The Qur’an famously declares, “There is no compulsion in religion” (2:256). Yet various forms of religious compulsion exist today across the Muslim world — from apostasy and blasphemy laws to morality police and the subjugation of women. This project explores and elucidates Islamic arguments against these grim “exceptions” to religious freedom. It advocates a faith grounded in free choice, not coercion.
No Compulsion in Religion—No Exceptions: Islamic Arguments for Religious Freedom
Edited by Cato Institute Senior Fellow Mustafa Akyol, this book brings together a team of prominent Islamic scholars to elucidate the case for individual liberty in Islam. By highlighting insights from Qur’anic exegesis, Islamic jurisprudence, Muslim history, and contemporary trends in the Muslim world, they make the case for full-fledged religious freedom. They argue that the Qur’anic maxim “No compulsion in religion” should be embraced wholeheartedly, with no exceptions.
This project was made possible through the support of a grant from Templeton Religion Trust.
