Compulsion, force
لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ ۖ قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ ۚ فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ لَا انْفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ {256}
There is no ‘إِكْرَاهَ’ compulsion in the Religion; the right way has been clarified from the error. Therefore the one who disbelieves in the tyrant and believes in Allah, so he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold, there would be no breaking for it; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing… [2:256].
قوله تعالى لا إِكْراهَ فِي الدِّينِ قال الطبرسي رحمه الله قيل نزلت في رجل من الأنصار كان له غلام أسود يقال له صبح و كان يكرهه على الإسلام و قيل في رجل من الأنصار يدعى أبا الحصين و كان له ابنان فقدم تجار الشام إلى المدينة يحملون الزيت
(Regarding the Words of the Exalted) – There is no compulsion in the Religion [2:256], Al-Tabarsy said, ‘It is said it was revealed regarding a man from the Helpers who had a black slave for him, called Sabah, and he was compelling him upon (accepting) Al-Islam, and it is said it is regarding a man from the Helpers who invited Abu Al-Haseyn (to Al-Islam), and there were two sons for him. Some traders proceeded from Syria to Al-Medina carrying the oil.
فلما أرادوا الرجوع أتاهم ابنا أبي الحصين فدعوهما إلى النصرانية فتنصرا و مضيا إلى الشام فأخبر أبو الحصين رسول الله ص فأنزل الله سبحانه لا إِكْراهَ فِي الدِّينِ فقال رسول الله ص أبعدهما الله هما أول من كفر
When they wanted to return, the two sons of Abu Al-Haseyn came over to them and invited them to Christianity. They became Christians and went back to Syria. Abu Al-Haseyn informed Rasool Allah-saww, and Allah-azwj, Glorious is He-azwj, Revealed: There is no compulsion in the Religion [2:256]. So Rasool Allah-saww said: ‘May Allah-azwj Distance them both! They are the first ones to commit Kufr’.
فوجد أبو الحصين في نفسه على النبي ص حيث لم يبعث في طلبهما فأنزل الله قوله: لا إِكْراهَ فِي الدِّينِ، أي: لا يكره أحد على دينه إلّا بعد أن تبيّن له و تبيّن له الرّشد من الغيّ
Abu Al-Haseyn found (a grudge) against the Prophet-saww when he did not go to seek them. Thus, Allah-azwj Revealed His-azwj Words: There is no compulsion in the Religion [2:256] – i.e., do not compel anyone upon his Religion except after it is explained to him the right way has been clarified from the error’.[1]
NB: Compulsion and Coercion | Hubeali.com
[1] مجمع البيان 1: 258- 260