an american guy asked me WHY is the
punishment for a murtid is death?
i couldn’t answer him.
can anyone help me with that?
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Asslamu Alikum,
It is very clear that during Prophrt Muhammad's (PBUH) lifetime, and the lifetimes of the next 4 "Rightly Guided Caliphs," a number of Muslims left the faith of Islam. The punishment for leaving Islam was death. A close examination of the Quran and Hadeeth will show that indeed, the punishment for leaving Islam was execution.
To begin with, I agree that Quran does not come out and explicitly state that apostates should be executed. However, there are a number of Quranic verses that pertain to apostasy and they shed some light on the punishment for apostates.
Let's start with the Quran.
Surah Al-Tauba:
Verse 73: “Prophet, make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites and deal rigorously with them. Hell shall be their home: an evil fire.”
Verse 74: “They swear by God that they said nothing. Yet they uttered the word of unbelief and renounced Islam after embracing it. They sought to do what they could not attain. Yet they had no reason to be spiteful except perhaps because God and His apostle had enriched them through His bounty. If they repent, it will indeed be better for them, but if they give no heed, God will sternly punish them, both in this world and in the world to come. They shall have none on this earth to protect or help them.”
We see here that ALLAH (SWT) urges Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to "make war" on the people who have left Islam. It also states that "ALLAH (SWT) will punish them in this world, and in the world to come."
What exactly Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was to do to the people in his "making war" on them is not explicitly stated, but it can be surmised that they will be physically punished, if not outright killed. Further ALLAH (SWT) HU’s self is also going to punish those who leave Islam. What is HU’s punishment? Whatever it is, is will be unpleasant.
There are several places Quran mention apostasy, but no mention of an earthly punishment is made.
It is from the Hadeeth that we can clearly draw our understanding and information on the punishment for the apostate. From the Hadeeth we find no ambiguity on the subject. All quotes are from “Sahih Bukahari”
**Quote #1 Volume 9, Book 83, Number 17:
Narrated 'Abdullah:
Allah's Apostle said, "The blood of a Muslim who confesses that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that I am His Apostle, cannot be shed except in three cases: In Qisas for murder, a married person who commits illegal sexual intercourse and the one who reverts from Islam (apostate) and leaves the Muslims."
Quote #2 Volume 9, Book 83, Number 37:
Narrated Abu Qilaba:
Once Umar bin Abdul Aziz sat on his throne in the courtyard of his house so that the people might gather before him....He replied "By Allah, Allah's messenger never killed anyone except in one of the following three situations: 1) A person who killed somebody unjustly, was killed (in Qisas,) 2) a married person who committed illegal sexual intercourse and, 3) a man who fought against Allah and His messenger, and deserted Islam and became an apostate....
Quote #3 Volume 9, Book 84, Number 57:
Narrated ‘Ikrima:
"Some atheists were brought to Ali and he burnt them. The news of this event, reached Ibn Abbas who said, "If I had been in his place, I would not have burnt them, as Allah's messenger forbade it, saying, "Do not punish anybody with Allah's punishment (fire)." I would have killed them according to the statement of Allah's Messenger, "Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him."
Quote #4 Volume 9, Book 89, Number 271:
Narrated Abu Musa:
A man embraced Islam and then reverted back to Judaism. Mu'adh bin Jabal came and saw the man with Abu Musa. Mu'adh asked, "What is wrong with this (man)?" Abu Musa replied, "He embraced Islam and then reverted back to Judaism." Mu'adh said, "I will not sit down unless you kill him (as it is) the verdict of Allah and His Apostle"**
Comments Hadeeth Quote #3: Apparently Hazrat Ali (RA) did not subscribe to the interpretation presented by “The Learner” and I am confident that Hazrat Ali (RA) being the cousin, companion of Prophet (PBUH) and one of the Rightly Guided Khalifa understood Islamic Law better then any of the contemporary Students and / or Scholars of Islam.
Comments Hadeeth Quote #4: The Prophet (PBUH) appointed and sent Abu Musa as governor of Yemen. Then later he sent Muadh ibn Jabal as his assistant. It should be noted that this incident took place during the blessed life of the Prophet (PBUH). At that time Abu Musa represented the Prophet (PBUH) as governor and Muadh as vice-governor. If their action had not been based on the decision of ALLAH (SWT) and His Messenger (PBUH), surely the Prophet (PBUH) would have objected.
Further more before we analyze “The Learner’s” comments on compulsion it is important to understand that according to Islam, every child is born Muslim with the built-in ability to know and believe in his Creator, he has the cognition that has been placed by ALLAH (SWT) in his nature (fitra). ALLAH (SWT) describes the human soul in a very beautiful way. After swearing by the most majestic signs of HU’s creation, ALLAH (SWT) says:
Surah Ash-Shams Verses 1-10
“….[7] By the Soul, and the proportion and order given to it; [8] And its inspiration as to its wrong and its right;-
[9] Truly he succeeds that purifies it, [10] And he fails that corrupts it!
ALLAH (SWT) has made our souls such that we are able to distinguish what is good and what is evil. But for a human soul to function on its fitra, there is a condition-it must be kept pure, it must be immunized against spiritual corruption.
Besides this fitra, ALLAH (SWT) has also provided us with various means to know HU and believe in HU; HU sent prophets and messengers (PBUT), HU sent books, and above all HU created thousands of signs in nature which remind us of HU. ALLAH (SWT) says:
Surah Fussilat Verse 53
“Soon will We show them Our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth), and in their own souls, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that thy Lord doth witness all things?”
** Having accepted that from the Islamic point of view, faith in ALLAH (SWT) is ingrained in human nature, and that it is only the parents and the society that corrupt the soul and divert it from the Right Path, the question comes: Can Islam be imposed forcefully on non-Muslims? The Quran clearly says that, “Let there be no compulsion in religion:” (2:256) What this verse actually means is that: "There is no compulsion in (accepting) the Deen of Islam." Why? The verse continues, “Truth stands out clear from Error:” So Muslims can always show the difference between the right and the wrong paths, but not force the non-Muslims to accept Islam.
So, clearly what was said above was about accepting Islam, coming into the fold of Islam. It is very clear and unambiguous that no one can be forcefully brought into the fold of Islam; Islam cannot be imposed on any person or society. This was all about a person who is outside the fold of Islam.**
Now then lets move to the next step. If a person is raised in a society, which protects his soul from the impurities of kufr, and shirk, or if a person is shown the Right Path and accepts it willingly - can such a person reject the Islamic faith? Is he allowed to apostate (become murtad)? Can he declare that he does not believe in ALLAH (SWT), Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the Day of Judgement?
Once a person enters into the fold of Islam, the rules change. As soon as you become a Muslim by your own choice, you are expected to submit yourself to ALLAH (SWT) totally and completely. ALLAH (SWT) says “O ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly (2:208), Notice the word “Kaffatan” in the sense of "all" and "completely". A believer surrenders the right of making decisions to ALLAH (SWT) and Messenger (PBUH): ALLAH (SWT) says “It is not fitting for a Believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger to have any option about their decision: …” (33:36)
Now even the question of apostasy for a Muslim, becomes a Shari / religious issue, even in this issue he is governed by the laws of Islam. And Islam clearly says: No! You cannot become an apostate. After coming into the fold of Islam, rejection of the fundamentals is not tolerated. If there are doubts in your mind about the fundamental beliefs of Islam, then discuss, question, debate, study and solve them BUT you are not allowed to leave Islam, desert your own fitra!
On the issue of openly rejecting Islam, Islam cannot just stand aside and see its followers going astray. It would allow discussions to understand and solve the problems, but not allow its followers to lower themselves from the sublime status of "surrendering to the will of ALLAH (SWT)" to the status of “non-believers”
Further more why does Islam not allow apostacy? Apostacy in Islam is equal to treason.
The Western world limits treason to political and military terms. In the USA, treason consists "only in levying war against Americans, and in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort." However, sometimes even the Western world stretches the concept of political treason to include things, which are not related to politics or military matters. . For example, according to Encyclopedia Britannica in England, it is also treason to violate the monarch's consort, eldest unmarried daughter, or heir's wife. Then, even now, "polluting" the Royal bloodline or obscuring it is included in the definition of treason.
Why has England included such non-political and non-military matters in treason? Because the Royal family and the purity of its bloodline is one of the most significant part of the British society and culture. In Islam, the concept of treason is not limited to political and military affairs, it also has a spiritual and cultural dimension to it. In the Islamic order of sacredness, ALLAH (SWT), then the Prophet (PBUH) and then the Quran occupy the highest positions. Tawhid, nubuwwa, and qiyama form the constitution of Islam. Just as upholding and protecting the constitution of a country is sign of patriotism, and undermining it is a form of treason-in the same way open rejection of the fundamental beliefs of Islam by a Muslim is an act of treason. Apostacy, i.e., the public declaration of rejecting the fundamentals of Islam, has also negative influence on the Muslim society; it is indeed a major fitna.
And that is why Islam has prescribed harsh punishment for apostacy. It must be emphasized that apostasy, which we are discussing here, involves open rejection, without any force and with the realization of what one's statements or actions imply.
Final Analysis
It is clear that:
**
“Whoever changes his Religion, kill him” (Bukahari)
Applies to all apostates as is evident from several other Hadeeth quoted above.
“There is absolutely no compulsion in religion” (2: 256)
This verse, however, do not apply to the Muslim. A Muslim is not allowed to revert, as explained in the above commentary.
“Whoever kills a person without his being guilty of murder or of creating unrest in the land, is as though he kills the whole of mankind.” (5: 32)
Lets read the whole Verse shell we:
5:32 "On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our messengers with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land."
It will point to us that it was ordained for the “Children of Israel” and therefore should not be taken as a sole resource for denying the Death Penalty to an Apostate. Even then as a general principal open apostasy is equal to evil and treason therefore bound to lead to unrest in the land. Therefore the general Hadeeth and Quran are in complete harmony as you see.
The expositions of the Prophet, the Rightly-Guided Caliphs (Khulafa'-i Rashidun), the great Companions (Sahaba) of the Prophet, their Followers (Tabiun), the leaders among the mujtahids and, following them, the scholars of the shariah of every century are available on record. All these collectively will assure us that from the time of the Prophet (PBUH) to the present day one injunction only has been continuously and uninterruptedly operative and that no room whatever remains to suggest that perhaps the punishment of the apostate is not execution.
**
May ALLAH (SWT) forgive me for any mistakes that I may have made and may ALLAH (SWT) help me in understanding the truth. Ameen.
[quote]
Originally posted by Scratch:
*an american guy asked me WHY is the
punishment for a murtid is death?
i couldn't answer him.
can anyone help me with that? *
[/quote]
Tell your American friend that there is no such law in Islam. It is a misconcept among some of the Muslims sects but that is truly against the teachings of our Holy Book. One is free to become a Muslim or to be a Non-Muslim. "La ikra'ha fi deen"!
There is such a law in Islam, yes. Sophia, the ayah you quoted relates to Islam being an easy to follow religion. As far as apostacy is concerned, it has been quoted numerous times in the Quran and ahadees.
The issue at hand, that most people dont understand, is the fact that for Muslims, Islam is a way of life, a way of governance, and a way of sustenance, all combined. Islam is not segregated from muslims social life or political life or material life. Islam has laws for each and every sphere of life.
Keeping that in mind, we can easily compare apostasy to mutiny/treason. And mutiny/treason are punishable by death in many countries of the world. An apostate in Islam is a traitor to Islam...hence the appropriate punishment.
However, since this is an exclusively Islamic law, it can be applied justifiably only in those countries where Islam is the code for the constitution. For a country like Pakistan, where some laws are fashioned after British laws, and some laws are made with Islam in mind, it doesnt get justified as much. If Pakistan were to completely implement Shariah, then it would make sense.
You may find a previous discussion helpful…
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/Forum13/HTML/002201.html
They shoot partypoopers, don’t they?
but what to say of the argument that was made to me that if islam considers itself such a superior religion, then it should be confident enough that its followers wont leave it. it shouldn't be afraid of losing people.
and that its does not seem too spiritual for a religion to condemn people to death.
I can understand your sentiments Scratch... I can only present you with one side of the argument. That is why I recommend that you look at the above discussion that took place some time ago. Both views with their various bases were presented on this particular issue...
Then you can decide for yourself which view you ascribe to.
They shoot partypoopers, don't they?
[This message has been edited by Mr Partypooper (edited February 18, 2001).]
Confidence does not help in this case. Sheitaan is worst and most dangerous enemies to the humans and Muslims in Particular.
He promised Allah that he will try his best in making us go astray when we are worshiping and practicing Islam accordingly. As Alah says in Quran that: he will come from all sides, left, right, up, down…and he is your all-out enemy and be ware of him. He is always working to make us look bad in the eyes of our creator and our friends, etc.
I will get back to you on the original topic that you presented, some time later today.
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif
V~V~VHe came, He saw, He conqueredV~V~V**
----*High Priest-OF-Painful Truth*----
**“Nay! We hurl truth against falsehood, so it destroys it: and behold, falsehood is vanquished…”**Quran, al-Furqaan 25:33 ]
Asslaam o Aleykum
He promised Allah that he will try his best in making us go astray when we are worshiping and practicing Islam accordingly. As Alah says in Quran that: he will come from all sides, left, right, up, down…and he is your all-out enemy and be ware of him. He is always working to make us look bad in the eyes of our creator and our friends, etc. <<<<<
good stuff Watcher
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif
btw, did you ever got back on this topic
if yes could you give me the link
thank you
Waslaam
*** La Ikraha Fid-Deen ****
Let there be no compulsion in religion..2:256 Al Quran
****"That is because Allah is
the (only) Reality, and because whatever else they invoke besides Him is
Falsehood; and because Allah,- He is the Most High, Most Great". ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
****As-salam-o-alaikum,
A very beutiful and detailed book on this subject was written by Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmed, the present Khalifa of Ahmadi Muslims. The title of said book is “Murder in the name of Allah”. In this book he proved without the shadow of doubt that according to Holy Quran and practice of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) there is no Punishment for leaving Islam. This phenomenon along with many others which had made Islam a Brutal and Terrorist like religion is result of mis-conception of Islam by Mullahs. The ultimate result of such doctrines is frequent killings of Muslims at the hands of Muslims which has now become norm in Pakistan.
This book can be purchased on-line from : http://www.geocities.com/~q_ahmed/On_line.html