What is the ruling on one who forces his female ward into prostitution to fulfill Allah's saying: "For indeed Allah, after their compulsion, is Forgiving, Merciful," and is poverty an excuse for compelling a girl to do that?

It is not permissible for a Muslim to force his daughter into prostitution to earn worldly gain, as this is a clear sin. The promise of forgiveness in the verse, "then indeed, Allah is, after their compulsion, Forgiving, Merciful," is for the one who is compelled, not for the one who compels, as Ibn al-Arabi mentioned, and as Ibn Mas'ud recited it: "then indeed, Allah is, after their compulsion, for them Forgiving, Merciful." Forgiveness is related to the one who is compelled and in dire straits, similar to the forgiveness granted to one compelled to eat carrion. Poverty is not an excuse for compelling someone into prostitution, and the verse is not proof of that. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade the earnings of a prostitute.