ungrateful to their creator and the creator of every other good thing. The source of all good. Even the atheist's ability to be good is from God.
 
2, Humans have been inherently designed to work better when they believe. A lack of belief causes humans to malfunction. Read: http://www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/235010653-religious-ideas-make-atheists-into-better-people/
 
If an atheist rejects God knowing the above evidence, then they are committing an action which makes them more susceptible to doing wrong. Such a decision is immoral.
 
3, Belief brings peace to people. An atheist is being immoral by making people disbelieve in a caring God and an afterlife.
 
Consider that belief is strongly hard wired in the fitra; thus it takes a lot to disbelieve.

Edited October 18, 2015 by Muhammed Ali

[StarryNight]

You seem way too naive and maybe too young to understand what truly matters in life. 

 

If you tell your child, do not touch the hot stove because you will burn, you think the child understands what you are saying? children are forced to obey adults for the mere fact that we know more than them and believe me, most of the time they feel forced and not understand why you say such and such.

 

If you are a believer in God, how can you believe Islam possess coercion? God gave us free will when it comes to circumstantial things but the commandments are out of question, just because someone has a bad experience with hijab for example or gets discriminated for being a Muslim, how can you blame it on Islam possessing coercion? I have no idea how you end up correlating that. Rather, being strong-minded and sure about your beliefs is what saves you from undesirable people that care about how you dress or what religion you profess.

 

Only our creator knows what is best for us, and believe me, I have lived in a city where I had been the only Muslim perhaps and the only girl in hijab out of 1 million people. Why would I care about what others say when I know I'm under God's protection? You know why it wasn't hard for me to integrate to that community? because alhamdillah I had people that wouldn't care about what I wear or my religion, and if anyone was to care, why would I bother with them? You know how many times I was told I would have a better life if I removed my hijab? That I should remove it to fit in my society, etc...You know what I think about those people? that their minds are too narrow. In fact I find it repulsive when people care about that, they are the ones forcing me to do something, not my creator, Allah is the all-knowing, the all-wise, you can never go wrong by obeying him!

 

About the atheist being as good as a believer or even better, I won't even comment, that is just completely irrational. Anyone who denies their creator is ungrateful and therefore bad, they are too arrogant to believe there is something superior to them. 

[Reza]

An atheist can be just as good as a believer or even better.

 

What's the definition of "good"?  It's not something we can just imply, it needs to be specifically defined here.   And who's definition is being used?  God's or yours?  And which has more value, and bang for the buck?

[The Green Knight]

If God is great and has left us with choice to judge us on our goodness, why is one way the only right way?

 

Because man can not know whats best for him. For instance, a child going to the school for the first time will never agree that literacy through schooling is right for them.

[Ali Musaaa :)]

There are many things we have to do, or things we have to disagree with, even when we personally don't believe it to be the right way, truth or simply just inconvenient. If not, we are to be punished in hell.

 

If we've reached the conclusion where one is intellectually and spiritually convinced of the soundness of the Message of Islam (and we have here already accepted and assumed the existance of a Transcendent Entity whom we happen to call God, Allah, etc.), would it not be more reasonable for ourselves to conform to the pattern of conduct exhibated by God's Representatives, whom He has told us to emulate, than to follow our own unguided desires? As you mention below, we are social creatures. Humans are creatures of pattern and behaviour. There is a deep wisdom and a very good reason why God gave us the Prophet to emulate. We are to attain the beautiful human qualities which reflect the Divine Attributes by adhering and implimenting the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet of God. 

 

It is blameworthy of someone to be negligent after they have recognised the truth and thus reject it and it's implimentation on themselves out of sheer inconvenience and/or laziness. We accept God and His Scripture. So is it therefore not reasonable to conform to what He has requested as opposed to what our desires and fancies wish for? If we havnt accepted this step (i.e., God and His Word), then there is no point holding such a discussion since it assumes His Existance. This matter should be addressed prior to the discussion at hand, which follows from it.

[sharinganMahdi]

It's simple we have free will , if one cannot accept Islam he or she is free to leave , their is no ifs or buts when Allah SWT says let it be so let it be , their is no compulsion in religion as the Quran states , 'la ikrah fideen', but let's keep in mind that their is a thing called death and after death their is judgment , and also our thoughts aren't always us they are the whisper of satan , iltamse dua

[StrugglingForTheLight]

From what I understand, disbelief in Quran has been condemned because of the following:

 

They follow the falsehood

Hate God's revelation and pleasure

This denial is done with clear proofs of the truth.

Preferring blindness over sight while having insight to the truth

The truth has come to them (ie. and it's saying with Pharaoh this occurred when Musa turned his staff into a snake)

 

Naturally, if someone knows God exists, and is reminded of clear proofs, but decides to disbelieve and deny, his heart hates the most absolute good being.

 

Not submitting to the guidance of God after it's become clear, is an issue of denying God's right and preferring blindness over sight.

 

Naturally the right of God is not such that neglecting will harm God, but it does harm ourselves, and the right still exists.

 

Consequently denying the favor of God with regard to the link towards him, and are knowledge of him and our purpose in worshiping him, is hatred to what Quran calls "Alhusna" "The best/the Goodness).

 

I believe Shirk and kufr is only when you knowingly do the act, like you know it's true but still disbelieve, or you know you are associating in your worship to God or to his Lordship, but you do it still.

 

I believe the Quran made a distinction with the people that didn't fight the Nabi, over all, they weren't called Mushrikeen or disbelievers who's God's wrath is upon.

 

The Quran called even many of them mustafeen (those who don't have power to believe or disbelieve, a way to believe or disbelieve) and it said these maybe forgiven by God.

 

So you have to know it's really when a person hates the signs of God and doesn't want the truth and pleasure of God, which is linked to his name and as such is opposing the station of his beautiful names, and a person who hates the beauty of God and the majesty of God is far from good.

 

I am the opinion that not all Atheists or Christians or Jews or Hindus or etc are disbelievers or mushrikeen. I think when Quran says "allatheena la yuminoon..." it means people who would not believe no matter what proofs are presented. Not all those who don't believe.

 

And if a hindu or Atheist believes the guidance of God that has come to them, the truth they know, and the morality they know, I think they are believers in some of the verses like Suratal Teen.

 

God knows best.

[Bakir]

No offense intended but I believe that expecting to find all answers of this life in religion is actually being narrow minded. Not to mention the hige amount of dishonesty and real faith we can find in the hearts of the so-called believers.

I also agree that many atheists can be better human beings (seen from human's eyes) than religious people. Not only due to their contributions to society that those who criticize them are the first to benefit from them, but also due to the humanity shown by many. One of the greatest humane people I have the pleasure to read about is in fact atheist. And I wish I could be slightly similar to him in regards to his humanity. Let's try not to think in black and white, as life is much boring and extremist when someone thinks like that. And surely you would be missing a lot of interesting shades of gray that would benefit you in your personal progression.

However there is also a divine criteria which is being thankful to God and adore him the way He wants, not the one we want. But again, not everything is black and white. You can find prophetic manners in those who are atheists and filthy ones in those who apparently believe in God and His Messenger.

So yeah, gray.

[narsis]

Bismillah.

 

Salaamun Alaykum.

 

When we look – through a general approach – at both men's and women's responsibilities and duties in this life, we realize that both of them have their own specific duties; for example Hijāb (in its specific term) is only obligatory for women (and there are many reasons for that especially social reasons) and Jihad is must just for men and it is the same in regard with other rulings. These differences are based on their natural differences that only Allah (s.w.t.) is aware of and this is why He is the only One Who can draw a plan for human's life.

 

With Duas.

 

Narsis.

[eThErEaL]

There are many things we have to do, or things we have to disagree with, even when we personally don't believe it to be the right way, truth or simply just inconvenient. If not, we are to be punished in hell.

 

If God is great and has left us with choice to judge us on our goodness, why is one way the only right way?

 

An atheist can be just as good as a believer or even better. Yet one is granted heaven, while the other isn't, on the grounds that (s)he did not believe in the Oneness of God, the hereafter or the prophet's message. 

 

If a muslim woman gets discriminated against wearing a headscarf, if it stands in the way of integrating in her community, why is she obliged to continue wearing it? We are social animals, surely God knows. It is easier for the males to live,commute and work among the foreign communities, but the practising muslim women are left to suffer the consequences of muslim male brutality elsewhere. A little unfair. This unfairness does not compare to much more going around in the world.

 

The only question I want answered is the one in the title, why does islam possess so much coercion?

Coercion is not the way of any religion nor of any prophet, especially Prophet Muhammad (S). Men of God always taught people by way of example. They never embarrassed anyone and they were extremely patient with people in teaching them. They were merciful and loving. Many Muslims today are hypocrites. They don't live up to the standard of the holy ones because many foreign elements have crept into our religion and which has corrupted it as a consequence (these are elements of a secular or modern kind which are then paraded and masqueraded as a representation of religion).

So, you should feel free to disagree with religion. If you feel God doesn't exist then no problem. If you feel religion is a burden, that's fine.

I personally wouldn't disrespect you for that as long as you don't disrespect my religion. The reason why I don't disrespect you is because I know you have a reason for that belief. Are a good person? Do I still think you are good? Yes. It is possible. That goodness is because of your fitrah that God has put within you. Everyone has it regardless of whether they are religious or not. But I would maintain that inasmuch as you are genuinely good you believe in God even if you don't realize it. If you are sincerely good to someone without any selfish motives then that is identical to true and sincere belief in God (you may not call that belief in God, but that's fine). If you are sincerely good, then you are manifesting God who is the Good, you are in the Presence of the Good for that single instant that you show sincere, and selfless goodness towards someone else. Every time I or any other "religious" person acts selfishly, then for that moment he or she becomes a "disbeliever in God" (a kafir).