Religious Freedom in Islam Its Dimensions and Conditions

Abstract

Some Qur’anic verses differ from others that they form great Islamic bases, on which certain principles were built and developed. Among such verses we have those verses talking about religious freedom in Islam, which was discussed in the Qur'an under the concept of (compulsion), particularly verse 2/256 which declares that there is no compulsion in religion, a principle which gives the base of human rights, the real dignity of mankind, and the respect of human will. In fact, such verses open the door to understand righteously the issue of freedom in a wide concept, a matter which was declared and practiced during the Islamic reign. On the other hand, some people -whether Muslims or non-Muslims, blame Islam in having compulsion in its legislations and applications: in faith matters, worship matters, criminal law, and interactions, a matter which insists that there is a kind of inconsistency in Islamic rules. May the study can clarify any misunderstanding arises in these applications, particularly the concept and the rules of Turncoat-apostasy, this concept dominates a great attention of scholars and were claimed to oppose the concept of freedom in religion.