The decision to adopt and follow a religion of one’s choice without any coercion, force or compulsion is one’s fundamental right. Although God, the Creator and Master, has created man on the principle of nature (fitrah), He has given man right to exercise his freedom to accept or reject the way of life He has revealed. There is no shred of compulsion whatsoever. The Qur’an says: “There shall be no compulsion in religion. The right way is henceforth distinct from error….” (2:256) Article 25 of the Constitution of India also guarantees a citizen’s “freedom to profess, practice and propagate religion”.
God has allowed human beings to live on earth just to test who among them stand thankful to Him, obey Him and worship Him, and who turn away, disobey Him and continue to practise polytheism and thus reject the Divine message. This test comes in various ways and with varying degrees of difficulty and rigour. These trials and tribulations can only bring a believer much closer to God and enhance his sense of God-fearing and his submission to Him. But they will confound an unbeliever or a hypocrite who questions the various signs God sends to them in the form of Qur’anic ayaat as well as in his lives. They raise questions not to understand but for the sake of question only. Thus, they grow more arrogant, inconsiderate and irresponsible. “In this way, God lets many go astray and gives guidance to many others, but none does He leave to go astray except the evildoers.” (The Qur’an – 2:26) As a result of their defiant attitude and polytheistic deeds , the evildoers are given even more freedom to pursue the way, howsoever erroneous, they have chosen for themselves.
Thus, it is clear that conversion is a matter of conscience. One may invite people to the Message of the Truth but what is evident is that the decision depends on the receiver of the message as he has to ponder over the message and read the response of his conscience and act accordingly. Even at this state, he can reject the response of his conscience. In this case, he will continue to go astray.
As for the believers, God guides them in umpteen ways. He takes them to great heights of prosperity and success here and in the hereafter. God reminds them to remain dutiful onto the path of the Truth. He says: “O you who believe! be careful of (your duty to) Allah and be with the true ones. (The Qur’an – 9:119) At another point, God says: “And whoever obeys Allah and the Apostle, these are with those upon whom Allah has bestowed favours from among the prophets and the truthful and the martyrs and the good, and a goodly company are they! (The Qur’an – 4:69) And at yet another place, He says: “These are they on whom Allah bestowed favours….” (The Qur’an – 19:58).
Therefore, success lies in stopping for some moments and thinking over one’s life. One should think on what is the purpose of his life, what is the Divine will, and what he is doing. This often opens the doors for success.