as is the distance between the highest heaven and the lowest earth, which is a journey of fourteen thousand years. Then He created a creation for His Throne, with their backs bent; they are standing in the water which does not reach above their feet, and the Throne is above their heads. Then the All-Compelling, may His exaltation be high, went forth until they could not look at Him, for He says: "Vision perceives Him not, but He perceives all vision."

[His saying: "There is no compulsion in the religion."]

[The first interpretation]

2609 - Ahmad b. Sinan al-Wasiti narrated to us, Wahb b. Jarir reported to us, Shu'bah reported to us, from Abu Bishr, from Sa'id b. Jubayr, from Ibn 'Abbas, regarding His saying: "There is no compulsion in the religion," he said: A woman from the Ansar would almost never have a child that lived, so she would vow that if she had a child, she would turn him into a Jew. The Ansar said: "O Messenger of Allah, our sons!" So Allah revealed this verse: "There is no compulsion in the religion." Sa'id b. Jubayr said: So whoever wished joined them (the Jews), and whoever wished entered into Islam.

The second interpretation:

2610 - My father 'Amr b. 'Awn narrated to us, Shuraik reported to us, from Abu Hilal, from Ishaq, who said: I was a Christian slave to 'Umar b. al-Khattab, and he would present Islam to me, but I would refuse. He would say: "There is no compulsion in the religion," and he would say: "O Ishaq, if you were to become Muslim, we would seek your help regarding some of the affairs of the Muslims."

The third interpretation:

2611 - Usayd b. 'Asim narrated to us, al-Husayn (meaning Ibn Hafs) reported to us, Sufyan reported to us, from Khusayf, from Mujahid, who said: The Ansar used to compel the Jews to breastfeed their children, so Allah revealed: "There is no compulsion in the religion."

The fourth interpretation:

2612 - Ibn Abi al-Rabi' narrated to us, 'Abd al-Razzaq reported to us, Ma'mar reported to us, from Qatadah regarding His saying: