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Sarmad Naveed, Canada

Just lately, the well-known PBD Podcast hosted a dialogue between Christians and Muslims to change views and focus on the completely different views of their respective religions. 

Throughout the the dialogue which lasted greater than two hours, the Christian aspect levelled many accusations and false allegations in opposition to the faith of Islam. It was attention-grabbing to notice that many of those allegations appeared to stem not from the Islamic corpus, however from the misguided interpretation of Islamic teachings by sure Muslims. 

It’s unhappy as a result of these misguided interpretations had been successfully on show throughout this very podcast. 

One of many first factors of debate was surrounding apostasy and whether or not Islam sanctions the dying penalty for apostasy. Whereas a Christian could elevate this allegation resulting from their ineptitude in understanding Islam, it was really saddening to see the gents who had been purported to be representing Islam, double down within the assertion that Islamic regulation does certainly sanction the dying penalty for apostasy. Nothing might be farther from the reality.

Suffice it to say, the true Islam was not represented on this podcast. 

What’s the Precise Islamic Regulation Concerning Apostasy?

If not the dying penalty, then what’s the punishment for apostasy in line with Islam?

It might come as a shock to some…however there isn’t a worldly punishment for apostasy in Islam. 

How might there be, when the Holy Qur’an very clearly units the usual that, ‘There needs to be no compulsion in faith’. (The Holy Qur’an, 2:257). Actually, compulsion in issues of faith is attributed within the Qur’an to enemies of faith, just like the Pharaoh threatening to kill those that adopted the faith of Moses (as) as a substitute of him. (The Holy Qur’an 20:72)

How might anybody be compelled in religion, when God Himself has not compelled anybody, as He states: ‘And say, “It’s the reality out of your Lord; wherefore let him who will, consider, and let him who will, disbelieve.”’ (The Holy Qur’an, 18:30)

It might be fairly nonsensical to current the supply of not believing if one so chooses, however then implement a punishment for leaving the religion. 

Some elevate the allegation – as Robert Spencer did within the podcast – that the next verse of the Holy Qur’an instructs the killing of apostates:

‘They need that you must disbelieve as they’ve disbelieved, so that you could be grow to be all alike. Take not, due to this fact, mates from amongst them, till they migrate in the way in which of Allah. And in the event that they flip away, then sieze them and kill them wherever you discover them; and take no pal or helper from amongst them.’ (The Holy Qur’an, 4:90)

This verse discusses the hypocrites who apparently professed religion however fraternised with the enemies of religion. Nevertheless, because the Holy Qur’an itself helps in chapter 2 verse 62, given the context, the Arabic اقْتُلُوْھُمْ which has been translated as ‘kill them’ also can imply ‘boycott them’. That is made evident by the continuing phrases ‘and take no pal or helper from amongst them.’ How might a pal or helper be taken from individuals who have supposedly already been killed?

Moreover, God states that simply as one has the liberty to go away the religion, they’re free to return to the religion as properly:

‘Those that consider, then disbelieve, then once more consider, then disbelieve, and then enhance of their disbelief, Allah won’t ever forgive them nor will He information them to the way in which.’ (The Holy Qur’an, 4:138)

How might Islamic regulation dictate that an apostate should be killed, when God, the very supply of the Islamic regulation, has clearly acknowledged that it’s doable for an individual to revert again to religion after turning into apostate? 

The above verse and lots of others within the Holy Qur’an have clearly addressed the matter of apostacy, but none have acknowledged the dying penalty as a consequence, however all have indicated that it’s a matter which might be taken up by God Himself within the hereafter (eg. the Holy Qur’an, 16:107-110, 47:26)

When the supply of Islam has clearly refuted any type of worldly punishment, not to mention dying, for apostacy, then there isn’t a foundation to assert that Islamic regulation adjudicates dying for apostacy. 

That is additional demonstrated by the instance of the founding father of Islam, and the best advocate of Islamic regulation, the Holy Prophet (sa). The identical Holy Prophet (sa) whose obligation was by no means to compel individuals to simply accept Islam, somewhat he was entrusted by God to convey the message. (The Holy Qur’an 10:109). 

It’s recorded by Imam Tabari that after the religious night time journey of the Holy Prophet (sa) from Makkah to Jerusalem, there have been some who didn’t consider him and deserted him and the religion. But, there was no motion taken in opposition to them.^[1]

There was the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah, an settlement between the Holy Prophet (sa) and the Quraish of Makkah, wherein it was agreed that if a Muslim had been to go away and go to the polytheists they might not be returned. Had the punishment for apostacy been dying, the Holy Prophet (sa) would have by no means agreed to this situation. 

Then, there was a Bedouin man who fell in poor health after accepting Islam, and considering it was as a result of he had accepted Islam, he determined to desert the religion and go away Madinah, but the Holy Prophet (sa) took no motion in opposition to him.^[2]

There are some who cite a convention of the Holy Prophet (sa) stating to kill apostates, to show their stance of Islam implementing the dying penalty for apostacy. Nevertheless, they have to bear in mind, context is essential. 

Foremost, when learning the traditions and sayings of the Holy Prophet (sa), the first litmus take a look at of understanding their meanings is the Holy Qur’an. The meanings of genuine traditions can by no means contradict the Holy Qur’an. 

Therefore, punitive motion was by no means taken in opposition to somebody merely on the idea of apostasy. Actually, these statements of the Holy Prophet (sa) had been made at instances of conflict, when individuals some not solely grew to become apostates, however actively rebelled and endeavoured to kill Muslims. It was solely in these defensive wars, which had been primarily to guard non secular freedom, that any such motion was taken. Actually, no objection might be raised to defending in opposition to those that actively attacked not solely Muslims, however faith altogether. 

So, to the Christians, Muslims, or anybody else below the phantasm that Islam warrants the dying penalty for apostasy, let it’s identified that the Holy Qur’an, the follow of the Holy Prophet (sa), and the sayings of the Holy Prophet (sa) all show unequivocally, that in line with Islam, there may be not dying penalty for apostasy.

For an in-depth evaluation, learn: No Capital Punishment for Apostasy in Islam

Concerning the Writer: Sarmad Naveed is an Imam of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Group who graduated from the Ahmadiyya Institute for Languages and Theology in Canada. He serves as On-line Editor and is on the Editorial Board for The Overview of Religions, and in addition coordinates the Information from Fiction part. He has additionally appeared as a panelist and host of programmes on Muslim Tv Ahmadiyya (MTA) comparable to ‘Ahmadiyyat: Roots to Branches.’

ENDNOTES

^[1] Ibn Jarir al-Tabari Tafsir Jami’ al- Bayan, below 17:60

^[2] Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 7216