Source & Credits: Chicago Islam Examiner
Qasim Rashid | Chicago, IL | October, 2009
Have Muslim's lost their minds? I picked up a book in the library yesterday that discussed the supposed punishment for apostasy in Islam. Rather than discussing the clear cut teachings of the Qur'an and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (sa) that show Islam categorically forbids any punishment for apostasy, the authors instead argued that "this archaic punishment needs to be revised for modern times."
In other words, the authors had already acknowledged that Islam teaches death for apostasy, and were apologetically trying to find a reason to 'abrogate' this supposed Quranic teaching. Really, have these people lost their minds?
Nowhere in the Qur'an does a single verse give permission to kill someone if they leave Islam. In fact, nowhere in the Qur'an does God allow any sort of punishment for a person who leaves Islam. The most basic teaching of the Qur'an is "There is no compulsion in religion, the right has been made distinct from the wrong." (2:257)
This logical verse makes clear that since the right has been made distinct from the wrong, no need or permission for compulsion exists. In specific reference to those who leave Islam the Qur'an says, "Those who believe, then disbelieve, then again believe, then disbelieve, and then increase in disbelief, Allah will never forgive them nor will He guide them to the way. Give to the hypocrites the tidings that for them is a grievous punishment." (4:138-139)
Should someone choose to leave Islam, it is to God that they become answerable, not to any person. The command given to Muslims is to simply inform a person who leaves Islam that they will be answerable to God - end of discussion.
One final crucial verse demonstrates that specifically, no human being, not even a prophet, has any right to restrict another persons faith. The Holy Qur'an says, "Whoso obeys the Messenger obeys Allah indeed; and whoso turns away, then We have not sent thee as a keeper over them." (4:81)
I say to all our non-Muslim friends to rest assured that Islam does not prescribe any punishment at the hands of any human authority for a person who chooses a faith other than Islam. I also urge my Muslim friends to forget this atrocious belief, for not only is it contrary to human dignity, but it is contradictory to the dignity and teachings of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (sa) who said, "A Muslim is one from whose hand and tongue people are safe. A believer is one from whom people know that their wealth and lives are safe."
Almost 50 years ago a brilliant treatise was written on this very topic, warning the Muslim world to forsake this unislamic belief of death for apostasy. Sadly the advice was not adhered to. The book, Murder in the Name of Allah, can be read online for free at http://www.alislam.org/library/books/mna/index.html
Read here: Death for Apostasy in Islam?
Qasim Rashid is a contributing member of Majlis Sultanul Qalm, USA (MSQ USA) and regularly writes for Examiner.com and various other publications on topics ranging from Islam to human rights. Leave your thoughts and comments, or email Qasim at 1muslim.examiner@gmail.com
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