2:256-Note-2

Though the Quran denounces imposition of religion, and promotes freedom of religion and expression of thought, the followers of hadith and sunna created sharia laws primarily for the justification of oppressive and dictatorial regimes of the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphs. The Quran rejects the imposition of a religion over another and promotes the Islamic system that can be summarized, in modern terms, as federal secularism (5:43). Thus, the city-state of Yathrib led by Muhammed, who did not accept any other authority besides the Quran (6:114), established a successful example of a federal secular system by dividing the territory into independent legal jurisdictions to accommodate the diverse religious, social, and political preferences of its communities. The relations between those who accepted the Quran as their jurisdiction and those who followed other laws were determined according to a constitution drafted and signed by all parties.

Some critics take verse 9:3 out of its context and present it as a contradiction with the principle expressed in 2:256 and other verses. Chapter 9 starts with an ultimatum against Meccan mushriks who not only tortured, killed, and evicted muslims from their homes but also mobilized several major war campaigns against them while the muslims established a peaceful multi-national and multi-religious community. The beginning of the Chapter refers to their violation of the peace treaty and gives them an ultimatum of four months to stop aggression. Thus, the verses quoted from Chapter 9 have nothing to do with freedom of religion; it is a warning against aggressive, murderous religious fanatics.

As for 9:29, the word jizya in that verse has been mistranslated as a taxation of non-muslims, while the word means "compensation" or more accurately, "war reparation," which was levied against the aggressing party who initiated the war. See 9:29; 6:68. Also see 2:193; 4:140; 10:99; 18:29; 74:55; 80:12; 88:21, 22. The death penalty rule in Sunni and Shiite sects contradicts many verses, especially the verse 4:137.

The Bible contains some verses emphasizing the importance of freedom, justice, and human rights. "When all the prisoners in a country are crushed underfoot, when human rights are overridden in defiance of the Most High, when someone is cheated of justice, does not the Lord see it?" (Lamentations 3:34). "He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives, sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free" (Luke 4:18 ). On the other hand, the Old Testament contains some verses that show no tolerance for other religions or religious beliefs. For instance, if a man was deemed to blaspheme against God, he was expected to be stoned to death. Even the violation of the Sabbath was considered a crime punishable by death. See, Numbers 15:32-36 .Edip.