Freedom of belief and compulsion in religion

On the verse that denies compulsion in religion, Sha'rawi holds that belief cannot be forced, and that God did not compel anyone into it ^{1 2}.

He says force governs moulds, not the heart. One who forces people onto a principle is the first to doubt it, and when the hand of force weakens, the structure collapses ¹.

He distinguishes compulsion into religion from compulsion to what religion requires. One who has entered Islam must perform its rulings, as one who drinks wine while believing must answer for it, and this is not compulsion in belief ³.

He says the early Muslims were persecuted, so their weakness at first was intended. He takes the jizya taken from lands the Muslims conquered as evidence that those who kept their religion were not forced into Islam ⁴.

The historical statements on early weakness and the jizya are Sha'rawi's reading and have not been checked against historical sources. The academic view and any non-Sunni view have not been checked.