Re: The punishment of apostate
What they did cannot be called “sharing” of critical views. It’s not sharing at all. There is a decent way to go about converting someone and a ‘low’ way to do so. Direct communication is best. But to pretend being Muslims and then to convert out of it as a way to confuse the new Muslims…that’s a very, cheap and underhanded tactic. Fitna is mischief, the word is also used for those who try to turn people against one another…it stirs up bad feelings between people and effects can be devastating. Women, with their tendency to gossip, often create animosity amongst themselves, that’s a fitna. Yes, such an underhanded tactic to turn new Muslims against Islam is a fitna…to stir up doubt and negative feelings in their hearts toward the messenger is Fitna…the same messenger who did not use such tactics himself and did not impose the faith on anyone. It’s like a wolf in sheep’s clothing…it’s deceptive and a hypocrisy…it’s fitna. The Jews could have stuck to voicing their criticism directly, that’s fine. But they would prevent people from going near the prophet, attempts on his life were made, and as for this specific strategy in question…it would entail lying. If they were so confident in their faith, they shouldn’t have to pretend to be Muslims, shouldn’t have to go to that length. The Quran and Prophet even encouraged people to go ask the Jews and Christians to reveal their holy books so that they could see that their books confirm that he was the final messenger. That’s how upfront, bold and honest he was. The Jews hid their books apart from other forms of fitna. They resorted to one underhanded method after another, the worst being plots to kill. One will only tolerate their injustices for so long. So, again there is nothing at all respectful about these strategies…which ate not ‘sharing’ as you’ve assumed it to be. And if one fails to understand how and why it was a fitna…or even fails to understand how low and underhanded that is…then that person is far gone, us ka Allah hi haafiz in terms of ability to think/reason.