Faith is NOT a force
Faith is NOT a force. Faith is a relationship word. It is dependence and reliance upon God. It is ultimately unconditional surrender to God. It is to trust Him, which includes believing Him. As you can see, faith is to govern our entire lives. We are to WALK BY FAITH. If faith were a force, then it is supposed that God would have faith. But once we see that faith is trust, reliance, and dependence, we see that God needs no faith. He hasn’t anyone to rely upon! Indeed, real faith is the result of seeing that we have no power, no merit, and nothing about ourselves which obligates God to do a thing for us. Faith is the trust and assurance that all of the promises of God find their YES IN HIM. Not in us. Not in our faith. And not because we said the right words.
The Qur’an repeatedly attests to the fact that if it were God's Will He could have guided everyone. He has therefore given mankind the freedom to choose between right and wrong with all the arguments and evidence He has presented through (and this is not restricted to) his messengers and scriptures. He has given us the faculties to make that decision and endowed us with an innate ability to reflect and to decipher right from wrong.
Whether one believes or disbelieves, there is no concept of forced faith in the Qur’an and it remains a matter of individual choice.
Instructions to the Prophet
And if your Lord had pleased, surely all those who are in the earth would have believed, all of them; will you then force men till they become believers? (10. 99)
Say: Then Allah's is the conclusive argument; so if He please, He would certainly guide you all. (6.149)
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 he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle, which shall not break off, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing. (2:256)
And it is not for a soul to believe except by Allah's permission; and He casts uncleanness on those who will not understand. (10:100)
Prophet Strongly Being Advised Not to Grieve
And if their turning away is hard on you, then if you can seek an opening (to go down) into the earth or a ladder (to ascend up) to heaven so that you should bring them a sign and if Allah had pleased He would certainly have gathered them all on guidance, therefore be not of the ignorant. (6:035)
The Matter of Disbelief Will Be Finally Settled on the Day of Judgment by God
''And say: The truth is from your Lord, so let him who please believe, and let him who please disbelieve; surely We have prepared for the iniquitous a fire, the curtains of which shall encompass them about; and if they cry for water, they shall be given water like molten brass which will scald their faces; evil the drink and ill the resting-place'' (18: 29)
Surely (as for) those who believe then disbelieve, again believe and again disbelieve, then increase in disbelief, Allah will not forgive them nor guide them in the (right) path. (4:137)
This verse clearly shows that belief and disbelief can be a cyclical experience and occur repeatedly. (There is no prescribed punishment for apostasy)
How shall God guide a people who disbelieved after their believing and (after) they had borne witness that the Messenger was true and clear arguments had come to them; and God does not guide unjust people. (As for) these, their reward is that upon them is the curse of God and the angels and of men, all together. (3: 86-87)
''But those who reject faith after they accepted it, and then go on adding to their defiance of faith, never will their repentance be accepted; for they are those who have gone astray'' (3. 90)
And there are some people who say: We believe in Allah and the last day; and they are not at all believers. They desire to deceive Allah and those who believe, and they deceive only themselves and they do not perceive. There is a disease in their hearts, so Allah added to their disease and they shall have a painful chastisement because they lied. (2:8-10)
O you who believe! whoever from among you turns back from his religion, then Allah will bring a people, He shall love them and they shall love Him, lowly before the believers, mighty against the unbelievers, they shall strive hard in Allah's way and shall not fear the censure of any censurer; this is Allah's Face, He gives it to whom He pleases, and Allah is Ample-giving, Knowing. (5:54)
He who disbelieves in Allah after his having believed, not he who is compelled while his heart is at rest on account of faith, but he who opens (his) breast to disbelief-- on these is the wrath of Allah, and they shall have a grievous chastisement.( 16:106)
The Message of Surah Kafirun (Chapter of the Disbelievers)
The short Surah underscores the theme of the article.
''Say: O disbelievers! I worship not that which you worship. Nor will you worship that which I worship. And I shall not worship that which you worship. Nor will you worship that which I worship. To you your religion, and to me my religion'' (109. 1-6)
Final Thoughts
Faith is not a force. Faith is a relationship word. By faith we see that we have nothing to help ourselves. By faith we surrender our lives to Him for His will and purpose. The Quran's message is clear. Faith cannot be forced nor is there any instruction in scripture to do so. Faith or the lack of it is ultimately a matter between an individual and the Lord. It is a matter of complete volition and choice.
Source: shafaqna.com
Other links:
Understanding the Divine Traditions
The Benefits of Recitation of Holy Qur’an
Sustenance and Creation
