Religion shapes how people live and think, often guiding their values and actions. One topic that stirs discussion is how religions approach conversions, especially whether it’s okay to force someone to change their faith. Forced conversions happen when someone is made to adopt a religion against their will.
In this article, we’ll explore what Sikhi and Islam say about forced conversions. Let’s explore how Sikhi and Islam view this issue, using their holy texts and historical examples.
Sikhi does not allow forcing anyone to become a Sikh. Instead, it welcomes people who choose Sikhi out of love and their own free will. The Sikh Gurus clearly stated that no one should be forced to follow the path of Sikhi. Instead, a true devotee is one who chooses this way out of genuine love and dedication. Here’s a verse that shows this:
ਜਉ ਤਉ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਖੇਲਣ ਕਾ ਚਾਉ ॥
ਸਿਰੁ ਧਰਿ ਤਲੀ ਗਲੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਆਉ ॥
“If you desire to play this game of love with Me, then step onto My Path with your head in hand.”
(Salok Vaar Vadheek M:1, 1412)
This means that becoming a Sikh is a serious, personal choice made out of love, not something forced.
The Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji also says using force to convert people is wrong:
ਭੈ ਕਾਹੂ ਕਉ ਦੇਤ ਨਹਿ ਨਹਿ ਭੈ ਮਾਨਤ ਆਨ ॥
“Do not frighten anyone, nor be afraid of anyone.”
(Salok M:9, 1427)
This clearly shows that Sikhi does not believe in using threats or force. Gurbani also criticizes any use of force as a form of tyranny. For example:
ਕਬੀਰ ਜੋਰੀ ਕੀਏ ਜੁਲਮੁ ਹੈ ਕਹਤਾ ਨਾਉ ਹਲਾਲੁ ॥
ਦਫਤਰਿ ਲੇਖਾ ਮਾਂਗੀਐ ਤਬ ਹੋਇਗੋ ਕਉਨੁ ਹਵਾਲੁ ॥੧੮੭॥
“Kabeer, to use force is tyranny, even if you call it legal. When your account is called for in the Court of the Lord, what will your condition be then? ||187|”
(Salok Kabeer Jee, 1374)
And again:
ਕਬੀਰ ਜੋਰੁ ਕੀਆ ਸੋ ਜੁਲਮੁ ਹੈ ਲੇਇ ਜਬਾਬੁ ਖੁਦਾਇ ॥
ਦਫਤਰਿ ਲੇਖਾ ਨੀਕਸੈ ਮਾਰ ਮੁਹੈ ਮੁਹਿ ਖਾਇ ॥੨੦੦॥
“Kabeer, it is tyranny to use force; the Lord shall call you to account. When your account is called for, your face and mouth shall be beaten. ||200||”
(Salok Kabeer Jee, 1375)
These verses show that Sikhi sees forcing someone to convert as unfair and against God’s will. Sikhi welcomes those who choose the faith out of love. The use of force or intimidation is condemned. The focus is on voluntary acceptance and heartfelt dedication to the Sikh path.
Islam’s view on forced conversions is different and more complicated. According to many verses in the Qur’an (Islam’s holy book) and Hadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad), Muslims are told to fight non-believers until they accept Islam, pay a special tax called Jizya, or are defeated. Here are the verses provided:
Qur’anic Verses
Qur’an (8:39)
“And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism: i.e. worshipping others besides Allah) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allah Alone [in the whole of the world]. But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allah), then certainly, Allah is All-Seer of what they do.”
Qur’an (9:29)
“Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.”
Qur’an (9:5)
“But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open the way for them…”
Qur’an (9:11)
“But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then are they your brethren in religion.”
Qur’an (9:56-57)
“And they swear by Allah that they are most surely of you, and they are not of you, but they are a people who are afraid (of you). If they could find a refuge or cave or a place to enter into, they would certainly have turned thereto, running away in all haste.”
Qur’an (2:193)
“And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion be only for Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against wrong-doers.”
Qur’an (3:83)
“Are they seeking a religion other than Allah’s, when every soul in the heavens and the earth has sub mitted to Him, willingly or by compulsion?”
These verses suggest that fighting is allowed until people accept Islam or live under Muslim rule by paying Jizya.
From the Hadith:
There are also several sayings from the Hadith (recorded sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad) that discuss the use of force:
Sahih Muslim (1:33)
“I have been commanded to fight against people till they testify that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, and they establish prayer and pay zakat.”
Sahih Muslim (19:4294)
“When you meet your enemies who are polytheists (which includes Christians), invite them to three courses of action. If they respond to any one of these, you also accept it and withhold yourself from doing them any harm. Invite them to (accept) Islam; if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from fighting against them … If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizya. If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your hands. If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah’s help and fight them.”
Bukhari (8:387)
“Allah’s Apostle said, ‘I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.’ And if they say so, pray like our prayers, face our Qibla and slaughter as we slaughter, then their blood and property will be sacred to us and we will not interfere with them except legally and their reckoning will be with Allah.’”
Bukhari (53:392)
“While we were in the Mosque, the Prophet came out and said, ‘Let us go to the Jews.’ We went out till we reached Bait-ul-Midras. He said to them, ‘If you embrace Islam, you will be safe. You should know that the earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle, and I want to expel you from this land. So, if anyone amongst you owns some property, he is permitted to sell it, otherwise you should know that the Earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle.’”
Bukhari (2:24)
“Allah’s Apostle said: ‘I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s Apostle, and offer the prayers perfectly and give the obligatory charity, so if they perform that, then they save their lives and property from me except for Islamic laws and then their reckoning (accounts) will be done by Allah.’”
Bukhari (60:80)
“The Verse:–‘You (true Muslims) are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind.’ means, the best of peoples for the people, as you bring them with chains on their necks till they embrace Islam.”
Bukhari (60:40)
“…:And fight them till there is no more affliction (i.e. no more worshiping of others along with Allah).”
Bukhari (59:643)
“Testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, or else I will chop off your neck!”
History shows many cases where force was used to convert people to Islam. In his later years, Prophet Muhammad used his army to make people accept Islam. For example:
After Muhammad, his successors, like Abu Bakr and Umar, continued this. They fought wars to make people accept Islam or pay Jizya. Even today, there are examples, like Christian girls kidnapped in Egypt or a boy enslaved in Pakistan, where conversion was forced.
During the Sikh Gurus’ time (1469–1708), Mughal rulers, following the teachings of the Qur’an and Islam that permitted fighting non-believers until they converted or submitted (e.g., Qur’an 9:29, Sahih Muslim 1:33), often forced Sikhs and Hindus to accept Islam.
Here are key historical examples:
These gruesome acts reflect how Mughals applied Islamic teachings to justify violence and coercion against Sikhs and Hindus, who resisted bravely.
Many Muslims recognized Islam’s violence – such as forced conversions, killings, and oppression – as cruel and unjust. They abandoned it for Sikhi, which offered a better path of equality, love, and respect for all, regardless of faith. For instance, some Muslims joined Guru Hargobind Ji during the Battle of Amritsar (1634), fighting Mughal forces alongside Sikhs to resist tyranny. Later, others stood with Guru Gobind Singh Ji in battles like Anandpur (1700s), rejecting Islam’s brutal ways for Sikhi’s noble ideals.
These converts saw Islam’s reliance on fear and bloodshed as flawed, while Sikhi’s emphasis on standing against oppression and living with dignity inspired them. Their courage bolstered Sikh resistance, proving Sikhi’s moral strength surpassed Islam’s coercive approach, uniting people in a fight for truth and freedom.
The teachings of Sikhi and Islam on forced conversions are very different:
One Qur’an verse, 2:256, says, “Let there be no compulsion in religion,” and many Muslims follow this, not forcing anyone. But some say later verses, like those in Sura 9, override it, allowing force.
| Aspect | Sikhi | Islam |
|---|---|---|
| Core Teaching | Forbids forced conversions; faith must be chosen freely out of love. | Permits force; non-believers must convert, pay Jizya, or face fighting ( Qur’an 9:29 ). |
| Key Scriptures | “Do not frighten anyone…” (Salok M:9, 1427) “To use force is tyranny…” (Salok Kabeer Jee, 1374, 1375) | “Fight them until… religion will all be for Allah Alone” ( Qur’an 8:39) “Fight those who believe not in Allah… until they pay the Jizya” ( Qur’an 9:29 ) |
| View on Force | Condemns force as unjust and against God’s will; emphasizes voluntary dedication. | Allows force as a means to spread Islam. |
| Response to Oppression | Sikhs stood firm, sacrificed lives for freedom of faith; inspired unity and resistance. | Many Muslims, seeing Islam’s brutality, left it and joined Sikhs against Mughal tyranny. |
| Muslim Converts | N/A – Sikhi doesn’t force conversion but welcomed Muslims seeking its peaceful path. | Many Muslims embraced Sikhi (e.g., fought with Guru Hargobind Ji, 1634; Guru Gobind Singh Ji, 1700s) rejecting Islam’s violence. |
| Moral Stance | Equality, love, and dignity for all; force is tyranny against God’s law. | Spread of religion justifies force; submission to Allah is ultimate goal. |
Sikhi and Islam see forced conversions in opposite ways. Sikhi forbids it, teaching that faith must come from the heart. Sikhi emerges as a supreme faith, rooted in love, free will, and respect for individual choice. Islam, based on its texts, such as the Qur’an and Hadith, explicitly sanctions violence and coercion to impose faith, demanding that non-believers convert, submit to Jizya, or face death.
Anyone with a rational mind should see the moral bankruptcy of Islam’s coercive tactics and its failure to honor human dignity. Leaving Islam for Sikhi offers a path to true freedom, equality, and peace, a choice grounded in reason and conscience, away from a faith marred by cruelty and injustice. Sikhi stands as a beacon of righteousness, proving its supremacy over Islam’s flawed and oppressive framework.
