For Muslims: Are forced conversions to Islam valid or not?

Question

I just saw the two released jounalists in Gaza. They say that they were forced to convert to Islam at gun point.
Assuming that what they said is true:
Did the people forcing the conversion break any Islamic law?
Do you think that it is acceptable to do this?
In your view are the conversions valid?

I would appreciate serious, thoughtful answers.

1- q8y_genius seems to say that the question is not legitimate.
2- metorido addresses the 1st part and does not address the 2nd and 3rd part of the question at all.
3- Bacchus does not address the question at all.
4- Shahbaaz Ali K a relevant opinion piece without addressing the question.
5- terrorismbuster addresses the 3rd part of the question, a tirade against Zionist controlled media.
6- coffee addresses all three of the parts of the question succinctly.
7- hellblackace addresses all three parts of my question and an anti-Jewish tangent.
8- Abir quranic verses which may be vaguely relevant to some parts the question.
9- abeer addresses the 1st and 2nd part of my question, not the 3rd.
10- Muslim addresses the 1st part of the question.
11- cherylyoung starts addressing the question in a systematic and interesting way, but destroys her argument with the notion that Islam is some kind of brainwashing cult.
12- askmuslims1 addresses the 1st and 2nd parts of the question, but not th

Answer 1

the use of force is unacceptable in Islam...they were not braking any laws, but they were not practising the true teaching of Islam.
The was no convertion...to convert the individual involve must accept in his/her heart that Allah is the only god and muhammad is Allah's messenger...better still if he/she said that openly.

Answer 2

Not at all. Like "metorido" said: "Muslim Extremist are always breaking Islamic law."
We don't like to see Muslims forced conversion to other Religions. Whatever terrorists are doing in name of Islam is totally wrong. Unfortunately, not everyone follows their religion, but it does not mean that the religion is to blame. Our Islamic belief does not teach them to be like that. Rather, Islam says a big punishment waiting on judgment day for their horrific actions. May Allah enlighten their wisdom.

Answer 3

First of all...No true muslim would force somebody else to convert...I saw the video and did not see anything relating to what you have said. They never mention that they were forced. They add that Islam is a religon of peace, tolerance and mercy, which has been misrepresented by western media. All the people called terrorists want is to be left alone to form a country based on the principles of Islam, But this is not being accepted by the western world because of their greed to be Superior by making other countries inferior.

Answer 4

No its not valid because the Holy Quran clearly states in that there is no No compulsion in religion. If there were valid countries like India which was under Muslim control was so many years would have been a Muslim country.

http://askmuslims.com

Answer 5

Their is no force for Non-muslims to become Muslim.
Its a religion of choice. If its true.that. those journalists were forced then let me tell u its forbidden in islam to force.

There is just so much misconception created about islam. By the way relating sep/11 kind of incidents to jihad is wrong. It is NOT jihad and totally wrong. Killing of innocent people is prohibited. People who do this cannot claim it be right or jihad.

http://www.al-islam.org/

Answer 6

hi, i am muslim egyptian...regardless what happened is true or just misleading rumors i give u 3 answers :

1- Forcing the conversion breaks one of islam basic rules , as in our holy quraan GOD says ( translated ) : " no force in religion ", meaning that anyone must enter islam with his free will

2- It is unacceptable to do this because islam never encouraged forced conversion

3- In ourt mortal life these conversions may be considered valid, just in paper work, but GOD looks into them as invalid ofcourse. because GOD knows everything and can know whats in your heart, he knows that in heart these journalists r not muslims...

But plz let me tell you this...dont believe all what the media tells you...because jews r always trying to destroy islams reputition....cant tell you why because am afraid that this yahoo account gets banned...thanks for being open minded and trying to know abt islam....

Answer 7

ofcourse NOT !!!!! embracing truth (islam) by heart ..is real conversion to islam .. n after that u r compelled to follow it ..as u converted on ur own free will .. no one can force anyone .. coz its his own porb to accept the truth .. n see the path of guidence or jsut remain in the worldy things ... n follow the path full of thorns .....
..those jounalists ..who said that they were forced to do that ... that is PROPAGANDA only .. fo zionists to humilate the truth ... so that new converts would feel ashamed of their right decision ...
how can u beleive today's media .whcih is controlled by zionists ... they jsut project theri own propaganda's .. nthg esle
GOOD LUCK

Answer 8

1st of all verify ur info.........conflict of badr wasnt fought wid da jews, it grew to become into with the meccans. what ur talkin abt is the conflict of "khandaq" Now beheading the jews WASNT coz they werent convertin 2 islam. The Muslims had entered a treaty with them that in the time of case of an attack on Madinah they might shield the city alongside with them, the Muslims had made no protecting affiliation there and had even despatched their families to take take care of interior the forts located on that part. The invaders perceived this weak spot of the Islamic defenses. They despatched Huyayy bin Akhtab, the Jewish chief of the Bani an-Nadir, to the Bani Quraizah with the intention to bring about them to interrupt the treaty and connect the conflict. interior the beginning up, they refused to oblige and mentioned they had a treaty with Muhammad (observed) who had faithfully abided by using it and given them no reason for grievance. yet while Ibn Akhtab mentioned to them, "look, I certainly have summoned the united tension of finished Arabia against him: this might properly be a suited risk to get rid of him. in case you lose it, you will under no circumstances have yet another risk," the anti Islamic Jewish recommendations prevailed over each ethical attention and the Bani Quraizah have been persuaded to interrupt the treaty. It grew to become into Sa'd n no longer prophet(observed) who gave the orders 2 behead the jews.the folk of (the tribe of) Quraiza agreed upon to settle for the call of Sa'd. The Prophet despatched for him (Sa'd) and he got here. The Prophet mentioned (to those human beings), "get up to your chief or the ideal between you!" Sa'd sat beside the Prophet and the Prophet mentioned (to him), "those human beings have agreed to settle to your verdict." Sa'd mentioned, "So I provide my judgment that their warriors might desire to be killed . So ur finished argument is baseless.

Answer 9

No the Koran is all about forcing people to be Muslim. it is a pretty interesting book to read. You can see some of the per visions of wisdom that are in it. If people take it out of religious context and just read it, they will say, "my god is this book messed up."
b

Answer 10

Muslim Extremist are always breaking islamic law. It goes for any religious extremist. they use their book of faith to justify the selffish, ignorant, egotistical actions