لَآ إِكْرَاهَ فِى ٱلدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ ٱلرُّشْدُ مِنَ ٱلْغَىِّ ۚ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِٱلطَّٰغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱسْتَمْسَكَ بِٱلْعُرْوَةِ ٱلْوُثْقَىٰ لَا ٱنفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
Tidak ada paksaan untuk (memasuki) agama (Islam); sesungguhnya telah jelas jalan yang benar daripada jalan yang sesat. Karena itu barangsiapa yang ingkar kepada Thaghut dan beriman kepada Allah, maka sesungguhnya ia telah berpegang kepada buhul tali yang amat kuat yang tidak akan putus. Dan Allah Maha Mendengar lagi Maha Mengetahui.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
No Compulsion in Religion
Allah said,
لاَ إِكْرَاهَ فِى الدِّينِ
(There is no compulsion in religion), meaning, "Do not force anyone to become Muslim, for Islam is plain and clear, and its proofs and evidence are plain and clear. Therefore, there is no need to force anyone to embrace Islam. Rather, whoever Allah directs to Islam, opens his heart for it and enlightens his mind, will embrace Islam with certainty. Whoever Allah blinds his heart and seals his hearing and sight, then he will not benefit from being forced to embrace Islam."
It was reported that the Ansar were the reason behind revealing this Ayah, although its indication is general in meaning. Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that before Islam, "When (an Ansar) woman would not bear children who would live, she would vow that if she gives birth to a child who remains alive, she would raise him as a Jew. When Banu An-Nadir (the Jewish tribe) were evacuated from Al-Madinah, some of the children of the Ansar were being raised among them, and the Ansar said, `We will not abandon our children.' Allah revealed,
لاَ إِكْرَاهَ فِى الدِّينِ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ
(There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the right path has become distinct from the wrong path.)"
Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i also recorded this Hadith. As for the Hadith that Imam Ahmad recorded, in which Anas said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to a man,
«أَسْلِم»
قَالَ: إِنِّي أَجِدُنِي كَارِهًا قَالَ:
«وَإِنْ كُنْتَ كَارِهًا»
("Embrace Islam." The man said, "I dislike it." The Prophet said, "Even if you dislike it.")
First, this is an authentic Hadith, with only three narrators between Imam Ahmad and the Prophet . However, it is not relevant to the subject under discussion, for the Prophet did not force that man to become Muslim. The Prophet merely invited this man to become Muslim, and he replied that he does not find himself eager to become Muslim. The Prophet said to the man that even though he dislikes embracing Islam, he should still embrace it, `for Allah will grant you sincerity and true intent.'
Tawhid is the Most Trustworthy Handhold
Allah's statement,
فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّـغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَى لاَ انفِصَامَ لَهَا وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
(Whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower) is in reference to, "Whoever shuns the rivals of Allah, the idols, and those that Shaytan calls to be worshipped besides Allah, whoever believes in Allah's Oneness, worships Him alone and testifies that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him, then
فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَى
(then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold.)
Therefore, this person will have acquired firmness in the religion and proceeded on the correct way and the straight path. Abu Al-Qasim Al-Baghawi recorded that `Umar said, "Jibt means magic, and Taghut means Shaytan. Verily, courage and cowardice are two instincts that appear in men, the courageous fights for those whom he does not know and the coward runs away from defending his own mother. Man's honor resides with his religion and his status is based upon his character, even if he was Persian or Nabatian." `Umar's statement that Taghut is Shaytan is very sound, for this meaning includes every type of evil that the ignorant people of Jahiliyyah (pre Islamic era of ignorace) fell into, such as worshipping idols, referring to them for judgement, and invoking them for victory.
Allah's statement,
فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَى لاَ انفِصَامَ لَهَا
(then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break) means, "He will have hold of the true religion with the strongest grasp." Allah equated this adherence to the firm handhold that never breaks because it is built solid and because its handle is firmly connected. This is why Allah said here,
فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَى لاَ انفِصَامَ لَهَا
(then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break.)
Mujahid said, "The most trustworthy handhold is Iman (faith)." As-Suddi said that it refers to Islam. Imam Ahmad recorded that Qays bin `Abbad said, "I was in the Masjid when a man whose face showed signs of humbleness came and prayed two Rak`ahs that were modest in length. The people said, `This is a man from among the people of Paradise.' When he left, I followed him until he entered his house, and I entered it after him and spoke with him. When he felt at ease, I said to him, `When you entered the Masjid, the people said such and such things.' He said, `All praise is due to Allah! No one should say what he has no knowledge of. I will tell you why they said that. I saw a vision during the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and I narrated it to him. I saw that I was in a green garden, ' and he described the garden's plants and spaciousness, `and there was an iron pole in the middle of the garden affixed in the earth and its tip reached the sky. On its tip, there was a handle, and I was told to ascend the pole. I said, `I cannot.' Then a helper came and raised my robe from behind and said to me, `Ascend.' I ascended until I grasped the handle and he said to me, `Hold on to the handle.' I awoke from that dream with the handle in my hand. I went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and told him about the vision and he said,
«أَمَّا الرَّوْضَةُ فَرَوْضَةُ الْإِسْلَامِ، وَأَمَّا الْعَمُودُ فَعَمُودُ الْإِسْلَامِ، وَأَمَّا الْعُرْوَةُ فَهِيَ الْعُرْوَةُ الْوُثْقَى، أَنْتَ عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ حَتَّى تَمُوت»
(As for the garden, it represents Islam; as for the pole, it represents the pillar of Islam; and the handle represents the most trustworthy handhold. You shall remain Muslim until you die.)
This Companion was `Abdullah bin Salam."
This Hadith was also collected in the Two Sahihs; and Al-Bukhari also recorded it with another chain of narration.
Hadits Terkait
Telah menceritakan kepada kami [Ishaq bin Manshur] telah mengabarkan kepada kami [Abdullah bin Bakr As Sahmani] telah menceritakan kepada kami [Humaid] dari [Anas] ia berkata; "Ketika turun ayat Kamu sekali-kali tidak sampai kepada kebajikan (yang sempurna), sebelum kamu menafkahkan sebahagian harta yang kamu cintai." QS Ali 'Imran: 92 atau Siapakah yang mau memberi pinjaman kepada Allah, pinjaman yang baik (menafkahkan hartanya di jalan Allah). QS Al-Baqarah: 245, kemudian Abu Thalhah, yang memiliki kebun berkata; "Wahai Rasulullah, saya (infakkan) kebun saya ini di jalan Allah. Dan sekiranya saya mampu untuk menyembunyikannya tentu saya tidak menyatakannya. lalu beliau mengatakan "Berikanlah kepada kerabat atau orang yang terdekat denganmu!" Abu Isa mengatakan bahwa hadits ini hasan shahih. Dan [Malik bin Anas] telah meriwayatkan dari [Ishaq bin Abdullah bin Abu Thalhah] dari [Anas bin Malik]
Telah bercerita kepada kami [Musa bin Isma'il] telah bercerita kepada kami ['Abdul Wahid bin Ziyad] telah bercerita kepada kami [Al A'masy] dari [Abu Shalih] dari [Abu Sa'id] berkata; Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam bersabda: "(Pada hari qiyanat) Nabi Nuh 'alaihissalam dan ummatnya datang lalu Allah Ta'ala berfirman: "Apakah kamu telah menyampaikan (ajaran)?. Nuh 'Alaihissalam menjawab: "Sudah, wahai Rabbku". Kemudian Allah bertanya kepada ummatnya: "Apakah benar dia telah menyampaikan kepada kalian?". Mereka menjawab; "Tidak. Tidak ada seorang Nabi pun yang datang kepada kami". Lalu Allah berfirman kepada Nuh 'alaihissalam: "Siapa yang menjadi saksi atasmu?". Nabi Nuh Alaihissalam berkata; "Muhammad shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam dan ummatnya". Maka kami pun bersaksi bahwa Nabi Nuh 'alaihissalam telah menyampaikan risalah yang diembannya kepada ummatnya. Begitulah seperti yang difirmankan Allah Yang Maha Tinggi (QS al-Baqarah ayat 143 yang artinya), ("Dan demikianlah kami telah menjadikan kalian sebagai ummat pertengahan untuk menjadi saksi atas manusia.."). al-washathu artinya al-'adl (adil)
Telah bercerita kepadaku [Ishaq bin Nashr] telah bercerita kepada kami ['Abdur Razzaq] dari [Ma'mar] dari [Hammam bin Munabbih] bahwa dia mendengar [Abu Hurairah radliallahu 'anhu] berkata; Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam bersabda: "Dikatakan kepada Bani Isra'il, ("masuklah kalian ke dalam pintu gerbang sambil bersujud dan katakanlah; bebaskanlah kami dari dosa"), (QS al-Baqarah ayat 58). Namun mereka menukarnya dan masuk sambil merayap di atas pantat mereka sambil berkata: "buah gandum
Telah mengabarkan kepada kami [Ishaq bin Ibrahim] dia berkata; Telah menceritakan kepada kami [Sulaiman bin Harb] dia berkata; Telah menceritakan kepada kami [Hammad bin Salamah] dari [Tsabit] dari [Anas] dia berkata; Bahwa orang Yahudi apabila ada istri mereka sedang haid, maka mereka tidak mengajak makan bersama, tidak mempergaulinya, dan tidak berkumpul bersamanya di rumah. Mereka bertanya kepada Nabi Allah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam tentang hal itu? Lalu Allah Azza wa Jalla menurunkan ayat " Mereka bertanya kepadamu tentang haid. Katakanlah, (Hai Muhammad) bahwa itu adalah penyakit… (Qs. Al-Baqarah (2): 222) lalu Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam memerintahkan mereka untuk ikut makan bersama, mempergaulinya, berkumpul dengan mereka di rumah, dan untuk berbuat apa saja selain bersetubuh
Telah menceritakan kepadaku [Muhammad bin Minhal adl-Dlarir] dan [Umayyah bin Bistham al-Aisyi] dan lafazh tersebut milik Umayyah, keduanya berkata, telah menceritakan kepada kami [Yazid bin Zurai'] telah menceritakan kepada kami [Rauh] -yaitu Ibnu al-Qasim- dari [al-Ala'] dari [bapaknya] dari [Abu Hurairah] dia berkata, "Ketika turun ayat pada Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam: '(Kepunyaan Allah-lah segala apa yang ada di langit dan di bumi. Dan jika kamu melahirkan apa yang ada di dalam hatimu atau kamu menyembunyikannya, niscaya Allah akan membuat perhitungan dengan kamu tentang perbuatanmu itu. Maka Allah mengampuni siapa yang dikehendaki-Nya dan menyiksa siapa yang dikehendaki-Nya; dan Allah Maha Kuasa atas segala sesuatu) ' (Qs. al-Baqarah: 284) ' Abu Hurairah berkata, 'Maka hal tersebut terasa berat atas para sahabat Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam, lalu mereka mendatangi Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam dan mengucapkan salam di atas kendaraan seraya berkata, 'Wahai Rasulullah, kami diberi beban amalan yang mana kami tidak mampu melakukan shalat, puasa, jihad, dan sedekah. Sungguh telah diturunkan ayat ini kepadamu, dan kami tidak mampu melakukannya! Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam bersabda: "Apakah kamu ingin mengucapkan sebagaimana ahli kitab sebelum kalian mengucapkan, 'Kami mendengar dan kami mendurhakai', akan tetapi katakanlah, 'Kami mendengar dan kami menaati, Ampunilah kami ya Rabb kami dan kepada Engkaulah tempat kembali'. Mereka menjawab, 'Kami mendengar dan kami menaatinya, ampunilah kami ya Rabb kami dan kepada Engkaulah tempat kembali.' Ketika kaum tersebut membacanya, maka lisan-lisan mereka tunduk dengannya, lalu Allah menurunkan sesudahnya: '(Rasul telah beriman kepada al-Qur'an yang diturunkan kepadanya dari Rabbnya, demikian pula orang-orang yang beriman. Semuanya beriman kepada Allah, malaikat-malaikat-Nya, kitab-kitab-Nya dan rasul-rasul-Nya. (Mereka mengatakan), 'Kami tidak membeda-bedakan antara seorang pun (dengan yang lain) dari rasul-rasul-Nya', dan mereka mengatakan, 'Kami dengar dan kami taat'. (Mereka berdoa), 'Ampunilah kami ya Rabb kami dan kepada Engkaulah tempat kembali'. (Qs. al-Baqarah: 285). Ketika mereka melakukan hal tersebut, maka Allah menghapusnya, lalu menurunkan: '(Allah tidak membebani seseorang melainkan sesuai dengan kesanggupannya. Ia mendapat pahala (dari kebajikan) yang diusahakannya dan mendapat siksa (dari kejahatan) yang dikerjakannya. (Mereka berdoa): "Ya Rabb kami, janganlah Engkau hukum kami jika kami lupa atau kami bersalah) ' Allah menjawab: "Ya." '(Ya Rabb kami, janganlah Engkau bebankan kepada kami beban yang berat sebagaimana Engkau bebankan kepada orang-orang yang sebelum kami) ' Allah menjawab: "Ya." '(Wahai Rabb kami, janganlah Engkau pikulkan kepada kami apa yang tak sanggup kami memikulnya) ' Allah menjawab: "Ya." '(Beri maaflah kami; ampunilah kami; dan rahmatilah kami. Engkaulah Penolong kami, maka tolonglah kami terhadap kaum yang kafir'. (Qs. al-Baqarah: 286). Allah menjawab: "Ya