Then the Rāfidah—or most of them—say, on account of their extreme ignorance and misguidance, that they and their followers were unbelievers and apostates, and that the Jews and Christians were better than they were, because one who has never embraced Islam is better than an apostate. I have seen this stated in several of their books. This assertion ranks among the gravest calumnies against Allah’s God-fearing allies, His successful party, and His victorious host.
One of the proofs demonstrating its falsity is the following: It is necessarily known and established by mass-transmitted reports that the Emigrants left Mecca and other places for Medina. A group among them—including Umar, Uthmān, and Jafar ibn Abī Tālib—made two migrations: one to Abyssinia and another to Medina. At that time, the Muslims were few in number and the unbelievers held sway over most of the earth. They were persecuted in Mecca and suffered at the hands of their relatives and other polytheists harm whose extent only Allah knows. Yet they patiently endured that harm and swallowed the bitterness of affliction. They left their homelands and parted from their beloved companions out of love for Allah and His Messenger and to wage jihad in His path, just as Allah Most High described them in His words:
“For the poor Emigrants who were expelled from their homes and deprived of their possessions, seeking bounty and pleasure from Allah and supporting Allah and His Messenger—it is they who are truthful.”
(Surah al-Hashr: 8).
They did all of this freely and willingly, entirely of their own accord. No one coerced them into doing so, nor did anyone compel them to it, for Islam at that time possessed no power by which anyone could be forced (1) to embrace Islam (2). At that time, the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and those who followed him were forbidden to fight and commanded to pardon and remain patient. Thus, no one embraced Islam