UDL: "The Nature of Truth and Reality" (Part 2a)

2:256. Let there be no compulsion in religion.  Truth stands out clear from error; whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks.  And Allah hears and knows all things.

'Alī (rta) narrates that once the Prophet (sws) sent a battalion of soldiers on some military expedition and appointed an Ansārī Muslim over them. He commanded the soldiers to obey their commander. People disobeyed him in some issue. [This enraged him]. He commanded them to gather wood. People collected some wood. Then he commanded them to light a fire. People then put the wood on fire. Then the commander asked them whether the Prophet (sws) had not commanded them to obey him. All chorused that he had, indeed. Then he commanded them to jump into the fire. The people were confounded, gazing at each other. They exclaimed, "We have escaped nothing but the fire when we clung to the Prophet (sws). [How can now we jump into it?] They remained in this state of uncertainly for a while till he recomposed himself and the fire was out. The soldiers narrated the whole incident to the Prophet (sws) when they returned back. The Prophet (sws) explained to them that if they had jumped into the fire, they would never have been able to get out of it. He further explained that the rulers may not be obeyed when what they command involves disobeying God. This obligation only pertains to the ma'rūf.