THERE IS  NO COMPULSION IN RELIGION

لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ ۖ قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ ۚ فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ لَا انْفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ {2:256}

[Q2:256] Laaa ikraaha fid deeni qat tabiyanar rushdu minal ghayy; famai yakfur bit Taaghooti wa yu'mim billaahi faqadis tamsaka bil'urwatil wusqaa lan fisaama lahaa; wallaahu Samee'un 'Aleem.
[Q2:256] 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 (SWT) he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle, which shall not break off, and ALLAH (SWT) is Hearing, Knowing.

[Q2:256] Tidak ada paksaan dalam ugama (Islam), kerana sesungguhnya telah nyata kebenaran (Islam) dari kesesatan (kufur). Oleh itu, sesiapa yang tidak percayakan Taghut, dan ia pula beriman kepada ALLAH (SwT), maka sesungguhnya ia telah berpegang kepada simpulan (tali ugama) yang teguh yang tidak akan putus. Dan (ingatlah), ALLAH (SwT) Maha Mendengar, lagi Maha Mengetahui.

                                              

THIS VERSE states A PSYCHOLOGICAL FACT THAT THE SUBMISSIVE ATTITUDE OF THE MIND AND HEART TOWARDS ANY SACRED OBJECT CANNOT BE OBTAINED BY FORCE OR COMPULSION, THEREFORE, only a clear view of the sacred generates the spontaneous conviction to adopt the right and reject the wrong. IT IS NOT AN IMPERATIVE BUT AN INDICATIVE STATEMENT. [1] There is no room for considering THIS VERSE as having been abrogated by any other verse dealing with jihad. [2] THIS VERSE also asserts THAT AFTER the right way has become clearly distinct from error, man must reject the false gods and believe in ALLAH (SWT).

©  This verse confirms that which has been said, in detail, in the commentary of verses 190 to 193 of this surah, about the false accusation by the European historians that the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) used the sword to preach Islam.

Sir Edward Dennison Ross says:

"For many centuries the acquaintance which the majority of Europeans possessed of Muhammadanism was based almost entirely on distorted reports of fanatical Christians which led to the dissemination of a multitude of gross calumnies. What was good in Muhammadanism was entirely ignored, and what was not good, in the eyes of Europe, was exaggerated or misinterpreted. It must not, however, be forgotten that the central doctrine preached by Muhammad to his contemporaries in Arabia, who worshipped the stars; to the Persians who acknowledged Ormuz and Ahriman; the lndians, who worshipped idols; and the Turks, who had no particular worship, was the unity of ALLAH (SWT), and that the simplicity of his creed was probably a more potent factor in the spread of Islam than the sword of the ghazis".

Even William Muir, the worst enemy of Islam, in the following passage, admits that:

It is strongly corroborative of Muhammad's sincerity that the earliest converts to Islam were not only of upright character, but his own bosom friends and people of his household; intimately acquainted with his private life, who could not fail otherwise to have detected those discrepancies which ever more or less exist between the professions of the hypocritical deceiver abroad and his actions at home."

THROUGH THIS VERSE PEACE, LOVE AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING HAVE BEEN PRESCRIBED FOR THE MUSLIMS. Also refer to verse 17:125 of Bani Israil. THERE IS NO NEED FOR COMPULSION IN RELIGION because verse 76:2 of al Dahr says: "Verily, we have shown him (man) the (right) way; (whether) he be grateful or disbelieving (ungrateful)!"

†  Taghut (the devil) means the inordinate, the rebel, the wrongdoer, the strayer, like Shaytan. The word taghut, in this verse, implies all the devilish tendencies and activities which mislead the people. THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS GENUINE BELIEF IN ALLAH (SWT) IS THE REJECTION OF THE DEVIL.

      IN OTHER WORDS HATRED OF THE WICKED (TABARRA) TAKES PRECEDENCE OVER THE LOVE OF ALLAH (SWT) AND HIS CHOSEN FRIENDS (TAWALLA). 

IT IS ESSENTIAL to clean the heart and the mind from the disturbing influence of falsehood AND THEN expose them to the reflection of truth, OTHERWISE conflicting impressions will create confusion and distort the beauty of the beloved. See verse 5:7 of al Ma-idah.

r  Urwatil wuthqa means a strong rope - the firmest handhold.

Ä  According to Imam Muhammad bin Ali al Baqir, A TRUE FAITHFUL, in order to remain attached with ALLAH (SWT) and enjoy genuine godliness, must seek attachment with the thoroughly purified Ahlul Bayt (ALLAH (SWT)'s chosen friends) and love them (as ordained in verse 42:23 of al Shura).

Ä  Imam Jafar bin Muhammad al Sadiq has said that THE FIRMEST HANDHOLD means having complete faith (trust) in ALLAH (SWT). The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) has declared that every faithful must hold fast the rope of ALLAH (SWT), Ali, because he, who remains attached with Ali, will never go astray. Ali is the ideal of the true faith in ALLAH (SWT). The true mode and manner of the faith is perfectly integrated in the divinely commissioned successors to the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) - Ali and the holy Imams of the Ahlul Bayt, therefore, tawalla (love of ALLAH (SWT) and Muhammad and Ali Muhammad) has been prescribed as one of the articles of the furu ud din.

IT IS CLEARLY INDICATED THAT FAITH CONSISTS OF TWO FUNDAMENTAL FACTORS:

1.        The negation of what is against the legislative will of ALLAH (SWT) - TABARRA.

2.        Belief in ALLAH (SWT) and whatever He wills and commands - TAWALLA.

BE AVERSE TO THE WICKED AND BE GOOD TO THE VIRTUOUS. BE WITH THE FLOWERS AS A FLOWER AND BE FAR AWAY FROM THE THORNS.

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(2:256) There is no compulsion and coercion in regard to religion. *285 The right thing has been made distinct from the wrong thing: now whoever rejects taghut *286 and believes in Allah has taken a firm support that never gives way.

*285. Din here signifies the belief about God embodied in the above 'Verse of the Throne' and the entire system of life which rests upon it. The verse means that the system of Islam, embracing belief, morals and practical conduct cannot be imposed by compulsion. These are not things to which people can be yoked forcibly. 
*286. Literally taghut means anyone who exceeds his legitimate limits. In the Qur'anic terminology, however, it refers to the creature who exceeds the limits of his creatureliness and arrogates to himself godhead and lordship. There are three stages of man's transgression and rebellion against God. The first stage is that one acknowledges in principle that obedience to God is right, but disregards it in practice. This is fisq (transgression). The second stage is that one not only disobeys but also rejects obedience in principle, and thus either refuses to become the subject of anyone at all or adopts someone other than God as the object of service and devotion. This is kufr (infidelity). The third stage is that one not only rebels against one's Lord but also imposes one's own will (in disregard of the Will of God - Ed.) on God's world and God's creatures. Anyone who reaches such a point is termed taghut and no one can be a true believer in God unless the authority of such a taghut (evil one) is rejected.