Why are There So Many Religions?

If there is only one God, then why are there so many religions?

All religions originated with Allah and then people began to add or take away from the teachings so as to take control over each other.

This day, those who disbelieved have given up all hope of your religion, so fear them not, but fear Me. This day, I have perfected your religious Way of life for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you to surrender and submit to me in peace as your religious way of life.

[Noble Quran 5:3]

No Compulsion in Religion

Allah does not force anyone to submit to Him. He has laid out a clear path and then made it known to them the two ways (Heaven or Hell). The person is always free to make his or her own choice.

There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in taghut (false gods and false worship) and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

[Noble Quran 2:256-257]

There is no compulsion in the way of “Islam.” Whoever chooses to worship Allah without partners and is devoted to Him and is obeying His commands as much as possible has grasped the firm handhold that will never break.

The Origin of Division

People began to separate into different groups due to their rejection of truth and denial of clear proofs becoming evident to them from their Lord.

And the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) differed not amongst themselves until after clear evidence came to them. And they were not commanded anything more than this; to worship Allah, alone (without making partners with Him in worship) and establish regular devotional prayers and pay the charity due to the poor; and this is the correct Way.

[Noble Quran 98:4-5]

Allah warns the Muslims not to fall into the same trap as the people before them, by disputing with each other and separating into different religious groups:

And be not as those who divided and differed among themselves after the clear proofs had come to them. It is they for whom there is an awful torment.

[Noble Quran 3:105-106]

People lied about the revelations, changed their scriptures and abused and even murdered the prophets whom Allah sent to them. Prophets of Allah only ask people to worship Allah, as One God without partners. They would never ask people to worship them or anyone or anything else.

Do they seek other than the religious way of life of Allah (the true Islamic Monotheism), while to Him submitted all creatures in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly. And to Him shall they all be returned.

[Noble Quran 3:83]

And whoever seeks a Way of life other than submission and surrender to Allah’s Will (Islam), it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.

[Noble Quran 3:85]

To believe in Allah and follow His Commandments has been the message of all prophets of monotheism.