What we mean, then, is that the Prophet ﷺ never compelled anyone to enter his religion—ever. People embraced his faith purely by choice and with full willingness. Indeed, once guidance became manifest and they realized that he was truly Allah’s Messenger ﷺ, most of the world’s inhabitants accepted his call.

Ibn Kathir, commenting on the Almighty’s words, “There is no compulsion in religion” (Al-Baqarah 2:256), wrote: “That is, do not force anyone to enter Islam, for it is plain and clear; its proofs and evidences are manifest, leaving no need to coerce anyone. Whoever Allah guides to Islam, expands his breast and enlightens his insight, will enter upon clear proof; whereas the one whose heart Allah blinds and upon whose hearing and sight He sets a seal gains nothing by entering the faith under duress and constraint.”

The well-verified scholars have spoken at length on this subject, and their words flow naturally from the very spirit, principles, and objectives of Islam. Yet the foes of Islam insist on describing it in ways that tarnish and disfigure it, so as to mislead and repel.

His ﷺ military expeditions—which opened both hearts and minds—together with his dealings, treaties, and his summons by wisdom, good admonition, and the finest form of debate, all overturn such allegations. “Your Lord knows best who strays from His path, and He knows best those who are rightly guided.”

Ibn al-Qayyim clarified this in his book Zad al-Maʿad, saying:

Section
On the chronological ordering of the Prophet’s conduct toward the unbelievers and the hypocrites from the time he was sent until he met his Lord, Mighty and Majestic:

The very first revelation his Lord sent to him was: “Recite in the name of your Lord who created…” and so forth.