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It has been reported by the media that there are Pakistani Hindus who lose their daughters to forced Muslim marriages.

It is claimed a 17-year-old, Anila Dhawan, was kidnapped last spring from her home in Hyderabad, forced to convert to Islam and made to marry her abductor.

In a report cited by USA Today, they claimed that every year about a 1000 Pakistani Hindu girls, and Christians are forcefully converted to Islam by men.

If these allegations are true, then indeed this is sad and the authorities definitely need to intervene to protect minorities from these heinous crimes.

It should be noted also that in some cases of Hindu converts to Islam in Asia, whose families some times claim that they were forced because they do not want to acknowledge (admit) that their child could have done this voluntarily. Furthermore, to admit that one’s daughter freely/voluntarily converted to Islam means backlash from the inner community. It would bring shame on to the family. Therefore, some families not handling the fact that their daughter has freely chosen to adopt the new faith are presented in the community as being “forced” in order to avoid the hard truth.

As Pakistan is a Muslim majority country, if those who purport to follow Islam and its teachings, then they need to be reminded of the teachings of Prophet Muhammed (p) who categorically forbids forced marriage and forced conversion. The things purported to have happened are some of the most serious sins a Muslim can commit.

The problem of forced conversion is a real problem in a lot of communities. For example, hundreds of Muslim girls have been forced into converting to Hinduism in UP (Uttar Pradesh), India. [1] [2] [3] [4]

There is also the Christian Militias In CAR who have carried out ethnic cleansing of the Muslim population and forcefully converting Muslims to Christianity. [5]

In India, there have been cases of Hindus who were forcibly converted to Christianity, hung by the wrists from a ceiling fan, starved for days and beaten mercilessly for failing to recite Bible passages — this is what a nine-year-old boy said he had to endure at an illegal shelter. [6] [7]

There was also the sad tragic case of 32-year-old Islam convert hacked to death in Malappuram, India. The police said that Faizal’s conversion to Islam six months ago was identified as the motive for the murder. [8] [9]

A similar case took place in India in 2008 by Hindu extremists, they gave the ultimatum of “Convert or we will kill you, Hindu lynch mobs tell fleeing Christians”. [10] [11]

This issue needs to tackled by authorities, as shown, these cases are prevalent in many communities. To pin this issue solely on Pakistani community is wrong and we will be ignoring all the other victims that are in similar situations in Hindu and Christian communities. [12]

The Quran reiterates time and time again that humans have a free will to choose any faith they want to follow. Forced conversion is categorically forbidden (haram):

“There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.” – Quran 2:256 (Sahih International)

This clear command of the Quran has been understood by many classical scholars as being revealed on occasion of some people attempting to force their children to believe in Islam, this verse was revealed to forbid the parents from doing this. The 14th Century scholar Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya (1292 – 1350 AD) in the book “Hidayatul Hayara Fi Ajwibatul Yahood wa al-Nasara” comments on the above verse, stating that the verse categorically forbids forced conversion:

“When God sent His Apostle (p), most of the followers of these religions responded to him and to his successsors, voluntarily and willingly. NOBODY WAS COMPELLED TO DO SO. The apostle fought only those who fought and waged war against him. He did not fight those who made peace with him, neither did he fight those who were under the pledge of truce. He was obeying the bidding of God Most Sublime were he said: ‘Let there be no compulsion in Religion: Truth stands out clear from error: whoever rejects Evil and believes in God hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks, and God heareth and knowth all things ‘ (al-Baqarah: 256). THE APOSTLE DID NOT COMPEL ANYONE TO ADOPT ISLAM. The above quoted verse from the Qur’an negates compulsion in the sense of prohibition that is: do not compel a soul to embrace the Religion. The verse (Sura) was revealed to admonish some of the men among the companions whose children embraced Judaism and Christianity before the advent of Islam, and where with the advent of Islam, their fathers embraced the religion of Muhammad and attempted to compel their children to follow their lead. God Most Exalted prohibited the fathers from resorting to compulsion to inspire their children to embrace Islam out of their choice. … To him who ponders over the biography of the Prophet (p) it becomes clear that he did not compel anyone to embrace his religion, and that he only fought those who fought him.” (Guidance To The Uncertain In Reply To The Jews And The Nazarenes (‘Hidayatul Hayara Fi Ajwibatul Yahud wa al-Nasara’) – [Translated by Abdelhay El-Masry, Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah] by Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziah, page 25 – 27)

The person who turns, who leaves Islam does not love God, but will not be able to bring God harm in any way. Rather, God will replace him with another group of people who are better than he is:

“O you who have attained faith! If you ever abandon your faith (Islam), God will in time bring forth [in your stead] people whom He loves and who love Him.” – Quran 5:54

Forced marriage is forbidden.

The Prophet Muhammad (p) in the following Hadith is reported that a girl was forced into marrying someone by her father. The Prophet Muhammad canceled the marriage because she was not consulted:

“A woman from the offspring of Ja`far was afraid lest her guardian marry her (to somebody) against her will. So she sent for two elderly men from the Ansar, `AbdurRahman and Mujammi’, the two sons of Jariya, and they said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for Khansa’ bint Khidam was given by her father in marriage against her will, then THE PROPHET CANCELLED THAT MARRIAGE.” (Sahih al-Bukhari volume 9, Book 86, Hadith 99. Eng. Tran., https://sunnah.com/bukhari/90/16 )

In another narration, a ‘virgin’ came to the Prophet Muhamed (p) and mentioned that her father married her against her will, so the Prophet Muhammed (p) allowed her to exercise her choice of whether she wanted to stay married or get a divorce:

“A virgin came to the Prophet (p) and mentioned that her father had married her against her will, so the PROPHET ALLOWED HER TO EXERCISE HER CHOICE.” (Sunan Abi Dawud Book 11, Hadith 2091. Eng. Tran. Sahih Al-Albani, https://sunnah.com/abudawud/12/51 )

These above instances clearly demonstrate that Islam condemns what has sadly taken place in Pakistan.

A reminder to our respected readers, just because a country is majority Muslim, that does mean that the followers of the faith are actually following the teachings of Islam. One cannot mix cultural and Islam together. Sadly, in Pakistan and other parts of the Muslim World, there are many ignorant Muslims who do not have the slightest understanding of Islam and its teachings. Therefore, for some to equate the actions of these individuals to the religion Islam is wrong and goes against the very core teachings the Prophet Muhammed came with.

We appeal to the Muslims, Christians, and Hindu community in Pakistan, India, and CAR to protect their minority communities. The World at large, every country needs to do more to protect minorities from hate, and or forceful Conversion to other faiths. [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]

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References:

[1] “Hundreds of Muslim girls being forced into converting to Hinduism in UP (Uttar Pradesh)” http://web.archive.org/web/20170113211425/http://muslimmirror.com/eng/hundreds-of-muslim-girls-being-forced-into-converting-to-hinduism-in-up

[2] “Hundreds of Muslim girls being forced to convert to Hinduism in India” http://nation.com.pk/international/17-Jan-2017/hundreds-of-muslim-girls-being-forced-to-convert-to-hinduism-in-india

[3] “Indian Agra Muslim fear conversions to Hinduism” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-30429118

[4] “ISLAMABAD:Hundreds of Muslim girls are being forced into converting to Hinduism in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, according to media reports. Known as the resting place of the Buddha, Khushingar in UP is reporting an alarming number of cases where Muslim girls are being abducted and forced to convert to Hinduism by the BJP MP Yogi Adityanaths Hindu Yuva Vahini. One of the forcibly converted Muslim girl, calls herself Ameesha Thakur, a name given by her husband Arvind. He alleges that their little girl was kidnapped by the powerful Thakur family and was forced to convert.” (“Reverse love jihad surfaces in UP” http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-reverse-love-jihad-surfaces-in-up-2290453

[5] “Christian Militias In The CAR Give Muslims A Choice: Convert Or Die” http://www.mintpressnews.com/christian-militias-in-the-car-give-muslims-a-choice-convert-or-die/208491/

[6] “Shelter forcibly converted children to Christianity, raided by police” http://www.hindustantimes.com/noida/greater-noida-shelter-kids-starved-forcibly-converted-to-christianity/story-msJFyEoZaffHcjNHA3I3UM.html

[7] “Shelter In India Raided By Police For Torturing Children And Forced Conversion To Christianity”

http://www.mintpressnews.com/shelter-forcibly-converted-children-to-christianity-raided-by-police/212580/

[8] “32-year-old Islam convert hacked to death in Malappuram” http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2016/nov/19/32-year-old-islam-convert-hacked-to-death-in-malappuram-1540384.html

[9] “Eight including brother-in-law arrested for murder of Faizal, recent convert to Islam” http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/enraged-son-s-murder-over-conversion-hindu-mother-too-embraces-islam-53707

[10] “Convert or we will kill you, Hindu lynch mobs tell fleeing (Last accessed 17th February 2017) Christians” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/oct/19/orissa-violence-india-christianity-hinduism

[11] “Churches burnt as anti-Christian violence hits eastern India” (Last accessed 17th February 2017) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/sep/01/india.religion

[12] “India parliament uproar over conversions by Hindu groups” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-30573796

[13] “I was not forcibly converted to Islam, nor was I forced to marry,” says 21-year-old Hadiya. Hindu extremists in India have annulled her marriage to a Muslim, and placed her under house arrest. – “”Want To Live With My Husband”: Hadiya Before Taking Delhi Flight” (26th November 2017), https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/want-to-live-with-my-husband-hadiya-before-taking-delhi-flight-1779939

[14] “Right Wing ‘moral police’ beat up 2 Hindu girls for hanging out with Muslim friends” (5th January 2018) https://www.siasat.com/news/right-wing-moral-police-beat-2-hindu-girls-hanging-muslim-friends-1292282/

[15] “India girls ‘attacked for meeting Muslim boys'” (3rd January 2018) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-42550850

[16] “Hindutva FB page publishes list of 100+ couples in inter-faith marriages, calls for violence” (4th February 2018) https://www.altnews.in/hindutva-fb-page-publishes-list-100-couples-inter-faith-marriages-calls-violence/

[17] A Muslim family were forcefully converted to Hinduism:

““Hussain Ali and his wife Moyna Bibi, as well as 12 family members, have been reconverted. Their ancestors were converted, and now we welcome them as Hindus on stage. Earlier we used to do this (conversion) secretly, but now we will do this in public.” According to The Hindu, when journalists attempted to interview the family, Hindu Samhati supporters attacked and pushed them.” (15th February 2018), https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-calcutta-tens-of-thousands-at-pro-israel-rally-by-far-right-hindu-movement/

https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/news/india/kolkata-hindu-fringe-outfit-converts-muslim-family-beats-up-mediapersons/articleshow/62919461.cms

[18] “1,687 people changed religion in Maharashtra in nearly 4 years: RTI” (24th January 2018) https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/1687-people-changed-religion-in-maharashtra-in-nearly-4-years-rti/articleshow/62637205.cms?

[19] “Amanodge Unmathallegadoo Killed ex wife Sana Muhammed at her home in Ilford, east London, on 12 November 2018. After divorce she converted to Islam (from Hindu/Budhism) and was 8 months pregnant.” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/04/09/crossbow-killer-shot-dead-pregnant-ex-wife-plotted-murder-year/

And, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/other-news/ex-husband-convicted-of-killing-indian-origin-woman-in-uk-arrow-attack/articleshow/72187806.cms

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