قُلْ مَآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ إِلَّا مَن شَآءَ أَن يَتَّخِذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ سَبِيلًا
38:87; 42:24.
Important Words:
إلا (save) is used to signify the sense of exception (إستثناء) and in Arabic إستثناء (exception) is of two kinds: (i) إستثناء متصل i.e. an exception in which the thing excepted belongs to the same class or species to which the things from which as exception is sought to be made belong; (ii) إستثناء منقطع i.e. an exception in which the excepted thing belongs to a different class or species. إلا in the present verse is of the latter category and the meaning is, he who will take a way to his Lord, let him do so.
Commentary:
The verse provides yet another unassailable evidence that the Quran gives complete and full freedom of conscience and choice of religious belief and practice.