Have Muslims made a mockery of Islam?

[psyah]

Re: Have Muslims made a mockery of Islam?

@chaibiskut

There is no Quranic basis for punishing apostates. None in the Prophet’s history, either. Apostasy does not equate to political treason. Interpreting “there is no compulsion in religion” as ‘you are free to enter, but you cannot leave’ is opportunistically selective. Religion is not a mouse-trap, unless you want to turn Islam into Scientology. It should be obvious to any rational individual that submission is meaningless without free will. Choice/liberty is a divine gift, and this choice/liberty includes the ability to submit to God or to refuse to do so (consequences in the Hereafter notwithstanding).

A verse addressed to the Prophet :

“But if they turn away [from thee, O Prophet, know that] We have not sent thee to be their keeper: thou art not bound to do more than deliver the message [entrusted to thee].” (42:48)

So even the Prophet does not have the right or power to coerce people. i.e. If he is not a warden over us, nobody else is either - no individual or state. Being enslaved or subjugated by another human being is fundamentally inconsistent with the duty to submit onself without reservation to God.

I intepret the following verses as mandating tolerance for diversity. It illustrates the attitude we are required to adopt in interactions with non-Muslims or non-believers. Again, this is proof that apostasy and blasphemy laws are inconsistent with the Quran :

“If it had been your Lord’s will, all who are in the earth would have believed. Will you, then, force the people to become believers?” (10:99)

"To each of you God has prescribed a Law and a Way. If God would have willed, He would have made you a single people - professing one faith (and following one law). But God’s purpose is to test you in what He has given each of you, so strive in the pursuit of virtue (good deeds), and know that you will all return to God (in the Hereafter), and He will resolve all the matters in which you disagree (5:49)

Peace chaibiskut

I think this post is unfair. No one is saying that coercion or force to accept a religion is allowed … My earlier point was in order to mitigate religion being made a farce a certain level of intolerance needs to be exercised to prevent people from leaving it or for that matter accepting it in the first place.

The mouse trap example is hence not fair to this scenario - because a mouse trap is a lure where the outcome is deceptive and imprisonment - whereas what I was arguing was openness - ***should you enter then it has to be for life - if you have doubts then stay away …

***Do you see how different these are? We do not say “you are free to enter” … we say “be warned it is not easy being a Muslim are you sure that is what you want to do?” And we also do not say “Be Muslim” or you are dead" because that again is compulsion.

Encouraging people using tiered means to remain in the religion that they chose is not equal to death penalty either … It would be better for such people to live elsewhere. I hope my position is clearer.