In fact it is against religion (in fact most religions I am aware of not only Islam).
I would say most of the time, it is for political reasons. Not only national politics (BAL or BNP) but also village level groups are there. There are many Muslims who fell victims of such ugly politics where one group goes after another with everything they have.
There is a provision in Islam for reward for inducing conversion;
"There is no compulsion (force ) in religion"
(2:256)
To quote D'Leary in 'Islam at the Crossroads', "History makes it clear however that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated".
Therefore, if any idiot tries to force another person to convert to Islam, he/she will be violating a fundamental command of Islam. I have witnessed many conversions to Islam in my life and every time a scholar asks the person if there anyone forcing him/her to accept Islam. If anyone forces conversion, it is null and void from the get go. It does not mean anything. It is like ordering a pizza without cheese or eating a hamburger without meat. It does NOT work.
I am sharing an article by M J Akbar. It appeared in Times of India.
The myth of forced Islamic conversions
The myth of forced Islamic conversions
- M J Akbar 25 May 2008
An insidious debate has been initiated in the United States as conservatives watch, with obvious horror, the ascent of Barack Obama. Their campaign to label him a closet Muslim failed. Could he, however, be rebranded as the world's most powerful, and hence vulnerable, apostate — a few notches ahead of Salman Rushdie? Edward Luttwak, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, wrote recently: "In Islam...there is no such thing as a half-Muslim...As the son of a Muslim father, Obama was born a Muslim under Muslim law as it is universally understood. It makes no difference that, as Obama has written, his father said he renounced his religion...(Obama) chose to become a Christian...His conversion, however, was a crime in Muslim eyes; it is 'irtidad' or 'ridda' (apostasy)...the recommended punishment is beheading at the hands of a cleric."
The point is sharp; it can only be blunted by an answer.
Three weeks ago, in early May, the Shariah High Court of the northern Malaysian state of Penang ruled that Siti Fatimah Tan Abdullah, a 39-year-old Chinese cake-seller, could return to her original faith, Buddhism. She had converted in order to marry an Iranian, but argued that she had never become a true believer. The Shariah court accepted her plea and blamed her husband and the religious authorities for failing to educate Siti. "I am very happy," said Siti, "I want to go to the temple to pray and give thanks."
The only surprise is that anyone should be surprised. Contrary to the fire-and-sword image that has been constructed, forcible conversion is prohibited in Islam. Even conversion based on an inadequate understanding of the faith is unacceptable, as in the case of Siti. You cannot be a believer if you do not believe, and belief cannot be forced down your throat.
Verse 256 of the second Surah is unambiguous: La iqraha fi al-deen (Let there be no compulsion in religion). Abdullah Yusuf Ali, whose translation of the Quran is recognized across the world, explains, "Compulsion is incompatible with religion because religion is based upon faith and will, and these would be meaningless if induced by force..." A second verse of the Quran reinforces the message: La qum din a qum wal ya-din (Your religion for you and my religion for me).
It is axiomatic that no new faith can grow without conversion; only Sikhism is younger than Islam. Equally, every faith discourages the faithful from abandoning their beliefs: this is why there is a persistent demand by some Hindu leaders for a ban on conversions in our country. Verse 106 of Surah 16 promises the "Wrath of Allah" and a "dreadful penalty" upon "anyone who, after accepting faith in Allah, utters unbelief". But it is vital to note that there is no earthly punishment for apostasy in the Quran. Judgment is left to Allah, the ultimate arbiter. Another verse (2:217) sends apostates to hell, but, as the Encyclopedia of Islam confirms, "In the Quran, the apostate is threatened with punishment in the next world." In a specific case, the Prophet consoled and welcomed back a Muslim called Ammar, who had, under severe torture, uttered a word that could be construed as recantation.
There is no Quranic case, therefore, for inflicting any harm upon Obama. His father lived among Muslims even after he had renounced his faith. As a product of Yale in Kenya, his father was hardly an unknown figure. But there is no record of any fatwa ordering the beheading of Obama's father at the hands of a cleric.
So where is the problem? The problem lies among some — not all — jurists who used one narrative (known as traditions) from accounts of the Prophet's life in which it is said whoever changes his religion shall be put to death. As Rafiq Zakaria points out (Muhammad and the Quran, Penguin, 1991) this "contradicts the tenor of a mass of other traditions and, therefore, cannot be relied. It also contradicts the verses in the Quran that speak of freedom of worship".
The faith often has to be rescued from the excesses of the faithful.
The overwhelming majority of Muslims will react to a President Obama on the basis of how he manages to take his nation out of the war that George Bush launched across wide swathes of the Muslim world, founded on false assumptions and fuelled by false rhetoric. If Barack Obama finds more comfort in Christianity than Islam, he is more than welcome to his convictions: Your religion for you, President, and my religion for me.
Appeared in Times of India, 25th May 2008
Shalom!
-----Original Message-----
From: Jiten Roy <jnrsr53@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sat, Aug 24, 2013 1:54 pm
Subject: [mukto-mona] Fw: Minority repression has no ties to religion: Mozena
Jiten Roy
Instead, he said on Thursday, those were about the pursuit of power and financial gains of the "cheap politicians and greedy land grabbers" who he said created and manipulated "friction in the guise of religion to their own benefit".
"These cheap politicians and greedy land grabbers are a threat to the nation".
Mozena was speaking at an inter-faith dialogue on religion for peace and tolerance.
"(The building) is now known around the world as a symbol of greed, corruption, and land grabbing from minorities".
He called upon all including the government to reject "these cheap politicians and land grabbers" who he said "seek to use religion to advance their self-serving agendas to acquire power and wealth".
Leaders of different religions including Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity, representatives of the Vatican embassy in Dhaka, academicians and students attended the dialogue.
The Ambassador recalled the destruction of Buddhist temples and monasteries in Ramu last September and attacks in February on Hindus in Noakhali, Comilla, Barisal, Satkhira, Gaibandha, Chapainawabganj and other places.
"Such attacks are not in character with the spirit of Bangladesh…a spirit of tolerance, moderation, acceptance…a spirit that reflects the Bangladeshi tradition of living in peace and harmony".
He said he knew of no nation like Bangladesh where the President hosts grand receptions to commemorate the great festivals of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity.
Religious diversity was "truly the beauty and magic" of Bangladesh, he said, where attacks on religious minorities were "most jarring and disturbing".
The American envoy also cited his visits to different parts of the country with his wife and said their impression was that different religions lived "side by side in harmony for hundreds of years".
"Everywhere we go, we see that Bangladeshis of whatever religion have the same aspirations.
"They want simply to build better lives for themselves and their families".
Ambassador Mozena also called upon all religious leaders "to use your influence, your power of persuasion to foster and build the peace and harmony that all Bangladeshis seek".
Speaking at the dialogue, all religious leaders said there was no clash among religions if anyone properly followed the ideals.
Charge d'Affaires of Holy See of Vatican Embassy Massimo Catterin said practising religious increases respect and peace of human beings.
"The problem is our perception of religions and the way of interpreting religions".
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Sunday, August 25, 2013
Re: [mukto-mona] Fw: Minority repression has no ties to religion: Mozena
I actually agree with Mr. Mozena.
>>>>>>>>>> Islam does accept converts. You are right about it. At the SAME time Islam PROHIBITS forced conversion (Source: Al QurĂ¡n 2:256).
CROISSANTS & CRESCENTS:
Yes, economic incentive is there, but - those who take part in the repression, many of them are solely motivated by religious motives. These are religious persecutions. Also, religious conversion is a problem for minorities. There is a provision in Islam for reward for inducing conversion; young girls are mostly the victim of such repression. The family involved in this situation usually leaves the country quietly to avoid humiliation. Many families leave the country even before for fear of such possibility.
Violence against the religious minorities in Bangladesh is "seldom, if ever, about religion," the US Ambassador Dan Mozena has said.
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