Alhumdulillah! one knot is untied!
Simply, no.
I hope that you've heard the video I shared. I see that brother Dawaah has shared the very same video.
As for Baqara 256, this was the initial source of my confusion of the matter too, I'll try to explain what I have learned from trusted scholars. This verse is not about anyone entering and leaving Islaam as they please, Its about Dawah (calling other to Islaam) and how to we deal with non muslims. The complete verse is:
There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing. [baqara:256]
While explaining the hadeeth I quoted above the death for apostates part was explained as:
"Third, the one who abandons his deen, and separates himself from the community". This hadith is in both the sahihs (most authentic books of hadeeth)
i.e bukhari and muslim.
Islam doesn't compel anyone to enter the deen. This concept needs to be firmly established. Islam doesn't compel anyone (by a gun point or a sword or by blackmailing etc)
to enter the deen. No. There is no compelsion in religion (baqara 256)
But rather we preach Islam in truth, mercy, properity, and humility. whoever says after preaching-and call to Islam, "No, I will not enter this religion." We say to him, "There is no compulsion in religion.Truth stands out clear from the error'' (Baqara 256).
We recite the saying of the Al mighty Allah, "Let him who will believe, and let him who will disbelieve"( Quran 18:29). And we recite the saying of Allah Almigy," You have your religion and I have my religion" (Quraan 109:6). Beautiful! This is after Dawaah (call to Islaam)
and preaching.
But. . .
If he enters Islam on his own free will and choice, he doesn't have the right to leave the religion of Allah whenever he wants, to shake the foundations of Muslim society. No, he doesn't have the right. Absolutely not! But he does have the right, after having (islam) preached to him, to say," I will enter" or I will not enter this religion." But to enter it,just to leave it whenever he wants? No. This is something which is unacceptable in the religion of Almighty Allaah. Show me a constitution anywhere on earth which grants this for its citizens. But rather whoever comes out against constitution of any nation is accused of treason. Everyone familiar with treason knows that the penalty is death. So what do you think about the one who betrays the religion of Allah Almighty, The one who betrays Allaah and His messenger? "O ye who believe! Do no betray Allaah and His messenger, nor knowingly betray your trusts (Quran 8:27)
This is Sheikh Muhammad hasan's explaination.(the unbold bits are my additions)
In short, When you are entering Islaam, you enter it seriously and absolutely, It's not a game! To make sure no body takes it as a game a harsh punishment is legislated.
Second, The one entering Islaam is accepting it as deen and a constitution, once you leave Islaam, you turn against the constitution, which is equal to treason, which is equal to death in an Islamic constitution. In Islamic constitution "Allah is one and Muhammad
is the last messenger"(Islam is a deen not religion, remember?), no one will force you to accept it, but if you accept it, then turn your back on it and you are, in an Islaamic state, you or I are to be punished by death. May Allah protect us from sucha mistake.
Third, Once you enter Islaam, this makes the Muslim community happy and their faith increases, When you leave it and openly announce it, it depresses or saddens the Muslim community. By depressing them you have tried to weaken the foundation the community, This in itself is cheating and treason. This way of weakening the muslims was used by jews during the prophet's
time, they would revert to Islam and then away and then back and than away. This distured and depressed the Muslims. To stop this game death penalty was announced as a punishment. NO ONE is allowed to mess with state i.e Islam, like this to weaken it. This kind of mind game is still in action. You can check out a thread by sister kakarot exposing fake muslims on youtube! This mind game CANNOT be played in a shariah ruled country because the tyrant fears for his life.
Fourth, Non muslims in an islamic state are not forced out of their religion or religious practices.
I believe the matter has been discussed enough, and your question has been addressed, answered and explained.We do as Allaah asks us to do, we obey Him without question,we obey Him in this matter because we see the above mentioned wisdom behind it. If you have any more question please make a thread in appropriate subforum Inshaa'Allah ( i.e in Islamic discussion or TurnToIslam Lounge forum).
May Allaah aid you in your journey to the truth.