Apostasy In Islam: Part One Once a fox was drinking from a river and saw a lamb drinking some meters away. Below is the drama that followed: Fox: How dare you spoil my drinking water?!!! Lamb: But sir, that is not possible because the water flows from you to me. Fox: Then why did you insult me last year?!!! Lamb: Good sir, that is not possible because I was born this year. Fox: Oh, I guess it was one of our relatives that insulted me last year, so you will pay for it. (The Fox ate the poor Lamb). When someone is out to get you, with premeditated intent, they will do all they can to nail you down. ======================================================== The ruling on apostates in Islam is as follows: Quran: Surely (as for) those who believe then disbelieve, again believe and again disbelieve, then increase in disbelief, God will not forgive them nor guide them in the (right) path. [Quran 4:137] How can God guide a people who have rejected after believing, and they witnessed that the messenger is true, and the clarity had come to them? God does not guide the wicked people. [Quran 3:86] A section of the People of the Book say: Believe in the morning what is revealed to the believers, but reject it at the end of the day; perchance they may (themselves) Turn back. [Quran 3:72] As you can see, the verses above do not prescribe death as penalty for those who leave the faith, that is entirely between man and his creator. Hadith: Jabir ibn `Abdullah narrated that a Bedouin pledged allegiance to Muhammad for Islam (i.e. accepted Islam) and then the Bedouin got fever whereupon he said to Muhammad cancel my pledge. But Muhammad refused. He (the Bedouin) came to him (again) saying, Cancel my pledge. But Muhammad refused. Then he (the Bedouin) left (Medina). Muhammad said, Madinah is like a pair of bellows (furnace): it expels its impurities and brightens and clear its good. In the above hadith, we could see that an apostate was left to even leave the town. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Exception +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ During period of war, enemies of Islam used these freedom as an advantage for espionage. They accept the faith to spy on the Muslims, gather intel and later leave back to their camp and plan attacks. The Prophet of Islam being the Commader In Chief upon whose should laid the protection of both Muslims and Non-Muslims in Madina, had to make a tough decision to protect the land. Within that period, it was stated that anyone who leaves the religion commits treason, and treason is punishable by death, even today. This was to prevent the hypocrites from infiltrating and leaking out valuable military defense information to the enemy. After some years, we will find the Prophet of Islam agreeing on a treaty at Hudiabiya between Muslims and Pagans of Makka that, if a man leaves Islam for paganism, no harm should befall him/her but any man/woman that leaves paganism for Islam, he/she must be brought back. Read before you point accusing fingers. Do not accuse a religion by the action of its followers, and if you must, try investigate if there are any exception at work. May Allah shine down His light of mercy on us all.
Posted on: Sun, 18 May 2014 08:21:20 +0000