Punishment of Apostasy in Islaam!
By: Shahid Bin Waheed شاهد
بن وحيد
الحمدلله
رب العالمين والصلوة
والسلام على اشرف
الانبياء وسيدالمرسلين
نبينا محمد صل
ا لله عليه وعلى
آله واصحابه وازواجه
اجمعين - امابعد
All praises and thanks be to Allaah, Sustainer of the Universe, and blessing and salutation to be the most distinguish of the Messengers and foremost among the Prophets, our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allaah be on him and on his wives, children and Companions.
The objective of this treatise is to eradicate
misconceptions about the subject matter by discussing the laws governing the
apostasy in Islaam according to Islaamic Shariah.
The apostasy is Riddah or Irtidād ارتداد in Islaam from
the root raddرد , which, among other connotations, has the meaning “to retract, to retire, to withdraw from or
fall back from.” The male apostate is called Murtad and female apostate
is called Murtadah.
It is well known that there is no compulsion in accepting the religion
of Islaam, because compulsion is incompatible with the essence of faith and
free will. This is a matter of account between each individual and the Divine
being:
يَسْأَلُونَكَ
عَنِ الشَّهْرِ
الْحَرَامِ قِتَالٍ
فِيهِ قُلْ قِتَالٌ
فِيهِ كَبِيرٌ
وَصَدٌّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ
اللَّهِ وَكُفْرٌ
بِهِ وَالْمَسْجِدِ
الْحَرَامِ وَإِخْرَاجُ
أَهْلِهِ مِنْهُ
أَكْبَرُ عِنْدَ
اللَّهِ وَالْفِتْنَةُ
أَكْبَرُ مِنَ
الْقَتْلِ وَلَا
يَزَالُونَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ
حَتَّى يَرُدُّوكُمْ
عَنْ دِينِكُمْ
إِنِ اسْتَطَاعُوا
وَمَنْ يَرْتَدِدْ
مِنْكُمْ عَنْ
دِينِهِ فَيَمُتْ
وَهُوَ كَافِرٌ فَأُولَئِكَ
حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ
فِي الدُّنْيَا
وَالْآخِرَةِ
وَأُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ
النَّارِ هُمْ
فِيهَا خَالِدُون
They ask you concerning fighting in the Sacred Months (i.e.
1st, 7th, 11th and 12th months of the Islâmic calendar). Say "Fighting
therein is a great (transgression) but a greater (transgression) {1}
with Allâh is to prevent mankind from following the Way
of Allâh, to disbelieve in Him, to prevent access to Al-Masjid-Al-Harâm
(at Makkah), and to drive out its inhabitants, and Al-Fitnah
{2}
is worse than killing. And they will never cease
fighting you until they turn you back from your religion (Islâmic Monotheism)
if they can. And whosoever of you turns back from his religion and dies
as a disbeliever, then his deeds will be lost in this life and in the
Hereafter, and they will be the dwellers of the Fire. They will abide therein
forever."
It is
obvious that this Ayaah mentions no fixed punishment other than futility of
deeds. It is the Sunnah, which prescribed, in unequivocal terms, death as a Hudd punishment for Riddah (Apostasy). The most reputed Hadith conveying
the death penalty was reported by Ibn Abbas (R.A.) that the Prophet Muhammad
(SAW) said: “Whoever renounces his
religion, kill him.”
{See: Sahih Al-Bukhari, “Bab Hukm al Murtad wa al
Murtadah”, Vol. 8, pp. 50, 163; Al Muwata’, “Kitab al Hudud”, Vol.
2, p. 736; Sunan Al Tirmidhi, “Kitab al Hudud”, Vol. 4, p. 48; Sunan Abi
Daud, ‘Kitab al Hudud”, Vol. 4, p. 126; Sunan Ibn Majah, “Kitab al
Hudud” Vol. 2, p. 848; Sunan AL Nasaee “Al Hukm fi al Murtad”, Vol.
7, pp. 103-104; Al Musnad, “Musnad ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Abbas”, Vol. 1, pp.
466, 605, 606, 691; Sunan Al Daraqutni, “Kitab al Hudud”, Vol. 3, p.
113}
The Arabic word used in Hadith is “baddala” which means “to
remove something and bring something else in its place.” The word does not mean mere
“abandoning”, but to abandon something for something else. (See: Tag Al Arous, Vol. 7, p.
223)
A well-reported Hadith, one with the highest degree
of authenticity, was reported by Uthman bin Affan. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
is reported to have said:
“
No Muslim witnessing that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is His
Messenger is to be killed except in three cases: A self for a self (Murder),
the married Adulterer, and the one who departs from the religion and abandons
the Jama’ah” (bond of Believers).
{See: Sahih Al-Bukhari, “Bab Hukm al Murtad wa al
Murtadah”, Vol. 8, pp. 38; Vol. 5, “Bab Tafsir Surah Al Maidah”, p.187;
Sunan Al Tirmidhi, “Kitab al Hudud”, Vol. 4, p. 400; Sunan Abi Daud, ‘Kitab
al Hudud”, Vol. 4, pp. 126, 170; Sunan Ibn Majah, “Kitab al Hudud”
Vol. 2, p. 847; Sunan AL Nasaee “Al Hukm fi al Murtad”, Vol. 7, p. 90;
Vol. 8, p.13; Al Musnad, “Musnad ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Masud”, Vol. 2, pp. 21,
117, 152, 344; Vol. 9, pp. 320, 544; Sunan Al Daraqutni, “Kitab al Hudud”,
Vol. 3, pp. 81-83; Al Mustudrak, “Kitab al Hudud”, Vol. 4, pp.350,353,
354, 367; Sunan al Kubra, “Kitab al Jinayat”, Vol. 8, p. 19}
Also Al Hakim reported on the authority of Ibn Abbas that
the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:
“ The Muslim who converts his religion, kill him. If the
person says: {there is no god but God and that Muhammad is His Messenger}, then
you have no right to punish him except for the crime he commits.”(Al Mustudrak, “Kitab al Hudud”,
Vol. 4, p.366)
Islaam
has looked down upon it as a very grave offense and has recommended capital
punishment for it, the details of which can be found in Glorious Qur’aan and
Sunnah as quoted above and to further quote from Glorious Qur’aan the
following:
فَإِن
تَابُواْ وَأَقَامُواْ
الصَّلاَةَ وَآتَوُاْ
الزَّكَاةَ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ
فِي الدِّينِ وَنُفَصِّلُ
الآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ
يَعْلَمُونَ-وَإِن
نَّكَثُواْ أَيْمَانَهُم
مِّن بَعْدِ عَهْدِهِمْ
وَطَعَنُواْ فِي
دِينِكُمْ فَقَاتِلُواْ
أَئِمَّةَ الْكُفْرِ
إِنَّهُمْ لاَ
أَيْمَانَ لَهُمْ
لَعَلَّهُمْ يَنتَهُونَ
(At-Tauba 011-012)
Meanings:
But
if they repent, perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât) and give Zakât, then they
are your brethren in religion. (In this way) We explain the Ayât (proofs,
evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail for a people
who know.
But if
they violate their oaths after their covenant, and attack your religion with
disapproval and criticism then fight (you) the leaders of disbelief (chiefs of
Quraish pagans of Makkah) - for surely their oaths are nothing to them - so
that they may stop (evil actions).
Wisdom Behind the Laws of
Apostasy in Islaam!
In case of a Muslim who apostatizes from the
Deen-ul-Islaam دين
الاسلام, an exposition must be laid
out before him, if the apostasy should have the result of any religious doubts
that can be removed. There are only two methods of repelling the apostasy i.e.
death or Islaam, and Islaam is preferable to death. Thus, the evil of apostasy
rather be removed by means of an exposition of the faith. However, during this
time {of three days} while the exposition is in process that male apostate is
imprisoned for three days.
We read in the Jami Sagheer
جامعی صغير that an
exposition of faith is to be laid before an apostate, and if he refuses the
faith then he must be slain. Since
Allaah (SWT) says in the Glorious Qur’aan “SLAY THE UNBELIVERS” as we read in
Ayaah 4:89,
Surah An-Nisaa 89
وَدُّوا
لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ
كَمَا كَفَرُوا
فَتَكُونُونَ
سَوَاءً فَلَا
تَتَّخِذُوا مِنْهُمْ
أَوْلِيَاءَ حَتَّى
يُهَاجِرُوا فِي
سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا
فَخُذُوهُمْ وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ
حَيْثُ وَجَدْتُمُوهُمْ
وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوا
مِنْهُمْ وَلِيًّا
وَلَا نَصِيرًا
They wish that you reject Faith, as they have rejected
(Faith), and thus that you all become equal (like one another). So take not Auliyâ’ (protectors or friends) from them, till they emigrate
in the Way of Allâh (to Muhammad صلى
الله عليه
وسلم). But if they turn back (from Islâm),
take (hold of) them and kill them wherever you find them, and take neither Auliyâ’ (protectors
or friends) nor helpers from them.
Allaah says in the Qur’aan to
slay the unbelievers (apostates) without any delay of three days granted to
him. Prophet Muhammad صلی الله
عليه وسلم said: Slay the man
who changes his religion.”
The WISDOM behind
the above injunction is based on the fact that an apostate is an infidel
enemy, but he has not required and/or obtained the status of “Zimme
ذمّى”, also the capitation tax has not been accepted
from him. That is why an apostate is termed at this occasion as an infidel
enemy.
The Bible also commands of killing the apostates but without any due process, unlike Islaam. Let us examine commands from the Bible that tells us to kill instantly and indiscriminately all apostates and also the followers of other religions.
Leviticus 24:16 And he that
blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death,
[and] all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as
he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name [of the LORD], shall
be put to death.
Death to Followers of Other Religions
Whoever sacrifices to any god, except
the Lord alone, shall be doomed. (Exodus 22:19 NAB)
Kill Nonbelievers
They entered into a covenant to seek
the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul; and everyone
who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether
small or great, whether man or woman. (2 Chronicles 15:12-13 NAB)
Kill Followers of Other Religions.
1) If
your own full brother, or your son or daughter, or your beloved wife, or you
intimate friend, entices you secretly to serve other gods, whom you and your
fathers have not known, gods of any other nations, near at hand or far away,
from one end of the earth to the other: do not yield to him or listen to him,
nor look with pity upon him, to spare or shield him, but kill him. Your
hand shall be the first raised to slay him; the rest of the people shall join in
with you. You shall stone him to death, because he sought to lead you
astray from the Lord, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that
place of slavery. And all Israel, hearing of this, shall fear and never
do such evil as this in your midst. (Deuteronomy 13:7-12 NAB)
2) Suppose
a man or woman among you, in one of your towns that the LORD your God is giving
you, has done evil in the sight of the LORD your God and has violated the
covenant by serving other gods or by worshiping the sun, the moon, or any of
the forces of heaven, which I have strictly forbidden. When you hear
about it, investigate the matter thoroughly. If it is true that this detestable
thing has been done in Israel, then that man or woman must be taken to the
gates of the town and stoned to death. (Deuteronomy 17:2-5 NLT)
3) While the
Israelites were camped at Acacia, some of the men defiled themselves by
sleeping with the local Moabite women. These women invited them to attend
sacrifices to their gods, and soon the Israelites were feasting with them and
worshiping the gods of Moab. Before long Israel was joining in the
worship of Baal of Peor, causing the LORD's anger to blaze against his people.
The LORD issued the following command to Moses: "Seize all the
ringleaders and execute them before the LORD in broad daylight, so his fierce
anger will turn away from the people of Israel." So Moses ordered
Israel's judges to execute everyone who had joined in worshiping Baal of Peor.
Just then one of the Israelite men brought a Midianite woman into the
camp, right before the eyes of Moses and all the people, as they were weeping
at the entrance of the Tabernacle. When Phinehas son of Eleazar and
grandson of Aaron the priest saw this, he jumped up and left the assembly.
Then he took a spear and rushed after the man into his tent. Phinehas
thrust the spear all the way through the man's body and into the woman's
stomach. So the plague against the Israelites was stopped, but not before
24,000 people had died. (Numbers 25:1-9 NLT)
Infidels and Gays Should Die
So God let
them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a
result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies.
Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately
chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the things God made but not the
Creator himself, who is to be praised forever. Amen. That is why
God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned
against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each
other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relationships with
women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with
other men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so
richly deserved. When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them
to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done.
Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy,
murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are
backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They are
forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their
parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, and are
heartless and unforgiving. They are fully aware of God's death penalty
for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway.
And, worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. (Romans
1:24-32 NLT)
Contrary to the Bible and/or
Judeo-Christian teachings, Islaam does not command killing of the followers of
other religions, as in Islaam THRERE IS NO
COMPULSION IN RELIGION.
The wisdom behind the laws of
apostasy in Islaam is to maintain law and order and prevent the chaos and
mischief in the community that also regulates the Freedom of Expression in Islaam.
Sunday, October 17, 2004
Updated & modified on Sunday, January 21, 2007