The Quran about hatred and compulsion

In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful

At the basis of the universe is a mechanism of compulsion, due to which the entire universe functions. All things mutually influence, transmit energy and will to each other. In the Quran, this phenomenon is defined by the word “karuha” – to be hateful, disgusting, unpleasant, to compel, to do against the will.

The fact that the compulsory system works within the material world is seen from the following passages:

And to God prostrates whoever is within the heavens and the earth, willingly or by compulsion, in the mornings and the afternoons! (13:15)

Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, “Come to Us, willingly or by compulsion!” (41:11)

 

The creation’s consent to voluntarily obey conveys the meaning of self-realization, the existence of the “I” in matter. But the very interaction works according to the laws, and any law is compulsion.

The Creator gives an example with the universe, because being the same creature, we are also faced with the choice of whether to be humble or not:

So is it other than the duty of God they desire, while to Him have humbled those within the heavens and earth, willingly or by compulsion, and to Him they will be returned? (3:83)

 

Of course, our choice is voluntary, but we are aware of the possible outcome in the future. Freedom of choice divided people into ones accepting conditions and the rejecting ones. This division resulted in confrontation, because both views represent systems of interrelations in society. Everyone wants to protect their own system. In such a struggle of ideologies, different methods of struggle are used, including compulsion:

Whoever closed himself from God after his belief, except for one who is forced, while his heart is secure in faith. But those who [willingly] open their thoughts to the closed nature, upon them is wrath from God, and for them is a great punishment; (16:106)

 

The Creator fairly evaluates the behaviour of people, and this is the reason of the exception for the ones who involuntary obeyed to the enemy.

Some people, in the process of confrontation, realize their injustice and choose the side of the truth, as can be seen from the example of Egyptian sorcerers:

Indeed, we have believed our Lord that He may forgive us our mistakes and what you compelled us [to do] of magic. And God is better and more enduring!” (20:73)

 

Such a confrontation of subordinates displeases the “system administrators” – “priests”. These ideologists of the counterweight to the truth completely reject the divine message to people:

They want to extinguish the light of God with their mouths, but God refuses except to perfect His light, although the closed ones dislike it.

It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and true duty to manifest it over all duties, although they who associate others with God dislike it. (9:32-33)

And God will establish the truth by His words, even if the criminals dislike it.” (10:82)

They want to extinguish the light of God with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, although the closed ones dislike it.

It is He who sent His messenger with guidance and the duty of truth to manifest it over all duties, although those who associate others with God dislike it! (61:8-9)

 

The ideology of the opponents permeated all strata of society. Conformism and obscurantism causes the majority to hate the divine truth:

We had certainly brought you the truth, but most of you, to the truth, were averse! (43:78)

 

However, the imposition of divine truth is rejected:

Nuh (Noah) said,

“O my nation have you considered: if I should be upon clear evidence from my Lord while He has given me mercy from Himself but it has been made unapparent to you, should we force it upon you while you are averse to it? (11:28)

 

Hatred to the truth stimulates the use of all kinds of subversive activities, in particular – lies and slander:

They had already desired distemper before and had upset matters for you until the truth came and the ordinance of God appeared, while they were averse. (9:48)

And they attribute to God that which they dislike, and their tongues assert the lie that they will have the best. Assuredly, they will have the fire, and they will be [therein] neglected! (16:62)

Or do they say, “In him is madness?”

Rather, he brought them the truth, but most of them, to the truth, are averse! (23:70)

 

Despite the opposition of the majority, the Creator orders us to be steadfast in spreading the truth:

So invoke God, being sincere to Him in duty, although the closed ones dislike it! (40:14)

 

Hatred to the truth is indicative on the example of the pretence of venal people to be believers:

Say, “Spend willingly or unwillingly; never will it be accepted from you. Indeed, you have been apostates!”

And what prevents their expenditures from being accepted from them but that they have closed themselves from God and His messenger and that they come not to prayer except while they are lazy and that they do not spend except while they are unwilling. (9:53-54)

 

Such behaviour is visible from the outside; therefore, it will be possible to recognize the venal ones by their words and actions:

And if they had intended to go forth, they would have prepared for it [some] preparation. But God disliked their being sent, so He kept them back, and they were told, “Remain with those who remain!” (9:46)

 

Even if people who believe God do not recognize such saboteurs, the Creator will reward everyone according to their merits:

That is because they disliked what God revealed, so He rendered worthless their deeds. (47:9)

That is because they said to those who disliked what God sent down, “We will obey you in part of the matter.” And God knows what they conceal.

Then how [will it be] when the maintainers take them in death, striking their faces and their backs? That is because they followed what angered God and disliked His pleasure, so He rendered worthless their deeds. (47:26-28)

 

Sometimes people who believe God have to force themselves to do what the Creator prescribed, because people have weaknesses:

Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And God Knows, while you know not. (2:216)

[It is] just as when your Lord brought you out of your home in truth, while indeed, a party among the believers were unwilling. (8:5)

 

Hatred to human ideas is not alien to those who believe God:

Said the eminent ones who were arrogant among his people, “We will surely evict you, O Shu’ayb, and those who have believed with you from our city, or you must return to our community.”

He said, “Even if we were unwilling? (7:88)

And know that among you is the messenger of God. If he were to obey you in much of the matter, you would be in difficulty, but God has endeared to you the faith and has beautified it in your hearts. And has made hateful to you closed nature, apostasy and disobedience. Those are the prudent! (49:7)

 

To determine correctness in some deeds, the Creator created in us a natural aversion to certain things. A comparative likeness helps those who believe God to understand the prohibitions:

O you who have believed! Avoid much assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin.

And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. Beware of God! Indeed, God is Accepting of repentance and Merciful! (49:12)

 

The absence of compulsion in duty to God is the main reference point in spreading the truth:

There shall be no compulsion in the duty. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever is closed from transgression and believes God has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And God is Hearing and Knowing! (2:256)

And if had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed – all of them entirely. Then, would you compel the people in order that they become believers? (10:99)

 

The relationship between a man and a woman is also subject to regulation:

O you who have believed! It is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion. And do not make difficulties for them in order to take [back] part of what you gave them unless they commit a clear excessiveness. And live with them with the approval. For if you dislike them – perhaps you dislike a thing and God makes therein much good. (4:19)

 

Compulsion is also blamed by the Creator concerning dependent people, because power allows the use of force, which God forbids in such case:

But let them who find not means for intimacy abstain until God enriches them from His bounty.

And those who seek a contract for emancipation from among whom dependent on you – then make a contract with them if you know there is within them goodness. Give them from the wealth of God which He has given you.

And do not compel your servants to lechery, if they desire chastity, to seek the journeys of worldly life. And if someone should compel them, then indeed, after their compulsion, God is Forgiving and Merciful! (24:33)

 

Some necessary things compulsorily happen with people. Here’s how the Quran describes the state of a woman’s pregnancy:

And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him forcedly and gave birth to him forcedly, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months.

[He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, “My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to correct of which You will approve and make my offspring the improvers! Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the humble!” (46:15)

 

The desire to have offspring leads to forced pregnancy, to the burden of the process and of course the inevitable period of permission from pregnancy. A woman has the right to voluntary consent to take it all at her choice.

Only the Supreme Creator has the right to force, we can only follow His prescriptions.