The punishment of apostate

[Sa1eem]

Re: The punishment of apostate

@hassanelagouz

Question: Why does Islam punish the apostate by killing?
Islam admits freedom in religion for all those who are under Muslims’ authority, Allah says:
“Say, “The truth is from your Lord” Then whoever wills let him believe, and whoever wills let him disbelieve,” Surat Al-Kahf, Verse 29.
It showed that calling non-Muslims to Islam is only by wisdom and good preaching; it prohibited violence, severity, force, compelling and obligation in calling to religion, because it wants the Muslim to control his heart, so it doesn’t concern the appearance of man but concentrate on calling his interior and this only comes by his choice, if we force someone apparently and caused him to do something, we can’t affect his heart, if he agrees with us apparently and disagree by his heart this is called hypocrisy, Islam prohibit hypocrisy and scold hypocrites, so we see when Islam calls disbelievers or sons or daughters or wives it mainly depends on what Allah says:
“Let there be no compulsion in religion” Surat Al-Bakarah, Verse 256.
The call is only by proof, logic and inference, Islam gives man the chance to believe in any religion he chooses and only announces being a Muslim after persuasion, assurance and evidence, once he becomes a Muslim by persuasion and when he apostatizes he seduces other Muslims around him, so Islam takes a position towards him so as not to affect those around him and they also reverse, this is the opinion of some Muslim scholars. But our opinion as most modern Muslim scholars such as the former Sheikh of Al-Azhar Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawy and others, they see that killing the apostate is not a must in Sharia but only in some situations in which the apostate himself turns to be a fighter and a disputant against Islam.
non-Muslims’ Questions

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Over centuries, many things got added to Islam by people who are insecure about their own religious beliefs, were incapable or ignorant to answer question logically, or had doubt that religion Islam could stand upright in front of logical questioning … so instead of increasing their own knowledge, intelligence and ability to think logical, they fabricated hadith to keep many questions at bay … hiding behind their own created draconian laws.

Occasionally, Rulers played a big role in fabrication of hadith too, as they feared that opposition seeing their corrupt rule, could destabilize their government using Quranic ayahs or/and hadiths.

So … my advice is that when seeing anything illogical getting associated with Islam, look into Quran and indisputable hadiths … then only come to conclusion instead of blaming Islam for brutalities, illogical beliefs and ridiculous discrepancies (as Islam is really free from all these … but needs proper thinking, understanding and interpretations of what is already present in Quran).

I wrote on the issue few years ago … and without going into argument or rewriting again … I am posting again what I wrote earlier (in 2010). If you read it and think, I am sure (at least I hope) you will get your answer.

http://www.paklinks.com/gs/religion-and-philosophy/394556-do-you-support-murdering-apostates-2.html#post7147574

@Sa1eem

Though if one reads some hadith one may find text that demands death penalty for apostate, but fact is that, no hadith can supersede Quran and Sunnah [actions of Prophet (SAW)], as when hadith contradicts Quran and/or sunnah, than there is no doubt such hadith is fabricated. According to Quran, and also one historical event regarding action of Prophet (SAW), there is no death penalty for apostate in Islam.

First, let discuss the topic from Quran: According to Quran, it is possible that a person accepts Islam (becomes Muslim), then reject Islam (become apostate — or becomes Kafir again), then become Muslim again (re-enter fold of Islam), then reject Islam again … and so on can do this yo-yo multiple times (according to Quran, by doing such, they keep increasing their unbelief). Now, if there was death penalty than it was not possible that such could happen and since Quran mentions that this could happen, that means … death of apostate is not Islamic … and thus those who claim (or say) that Islam demands death for apostate are rejecter of Allah’s words in Quran. Here is verse from Quran:

Surah Al-Nisa (4), ayah 137: YUSUFALI: Those who believe, then reject faith, then believe (again) and (again) reject faith, and go on increasing in unbelief,- Allah will not forgive them nor guide them nor guide them on the way.

Further, same is mentioned in Quran again … regarding people who reject faith (Islam) after they accepted it (3:86)… Allah do not guide them … EXCEPT … for those that repeat after that and make amends, for verily Allah is oft forgiving and most merciful (3:94) … shows that Allah accepts their re-entering Islam (that was not possible if their punishment was death in the first place). Further, Quran also talks about those who reject faith (Islam) after they accepted it, and then go on adding to their defiance of faith … and so on … So, from these ayah also it is proved that these people are not killed and thus it means Islam does not say that apostate should be killed.

Surah Imran (3), Ayah 86-91:
YUSUFALI: How shall Allah Guide those who reject Faith after they accepted it and bore witness that the Messenger was true and that Clear Signs had come unto them? but Allah guides not a people unjust.
YUSUFALI: Of such the reward is that on them (rests) the curse of Allah, of His angels, and of all mankind;-
YUSUFALI: In that will they dwell; nor will their penalty be lightened, nor respite be (their lot);-
YUSUFALI: Except for those that repent (Even) after that, and make amends; for verily Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
YUSUFALI: But those who reject Faith after they accepted it, and then go on adding to their defiance of Faith,- never will their repentance be accepted; for they are those who have (of set purpose) gone astray.
YUSUFALI: As to those who reject Faith, and die rejecting,- never would be accepted from any such as much gold as the earth contains, though they should offer it for ransom. For such is (in store) a penalty grievous, and they will find no helpers.

Sunnah of Prophet (SAW): There is not a single confirmed historical event where Prophet (SAW) gave death penalty to anyone who accepted Islam and then became apostate (openly rejected Islam and entered religion of Kafirs again). Actually, such situation did arise in the lifetime of Prophet (SAW) when Abdullah bin Sa’d bin abi Sarh became apostate. His story is that, he not only accepted Islam but became scriber of Holy Quran. Later he went back to his Quraish religion (became apostate) but worse is that he used to joke about Prophet (SAW) and Quran (with lies in his claims). He use to claim that Prophet (SAW) composed Quran himself and it is not revealed.

Before surrender of Mecca, Prophet (SAW) actually ordered about few people who should be killed if they were found, and he was one of them. Anyhow, later when Mecca surrendered to Muslims, Usman (RA) pleaded for his forgiveness and Prophet (SAW) forgave him … though obviously, if it was order of Allah to kill apostate then Prophet (SAW) would not have forgiven him on plea of anyone, including Usman (RA).

Hence, according to Quran and Sunnah [action of Prophet (SAW)], there is no death penalty in Islam for apostate. This is also obvious as Islam teaches that there is no compulsion in religion, and thus if death penalty for apostate was part of Islam, it would have been compulsion in religion. In Islam, Allah even told Prophet (SAW) that Allah has revealed Quran to Prophet (SAW), but as far as believing on Islam and receiving guidance from Quran is concerned, it is up to individual souls for their own benefits or harms … and in this matter (religion), not even Prophet (SAW) has any right to dispose their affairs … whether they believe on Islam, reject Islam, believe and later reject Islam (become apostate), or do whatever they like, as in the end it is they who will die and would get reward or punishment for their deeds in this life.

Surah Az-Zumar (39), ayah 41:YUSUFALI: Verily We have revealed the Book to thee in Truth, for (instructing) mankind. He, then, that receives guidance benefits his own soul: but he that strays injures his own soul. Nor art thou set over them to dispose of their affairs.

**I have to add here that even tough thre are numerous ayahs about people who accept faith (become Muslim) and then reject faith (become apostate) … and then repeat that process without getting punished for that in this world … that goes well with Islamic principle of freedom in faith … as this world is a testing ground and in testing ground such restriction itself invalidates the test … there is not a single ayah in Quran that tells Muslims to kill those who accepted Islam and then rejected Islam (became apostate), just for rejecting Islam.

Killing apostate is allowed and mentioned (but there is condition for it) … as execution of apostate is not for rejecting faith (becoming apostate) but for creating fitna after rejecting faith … that is … becoming apostate and using that rejection of Islam to do propaganda and misguide people … and that happened during earlier days of Islam (especially by Jews). Such people never accepted Islam in first place but their purpose of accepting Islam was to reject it later (a ploy) so that they use that rejection to misguide others from accepting Islam … and such ploy cannot be tolerated … so, to discourage that, execution of apostate was recommended (I do not think ever implemented) especially when apostate once leaving Islam starts propaganda against Islam to misguide others about Islam (using their once Islamic experience).

That is understandable as Islam do not invite people to accept Islam without complete knowledge and understanding of Islam … and there is nothing that Islam hides that one can make excuse about knowing Islam or Islamic beliefs once that person became Muslim … that means … if one wants to leave Islam (become apostate), they can without problem (or fear of execution or retaliation), but they should not become a tool of propaganda full of lies so to misguide others.

**[Killing of apostate is so ridiculous propaganda against Islam that even a person knowing basic fiqh would find reasons to reject that … as in all Islamic Fiqhs, an apostate lose inheritance and marriage also gets dissolved … but if apostate should get executed than one could not even talk about inheritance or dissolution of marriage.

Some pretending to be ‘Aalim’ are so ‘Jahil’ about Islam that they would not hesitate to claim that apostate should get executed and at the same time would say that … if a person said something kufrana they become Kafir and their marriage is also dissolved … so such person should read Kalma again (to become Muslim) and also get their nikah again to keep their marriage … but if a person became Kafir, what the use of reading Kalma again and getting nikah again … as once apostate he should be killed. :)] **

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