Sunday, July 3, 2016

Death Penalty for Leaving Islam

Islam presents a unique and severe problem in the modern world because of one dangerous rule. The punishment prescribed for apostasy (a Muslim leaving the religion of Islam) is death. Let's see what the Islamic books have to say.

(I) QURAN:

18:65 to 18:80 - Then found they one of Our slaves, unto whom We had given mercy from Us, and had taught him knowledge from Our presence. Moses said unto him: May I follow thee, to the end that thou mayst teach me right conduct of that which thou hast been taught? ... So they twain journeyed on till, when they met a lad, he slew him. (Moses) said: What! Hast thou slain an innocent soul who hath slain no man? Verily thou hast done a horrid thing. He said: Did I not tell thee that thou couldst not bear with me? ... And as for the lad, his parents were believers and we feared lest he should oppress them by rebellion and disbelief.

The situation here is Moses (Moses is considered in Islam as a Prophet) getting some Islamic moral lessons from his guide Al-Khidr (name is not spelled out in the Quran). When Al-Khidr killed a boy who hadn't murdered anyone, Moses immediately questioned him with the Islamic rule against unlawfully shedding blood (5:32). Al-Khidr explains the death penalty citing two reasons - the boy's parents being Muslims and his disbelief in Islam and rebellion against parents.

Given the fact that the boy was born to Muslim parents, the reasons cited for the punishment are:

(1) Disbelief in Islam - is clear apostasy as the boy comes from a Muslim family.
(2) Rebellion against parents - disobedience to believing parents' teachings amounts to apostasy.

Let's examine the Tafsir of ibn Kathir to verify:

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (18:80) - Ibn `Abbas narrated from Ubayy bin Ka`b that the Prophet said: "The boy Al-Khidr killed was destined to be a disbeliever from the day he was created." It was recorded by Ibn Jarir from Ibn `Abbas. He said: "His parents were believers, and we feared he would oppress them by rebellion and disbelief". Their love for him might make them follow him in disbelief.

(II) HADITHS: 

If you are not convinced by what is written in the Quran on apostasy, let's check the authentic hadith collections to see how Muhammad dealt with apostasy.

Sahih al-Bukhari 6922 - "Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him."

Sahih Muslim 1676 - "It is not permissible to take the life of a Muslim who bears testimony (to the fact that there is no god but Allah, and I am the Messenger of Allah), but in one of the three cases: the married adulterer, a life for life, and the deserter of his Din (Islam), abandoning the community."

Muwatta Imam Malik 36:1419 - "If someone changes his deen - strike his neck!"

Jami At-Tirmidhi 1458 - "Whoever changes his religion then kill him."

Sunan Abu-Dawud 4352 - "The blood of a Muslim man who testifies that there is no god but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah should not be lawfully shed but only for one of three reasons: married fornicator, soul for soul, and one who deserts his religion separating himself from the community."

Sunan Ibn-Majah 20:2632 - “Whoever changes his religion, execute him.”

Sunan An-Nasai 4059 - "Whoever changes his religion, kill him."

As we can clearly see, all the major hadith collections unanimously agree on death penalty for Muslims who leave Islam.

To make matters worse, claiming to be a Muslim by words is not enough. Even if you act un-Islamic through actions you may be eligible for death penalty.

Sahih al-Bukhari 3611 - Narrated `Ali: I relate the traditions of Allah's Messenger to you for I would rather fall from the sky than attribute something to him falsely. But when I tell you a thing which is between you and me, then no doubt, war is guile. I heard Allah's Messenger saying, "In the last days of this world there will appear some young foolish people who will use (in their claim) the best speech of all people (i.e. the Qur'an) and they will abandon Islam as an arrow going through the game. Their belief will not go beyond their throats (i.e. they will have practically no belief), so wherever you meet them, kill them, for he who kills them shall get a reward on the Day of Resurrection."

If you ever wondered why are tens of Islamic groups fighting and killing each other over who represents the true Islam, this is why. This principle of declaring a Muslim as an apostate is known as Takfir. ISIS and some other Islamist groups take Takfir very seriously.

If we analyze the hadiths, Muhammad's clear command to kill whoever leaves Islam is mentioned in atleast 33 independent saheeh (authentic) graded chains of hadiths from Islam's 7 main hadith collections, repeated at least twice in each of these. The references (arabic reference numbers) are below:

Sahih al-Bukhari 3017 
Sahih al-Bukhari 4344 
Sahih al-Bukhari 6878 
Sahih al-Bukhari 6922 
Sahih al-Bukhari 6923 
Sahih al-Bukhari 3611 
Sahih al-Bukhari 5057 
Sahih al-Bukhari 6930 
Sahih al-Bukhari 7157 
Sahih Muslim 1676 a 
Sahih Muslim 1676 c 
Sahih Muslim 1733 d 
Sunan Ibn-Majah 20:2630 
Sunan Ibn-Majah 20:2631 
Sunan Ibn-Majah 20:2632 
Sunan Abu-Dawud 4351 
Sunan Abu-Dawud 4352 
Sunan Abu-Dawud 4354 
Sunan Abu-Dawud 4355 
Sunan Abu-Dawud 4356 
Sunan Abu-Dawud 4502 
Sunan Abu-Dawud 4767 
Muwatta Imam Malik 36:1419 
Muwatta Imam Malik 36:1420 
Sunan An-Nasai 4059 
Sunan An-Nasai 4060 
Sunan An-Nasai 4063 
Sunan An-Nasai 4064 
Sunan An-Nasai 4065 
Sunan An-Nasai 4066 
Sunan An-Nasai 4102 
Jami At-Tirmidhi 1458 
Jami At-Tirmidhi 2158

(III) Counter Arguments:

Let's check three passages in Quran which are often quoted by Muslims to save the face of Islam and argue that it guarantees freedom of religion.

2:256 - There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error. And he who rejecteth false deities and believeth in Allah hath grasped a firm handhold which will never break.

18:29 - Say: (It is) the truth from the Lord of you (all). Then whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve.

109:1 to 109:6 - Say: O disbelievers! I worship not that which ye worship; Nor worship ye that which I worship. And I shall not worship that which ye worship. Nor will ye worship that which I worship. Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion.

However, these passages only forbid forced conversion of people to Islam. They don't deal with the case of Muslims leaving Islam, as shown by the Tafsirs. The first verse was revealed to forbid the forced conversion of a Jew to Islam (ironically when a Jewish tribe was being expelled from Medina). The second and third passages were during Muhammad's early days in Mecca when he was preaching Islam to the disbelievers, conveying them that he was not forcing them to join Islam. The moral example set by the Moses-Khidr story still stands all the same. As Muhammad conquered Mecca and became the only power in the region, he eventually gave an ultimatum to all polytheists to leave the Islamic territory, submit to Islam or die.

9:5 - Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

However, when Muslims were to conquer outside the "holy" territory of Islam, unbelievers were given the additional option of paying a tribute tax called Jizya if they wanted to remain non-Muslims. People familiar with Islamic history would know two more facts:

(1) When some tribes which had accepted Islam during the time of Muhammad declared apostasy, Muhammad's successor Caliph Abu-Bakr immediately launched the famous Apostasy (Riddah) Wars against them.
(2) Every single school of Islamic jurisprudence which followed the time of Muhammad - the Sunni schools of Shafi'i, Hanafi, Hanbali and Maliki as well as the Jafari (Shia) schools - all prescribed death penalty for apostasy.

All this clearly shows that the so called freedom of religion given by Quran is not absolute and has exceptions. As can be clearly seen, apostasy is one of those exceptions.

(IV) What if Islam is not the Law

Those who defend Islam often argue that this is only an issue if the state is governed by the Shariah (Islamic Law). So, what happens when Islam hasn't become powerful enough to govern the Laws of the state or the country is secular for whatever reason?

9:23 - O ye who believe! Choose not your fathers nor your brethren for friends if they take pleasure in disbelief rather than faith. Whoso of you taketh them for friends, such are wrong-doers.

58:22 - Thou wilt not find folk who believe in Allah and the Last Day loving those who oppose Allah and His messenger, even though they be their fathers or their sons or their brethren or their clan.

Muslims are commanded to disown fellow family members and discard friendship with them for choosing to disbelieve in Islam. Those who are obsessed with Islam may also try to implement Islamic Law by murdering apostates, which is not uncommon in Islam where religion is considered larger than life. As is often the case, apostates from Islam can have to live the rest of their lives in fear simply for choosing to leave the religion and openly expressing their views even if they are not living under a country governed by Islamic Law.

CONCLUSION: Islam does not demand forced conversion of unbelievers. However a Muslim who leaves Islam is given the death penalty in Islamic Law. Muslims are asked to disown fellow family members if they choose to disbelieve. The intolerance shown by Islam towards apostasy presents a huge problem for basic human rights and liberal values. This is something we have to be aware of and speak honestly about.

11 comments:

  1. Thanks Rohit for educating everyone about these things. Islam isn't peace, it's forced obedience.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for your comment James! I consider it a duty for all of us liberals to throw light on possibly the biggest threat to freedom and liberty that exists in the world - Islam.

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    2. Hilarious how you have distorted everything to suit your narrative. FYI, there are many errors in your post. For starters, Caliph Abu Bakr R.A declared war on Apostates who claimed false Prophethood after the departure of Holy Prophet PBUH. Those apostates intended to hijack Islam & take over the power left behind by the Holy Prophet. You simply chose to ignore this and went ahead with your twisted narration. Atleast, study & research.
      Moving on, Khidr AS & Prophet Moses AS (The Prophet on whom Torah (the Holy book of Jews) was revealed), u deliberately manipulated the whole incident. There were three stories in the meeting. U chose to ignore the first & the third story & twisted the second one. Ïn the same story Khidr AS fixes a wall of two orphan children so those who are greedy don't usurp the property. The meeting narrated was about wisdom, patience and knowledge. It was deeper than what most people interpret it for. Yes the child was killed because he would have grown up to be a rebel & caused his parents grief; however in the same story Khidr AS informs Moses AS that Allah swt will replace him with a better one. It was also meant as a test for the parents.
      Khidr’s knowledge was about the unseen, the contentment with Allah’s decree and predestination it was a knowledge of certainty concerning Allah’s attributes: The All-Knowing, The Ever-Wise and The Ever-Merciful. The incident carried three stories. All relating to attributes of the Almighty.
      Furthermore, disobeying parents is a sin but not apostasy! Infact, in most religions not just Islam, disobeying parents is a sin. At-least, learn the basics before commenting on someone's religion!
      You deliberately misinformed your readers about the expulsion of the Jewish Tribe. You did not care to elaborate that they broke pact with Prophet Muhammad PBUH & backstabbed him. Hence they were expelled.
      When Prophet Muhammad S.A.W conquered Makkah, he granted pardon to everyone including to those who killed his family members in the battle. One of the lady who killed his uncle & chewed his liver was pardoned. The lady's name was Hind / Hinda.
      There are several other disinformation in your blog. And does liberalism permit you to slander someone's religion?

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    3. "..does liberalism permit you to slander someone's religion? " that is what Islam doing all over the Quran!!!!!
      here are 2 more source for you o learn something:first one on apostasy wars:
      http://www.apartheidsharia.com/apostasy-wars-in-islam-wars-of-greeddisbeliefand-power-struggle/
      and this one on so called Muhammad"defensive"wars:
      http://www.apartheidsharia.com/defensive-wars-violent-sudden-attack/

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    4. Slander applies to individuals, not ideas. Also, would murdering of a son be okay because they can have another son (this is achievable by reproduction, Allah's services are not needed here).

      I know that there are 3 events and justifications offered. Except that the murder of the boy is unjustified unlike the other two incidents.

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  2. Hei Rohit Balakrishnan!
    (1)Who are you? Are you Muslim? You are not, then why you talk about Islam,your article consists of
    BIG ERRORS because you cut and paste without honestly revailing the actual chronicle events of it! PROOF OF YOUR EVIL INTENTIONS AND IGNORANT! (2)Are you cleverer
    than God? If yes, then don't use God's soul, brain, eyes, mouth, nose etc created by God, create yourself! Don't eat food and drinks created by God, create yourself! Don't live in this earth created by God, create yourself!!! If you acknowledge God cleverer than yourself, then SHUT UP, don't judge God!!!
    (2)STOP translating Quran and giving opinions, you are NOT QUALIFIED!!!
    Before you open your mouth, read these :
    There are at least 11 sub-knowledge(besides 3 below) for a person (Muslim or not) to MASTER to qualified in interpreting the Holy Quran, read :

    (1)Tafsir refers to the accurate interpretation of the Quranic texts, such as Arabic grammar and syntax, Arabic literature and Quranic sciences (Uloom al-Quran). A commentator’s familiarity with modern fields of learning, like the pure sciences and social sciences can aid in making the Quranic explanations relevant to modern human society.

    (2)Usool at-Tafsir literally means “The Fundamental Principles of Quranic Interpretation”. It refers to those branches of knowledge which are necessary to provide the proper Quranic interpretation (tafsir). This branch of knowledge provides the step-by-step methodology of interpreting the Quran to ensure that interpretations are not merely the result of human whims and fancies.

    (3)Uloom al-Quran, refers to all the fields of knowledge which aid in elucidating the Quran. These include the following :

    1.Knowledge of tafsir (exegesis),
    2.Qiraa’aat (recitations),
    3.Ar-rasmul-‘Uthmaanee (the ‘Uthmaanic script),
    4.I‘jaaz al-Quran (miraculous aspects of the Quran),
    5.Asbaab an-nuzool (reasons for revelation),
    6.An-naasikh wal-mansookh (abrogating and abrogated verses),
    7.I‘raab al-Quran (Quranic grammar),
    8.Ghareeb al-Quran (unusual Quranic terms),
    9.Religious rulings,
    10.Arabic language
    11.Arabic literature.

    * Therefore, as you can see, you ARE NOT qualified to interpret the Quran(not even a single sentence or a word), so don't ever try!

    A lot of the ignorant interpretations are TOTALLY WRONG and so their and your opinions. Simply because you don't get from the Authentic Sources. Among Authentic Sources of books interpreting Quran by the Scholars :
    *Tafsir At Tabari.
    *Tafsir Al Qurtubi.
    *Tafsir Ibnu Kathir.
    *And Many More.
    *REFER TO THESE AUTHENTIC SOURCES, DON'T EVER USE YOUR LIMITED BRAIN. If brain can be use, God don't sent Prophet Muhammad pbuh to explain it(HADITH).(to be continue)

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    1. I just have a question. Why would almighty God give us his word but make it impossible to understand one sentence of it without 20+ years of studying it. We as human beings should be able to read the word of God and understand it because it's hat important . If you can't read the word of God without someone telling you that it means something other than what it says and it's actually a big cryptic puzzle that can only be solved by someone else but you , than how could we ever know God? According to you an average person can't possibly read the Quran and understand even one sentence of it . I've read the Quran and I understand a lot of it so I'm not quite sure why you would say that . The only reason you would say that an average person can't understand it is because you and all the rest of the Muslims I talk to are ashamed of what it really says and to believe that only a scholar can make it say something else is running away from the truth . You don't see Christians or Jews saying that only priests and pastors are capable of understanding the bible therefore everything it says isn't actually what it means . It's just a book and not some cryptic puzzle . If it commands you to kill someone then that's what it means . You can add to it or take away from it as much as you want . I personally think giving behind your scholars and Imans is just plain ignorance . If God wanted us to know what he is saying he would make it so everyone can read it and understand it . Not just the Elite .

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  3. To translate let alone interpret Quran, (First and foremost)you MUST BE a Scholar(can you let someone build your house who know nothing about Building, building materials,soil, architectural, engineering, electrical, plumbing to give the least).(Second)MUST be a MUSLIM! Because only Muslims(to be exact BELIEVERS) are 'guided', others are NOT(to be exact, guided by SATAN). Most of your article is just cut and paste here and there, to suit your evil mission and intention. You neglect the chronicle orders of that particular event. You neglect other views of the Scholars who are more knowledgeable and more authority, which will give more accurate meanings of that particular subject mainly because YOU HAVE EVIL INTENTION AND MISSION! So DELETE YOUR WEBSITE, It's USELESS AND SHIT! Because it comes from (1)EVIL INTENTIONS AND MISSIONS.(2)Unqualified person.(3)Misleading and polluting Islam which is Sacred.
    (8)Rohit Balakrishnan, the difference between others talking about our belief and vice-versa is : Other beliefs especially liberalism and atheism does not holds responsibility and accountability, so why criticized? Our beliefs comes with responsibility and accountability, that it's our duty towards God to bring 'wrong' to 'right'.(9)Lastly, let settle this RIGHT NOW, to know who is right between us : In the middle of the night(no single one hear), you say SINCERELY(with humble and low voice(you only hear),(1)If you REALLY sincere to find the TRUTH say, "Oh God who creates the universe, show me your way".(2)If you don't believe in God, say "Oh God, if you exist, take my life now! YOU WILL SURELY FIND THE TRUTH!!!

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  4. Behold, God's rules are all 'preventive' in nature. Did you notice, in an advance countries like US the crime rate of robberies and theft is high? On the contrary, in Saudi Arabia, during Friday prayer, the business owner just left their goods and went to the Mosque, nobody were dare to steal it! That's the effectiveness of God's rule. 'He's' the creator, 'He' knows best. Did you understand? Stupid! How about your country? According to The Blaze on its 2017 edition, "India is witnessing a dramatic spurt in crimes with the law enforcement agencies increasingly becoming weaker to nab the criminals. The rule of law has been considerably eroded over the years as is evident from the ever increasing cases of rape, kidnaping, murder, extortion, trafficking, robbery and many other petty crimes. The inability of the courts to dispense justice on time and the incompetence of the police to bring the perpetrators to book has emboldened the criminals to take the law into their own hands. Some states have become synonymous with crimes.".
    ***As you can see how bad your country is?!

    As you are stupid and ignorant, you don't know where your priorities in life, let me teach you to make it easier for your life and throw all the rubbish and shit that's burden your head :

    (1)First, make an effort to correct your country especially to reduce your country crime rate.
    (2)Second, when you have succeed, try to correct your neighbor countries by commenting and criticize their government on issues you think need to be address.
    (3)Third, if you succeed and well received by their leaders on whatever input you gave them, then slowly and gradually provide your comments and inputs to every leaders of the world on how to improve their country.
    (4)Forth, if you succeed, all the leaders are receptive and glad to your comments and input, only then you can try to comments on God.
    (5)I believed now you have realised the possibilities of you are likely to make their leaders angry, thus you'll be humiliated, arrested or imprisoned.
    (6)If you cannot comment on what the leaders of the world(mankind) is doing on their country(local or international policies), you even cannot 'clean' your own corrupt country which crime rate is high, don't dream to correct God.
    (7)Maybe all the while you don't realise your stupidity. Now you know you are actually very stupid and ignorant!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Behold, God's rules are all 'preventive' in nature. Did you notice, in an advance countries like US the crime rate of robberies and theft is high? On the contrary, in Saudi Arabia, during Friday prayer, the business owner just left their goods and went to the Mosque, nobody were dare to steal it! That's the effectiveness of God's rule. 'He's' the creator, 'He' knows best. Did you understand? Stupid! How about your country? According to The Blaze on its 2017 edition, "India is witnessing a dramatic spurt in crimes with the law enforcement agencies increasingly becoming weaker to nab the criminals. The rule of law has been considerably eroded over the years as is evident from the ever increasing cases of rape, kidnaping, murder, extortion, trafficking, robbery and many other petty crimes. The inability of the courts to dispense justice on time and the incompetence of the police to bring the perpetrators to book has emboldened the criminals to take the law into their own hands. Some states have become synonymous with crimes.".
    ***As you can see how bad your country is?!

    As you are stupid and ignorant, you don't know where your priorities in life, let me teach you to make it easier for your life and throw all the rubbish and shit that's burden your head :

    (1)First, make an effort to correct your country especially to reduce your country crime rate.
    (2)Second, when you have succeed, try to correct your neighbor countries by commenting and criticize their government on issues you think need to be address.
    (3)Third, if you succeed and well received by their leaders on whatever input you gave them, then slowly and gradually provide your comments and inputs to every leaders of the world on how to improve their country.
    (4)Forth, if you succeed, all the leaders are receptive and glad to your comments and input, only then you can try to comments on God.
    (5)I believed now you have realised the possibilities of you are likely to make their leaders angry, thus you'll be humiliated, arrested or imprisoned.
    (6)If you cannot comment on what the leaders of the world(mankind) is doing on their country(local or international policies), you even cannot 'clean' your own corrupt country which crime rate is high, don't dream to correct God.
    (7)Maybe all the while you don't realise your stupidity. Now you know you are actually very stupid and ignorant!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. same old same old!!I see nothing but repeated fallacies such as multiple posting,Red Herring,Judgmental language ,Ad Hominem, etc... they never taught you how to run a logical debate and argument?writing some sentences in English does not qualify you for logical debate!!! if your comment does not fit logical pattern it considered worthless garbage !!!!

      Delete