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Third proof for the prohibition of fighting unbelievers who do not fight
Moreover, the Almighty says: “There is no compulsion in religion; guidance has become distinct from error.” This is an unequivocal, universally applicable text stating that we may not coerce anyone into the faith. Were the unbeliever to be put to death until he embraced Islam, that would be the greatest possible form of coercion in religion.⦗1⦘
And if it is said: the verse refers specifically to those under treaty
(1) Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya writes in Al-Jawab al-Sahih, 1:313: “Most of the people of Greater Syria and other regions became Muslims of their own accord, not by coercion, for it is unlawful to force any dhimmi to embrace Islam, as Allah states in Surah al-Baqara: ‘There is no compulsion in religion; right guidance has become distinct from error.’”
Ibn al-Qayyim comments in Hidayat al-Hayara, 1:12: “The Prophet never compelled anyone to accept the religion; he only fought those who waged war against him … in obedience to the command of his Lord, exalted be He, Who says: ‘There is no compulsion in religion; right guidance has become distinct from error.’ This negation carries the sense of a prohibition—meaning, ‘Do not force anyone into the religion.’ … Whoever studies the Prophet’s sira will realize that he never coerced anyone into his faith at any time … In short, the Prophet ﷺ did not oblige anyone to enter his religion; people embraced it voluntarily and freely.”
[الدَّلِيلُ الثَّالِثُ عَلَى تَحْرِيمِ قِتَالِ مَنْ لَمْ يُقَاتِلْ مِنَ الكُفَّارِ]
وَأَيضًا: فَقَوْلُهُ: ﴿لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ﴾ وَهَذَا نَصٌّ عَامٌّ، أَنَّا لا نُكْرِهُ أَحَدًا عَلَى الدِّين، فَلَوْ كَانَ الكَّافِرُ يُقْتَل حَتَّى يُسْلِمَ لَكَانَ هَذَا أَعْظَم الإِكْرَاهِ عَلَى الدَّيْنِ (١).
وَإِذَا قِيلَ: المُرَادُ بِهَا أَهْلُ العَهْدِ.
(١) قال شيخ الإسلام في الجواب الصحيح (١/ ٣١٣): (ثم صار أكثر أهل الشام وغيرهم مسلمين طوعًا لا كرهًا، فإن إكراه أهل الذمة على الإسلام غير جائز، كما قال تعالى سورة البقرة: ﴿لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ﴾. وقال ابن القيم في هداية الحيارى (١/ ١٢): (ولم يكره أحدًا قط على الدين، وإنما كان يقاتل من يحاربه ويقاتله ... امتثالا لأمر ربه سبحانه، حيث يقول: ﴿لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ﴾ وهذا نفي في معنى النهي أي لا تكرهوا أحدا على الدين ... ومن تأمل سيرة النبي ﷺ تبين له أنه لم يكره أحدًا على دينه قط ... والمقصود: أنه ﷺ لم يكره أحدًا على الدخول في دينه البتة، وإنما دخل الناس في دينه اختيارًا وطوعًا).