Islam and Apostasy: Difference between revisions

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punishment for apostasy as prescribed by Prophet Muhammad is death. ’N Murtad (مرتد afvallige) who hides his apostasy is referred to as a munāfiq (منافق skynheilige).
<metadesc>Summaries of articles: Apostasy and Human Rights, Persecution of Ex-Muslims, People Who Left Islam, Notable Former Muslims, and more</metadesc>
Afvalligheid (ارتداد, irtidād and ridda) d.w.s. die verwerping van geloof is ‘n ernstige oortreding in Islam. Die straf vir afvalligheid soos voorgeskryf  deur die profeet Muhammed is die dood. ‘N murtad (مرتد afvallige) wie sy afvalligheid weg steek word na verwys as ‘n munāfiq (منافق skynheilige).
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Inleiding
Definisies
Die verwerping in Islam van enige gedeelte (van einige van die pilare, of indiwiduele beginsels van Islam), of verwerping van die geloof in sy geheel, is afvalligheid. Die straf vir afvalligheid in Islam is die dood. Alhoewel daar geargumenteer kan word dat die Koraan alleen nie heeltemal duidelik is daaroor nie, het skoliere regverdiging  daarvoor gekry vanaf verse daarin en is daar talle Sahih (oorspronklike) Hadiths ter bevestiging van die straf op grond van Mohammed se bevestiging daarvan. In Sahih Bukhari sein ons dit as ‘’Allah se dissipel gesê het’’, Wie okal sy Islamitiese godsdiens verander het, dan maak hom dood’’, en dit was ook een van die enigste drie redes wat deur hom gegee is waar dit toelaatbaar is om ‘n Moslem dood te maak.
Historiese konteks
‘N evaluering van Islam se houding teenoor afvalligheid sal onvltooid wees sonder om uit te brei oor die politieke samestelling van die godsdiens. Islam is in wese is ‘n stam-stelsel wat eens die sosiale samestelling van Arabië in die noorde was. Samelewing, in sy absolute sin, het nooit bestaan in die noorde voor Islam nie. Al wat daar bestaan het was sekere byeenkomste wat nooit floreer het of ontwikkel het in ‘n volwaardige samelewing nie vir verskeie redes; een was dat die meeste daar was nomade wie deur die woestyn gewandel het. Godsdiens was nie ‘n persoonlike saak nie maar ‘n gemeenskaplike saak in pre-Islamitiese Arabië. Die weg beweeg van godsdiens was gelykstaande aan hoogverraad en strafbaar met die dood. Die doodstraf vir afvalligheid soos wat dit ingelyf was in Islam is beter verstaanbaar wanneer dit na gekyk word deur so ‘n stam prisma. Muhammed het eens behoort aan die leefstyl maar het die samelewing verander en het dit so gedoen deur sekere stamme onder een dak te bring sonder om einige van die bestaande nome op te offer. Mohammed was suksesvol en het nie probeer om voor bestaande stam voorskrifte te verander nie. Instede, hy het baie daarvan in Islam geïnkorporeer. Die voorgeskrewe straf vir afvalligheid was een so praktyk wat Mohammed geannekseer het.
Vroeë Islam
Ons weet nie van enige een wie spesifiek dood gemaak is vir die misdaad van Afvalligheid nie gedurende die tyd van Mohammed. Dit is hoofsaaklik a.g.v. ‘n gebrek aan individue wie afvallig geword het gedurende Muhammed se leeftyd. Maar, in Sahih Bukhari Hadith word Muhammed gesien ‘n Bedouin in die pad steek wie dit begeer het om ontlae te raak van sy godsdiens. Die insident alleenlik gee nie ‘n aanduiding dat Mohammed Afvalligheid gesien het as enigiets minder as hoogverraad of ‘n misdaad wat die dood verdien nie. Die beweerde voorval het plaas gevind in die vroeë dae van Islam in Medina waar Muhammed se Islam en sy openbaringe onvoltooid was en ver van ‘n alomvattende leefwyse wat dit sou bekom ten tye van sy dood. Na die dood van Mohammed en onder Kalifaat van Abu Bakr het baie Afvalliges gesterf in die ‘‘Riddah‘‘ (afvallige) oorloë. Dit bevestig die feit dat Afvalligheid alreeds ‘n ernstige misdaad geword het in Islam en dat dit nie iets is wat later ontwikkel het nie. En dit was ‘n Koraanse vers wat vir Abu Bakr aangespoor het om te baklei teen die wie nie hulle tiendes wou betaal nie. Die mense het nie Islam as ‘n geheel verwerp nie maar het geweier om gehoor te gee aan een van die vyf  pilare (Zakat). Soos wat die historici sal bevestig, Abu Bakr het ‘n gewapende stryd met hulle gevoer in ‘n oorlog wat meer as ‘n jaar geduur het(632-633CE). Die Kalief het nie sy wapens neer gelê todat al die verwerpers dood gemaak is nie of terug gekeer het na die arms van Islam. Daar is ook baie stories waar Mohammed se bevel uit gevoer was om ateïste, Christene en Jode dood te maak omdat hulle Islam verlaat.
Shari’ah
Islamitiese jurisdiksie oor Afvalligheid is afgelei van die woorde van Mohammed en die voor genoemde aksies van die Kalief en ander metgeselle. As die verwerping van een van die pilare van Islam gesien word as ‘n misdaad wat dan oorlog teen sulke mense regverdig, is dit net logies vir die voorgeskrewe straf vir afvalligheid in Islam die dood te wees. Imam Abu Hanifa’s se voorskrif soos gesien in Al-Shybani's Kitab al-Siyar verleen die afvallige ‘n gestipuleerde periode (nie meer as ‘n paar dae nie) om terug te keer na Islam of staar die doodstraf in die gesig. Al vier skole van Islamitiese regspraak stem ooreen met die uitspraak, met slegs geringe variasies of ‘n grasie periode toegelaat moet word. Die Hanafi skool van Islamitiese regspraak glo vroulike Afvalliges is ‘n uitsondering op die reël en moet nie dood gemaak word nie maar geslaan moet word en onder bevalling geplaas word todat sy sterf of berou toon, terwyl die oorblywende Shafi'i, Maliki en Hanbali skole almal ooreen stem dat die straf vir vroulike Afvalligheid dieselfde is as die van ‘n man.
Moderne Moslems
Vir byna 1400 jaar was die straf vir Afvalligheid die dood. Dis net onlangs wat dit aan gespreek is deur hoofsaaklik  ‘n paar ‘apologists‘ van die sowat 3% van die wêreld se Moslems wie in meer ontwikkelde gedeeltes van die wêreld bly. ‘n ‘‘Pew  opname‘‘ wat vrygestel is op die 2de, Desember, 2010, het gevind dat tot op vandag die meerderheid van Moslems ten gunste is om bestaande wetgewing in hulle eie lande te verander om steniging vir egbreuk, hand afkap vir diefstal, en die dood vir die wie Islam verlaat toe te laat.
Om jou ‘n idee te gee oor die getalle waarvan ons praat, gebruik ons Pakistan as ‘n voorbeeld; die 2010 opname het gevind dat 76% van Pakistanis saamstem dat Afvalliges moet dood gemaak word. In ‘n land met ‘n bevolking van 172,800,000 (96% van wie Moslem is), dit is 126,074,880 individue in ‘n enkele land. Aan die ander kant, slegs ‘n karige 13% van Moslems is teen die dood vir Afvalliges. As ons die posisie in neem dat Moslems wie sulke standpunte ekstremiste is, dan moet ons ook toegee dat die meerderheid van die  wêreld se Moslems ekstremiste is. Hulle is nie ‘n minderheid groep met belaglike idees nie.
Met alles in ag geneem, kan ons tot die slotsom kom dat vanuit godsdienstige tekste, geskiedenis en selfs die opinie van moderne Moslems dat die beslissing binne Islam is om Afvalliges dood te maak as hulle weier om terug te keer na Islam. Die beslissing is ook dieselfde binne die Shi’te sekte wie saam met die Sunnis bykans die hele wêreld se Moslem bevolking opmaak.
Primêre Artikels
Die volgende is opsommings van bladsye waarop Islam bespreek is t.o.v. Afvalligheid:
Islamitiese skrif en Afvalligheid
Hoof Artikel: Koraan, Hadith en Skoliere: Afvalligheid
Die bladsy kwoteer gesaghebbende Islamitiese bronne soos die Koraan, Hadith, en beide klassieke en moderne skoliere om jou ‘n akkurate beeld van wat Islam leer m.v.t. Afvalligheid.
Komentaar 'Abdullah: Allah se dissipel sê, ‘’Die bloed van ‘n Moslem wie bely dat geeneen die reg het om aanbid te word behalwe Allah en dat ek sy dissipel is, kan nie gespil word behalwe in drie gevalle: In Qisas vir moord, ‘n getroude persoon wie onwettige seks het buite die huwelik en die een wie weg beweeg van Islam en die Moslems verlaat.‘‘


Sahih Bukhari9: 83: 17Sahih Bukhari 9:83:17
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR TRANSLATIONS:  
Komentaar Ikrima: ‘’Ali het sommige mense verbrand en die nuus daarvan het Ibn Abbas bereik wie gesê het, ‘As ek in sy plek was sou ek hulle nie verbrand het, soos die profeet gesê het ‚‘ Moet nie ‘n persoon straf met Allah se straf nie. Daar is geen twyfel, ek sou hulle dood gemaak het, want die profeet het gesê, As iemand (‘n Moslem) sy godsdiens uit gooi, maak hom dood.’’


Sahih Bukhari4:52:260Sahih Bukhari 4:52:260
Do not translate this Core article without translating the linked articles first. Please also read the "WikiIslam:Translations" page for suggestions on which articles to translate and which to avoid. If you still have questions, post them on the "WikiIslam:Forum/Translation Project" page. Thank you.  
Afvalligheid en Mense Regte
Hoof Artikel: Afvalligheid en Mense Regte
Die volle teks was geneem van ‘n papier wat aangebied was deur Ibn Warraq by ‘n paneel bespreking oor Afvalligheid, Mense Regte, Godsdiens en Geloof wat gehou was by die 60ste Sessie van die VN se Kommissie op Mense Regte in Geneva, 18de, April, 2005
Dit is duidelik dat onder Islamitiese wetgewing moet ‘n Afvallige met die dood gestraf word. Hieroor is daar geen dispuut tussen klassieke Moslem of moderne skoliere nie…Sura II.217 word geïnterpreteer deur nie minder as die gesaghebbende al-Shafi'i (dood 820 C.E), die stigterslid van een van die vier ortodokse skole van regte in Sunni Islam, dat die dood straf voor geskryf moet word vir Afvalliges.. Sura II.217 lees:‘‘…Maar die wie herroep en sterf as ‘n ongelowige, sy werke sal kom na niks in die  wêreld en in die volgende en hulle is die metgeselle van die vuur vir altyd. Al-Thalabi en al –Khazan stem oor een daarmee. Al-Razi sê in sy komentaar oor Sura II.217 dat die Afvallige dood gemaak moet word. Dieselfde IV. 89: ‘‘Hulle sal jou geloof wegneem net soos wat hulle ongelowig is sodat julle almal dieselfde is. Moet hulle nie bevriend nie todat hulle van hulle huise gevlug het vir die saak van God. As hulle weg hardloop dan vang hulle en maak hulle dood waar jy hulle okal kry. Moet vir vriende en handlangers onder hulle soek nie…‘‘ Baydawi (dood c. 1315-16), in sy gevierde komentaar oor die Koraan interpreteer die vers soos volg: ‘‘ Wie okal sy rug op sy geloof draai ( irtada ), in die openbaar of in die geheim, vat hom en maak hom dood waar jy hom okal kry net soos enige ander ongelowige (infidel). Skei jouself van hom geheel en al. Moenie voorbidding in sy verband aanvaar nie. ‘‘ Ibn Kathir in sy komentaar oor die vers kwoteer Al Suddi (dood 745) wie gesê dat aangesien die ongelowiges hulle ongeloog laat manifesteer het behoort hulle dood gemaak te word.


Impak van Afvalligheid Wette in die Wêreld vandag
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Hoof artikel: Vervolging van Ex-Moslems
'''Apostasy''' (ارتداد, irtidād and ridda) i.e. the rejection of faith, is a serious offense in [[Islam]]. The punishment for apostasy as prescribed by Prophet [[Muhammad]] is death. A ''murtad'' (مرتد apostate) who hides his apostasy is referred to as a ''munāfiq'' (منافق hypocrite).
Voormalige Moslems word baie kere vervolg, mishandel en dood gemaak deur Moslems. Die tipe behandeling van Afvalliges is nie ‘n eenvoudige kwessie van staat-gedwingde godsdiens nie soos sommiges will voorstel nie. Die geweld of dreigemente van geweld teen afvalliges stem nie van die owerhede nie, maar van familielede en individue van binne die Islamitiese gemeenskappe wie optree sonder om gestraf te word deur die owerhede. Die punt is verder beklemtoon deur die vervolging en moord van  voormalige Moslems in baie nie-Moslem gemeenskappe. Byvoorbeeld, in 2007 moes die dogter van ‘n Britse Imam onder polisie beskerming geplaas word nadat haar pa ( ‘n leier van ‘n Moskee in Lancashire) haar met die dood gedreig het omdat sy ‘n Christen geword het.
{{Core}}
Noemenswaardige voormalige Moslems
==Introduction==
Hoof artikel: Noemenswaardige voormalige Moslems
Terwyl afvalligheid in Islam gevaarlik is, asook film sterre en ‘rappers‘, baie uitgesproke  Moslem predikante, Mullahs, Imams, skoliere, sending werkers en selfs terroriste  het afvallig geword en het ateïste, Boeddhiste, Christene, Hindoes ens. geword. Deur dit te doen het baie (insluitend Ibn Warraq en Mark Gabriel) dit op hulle self geneem om die Islamitiese ideologie teen te staan en het bekendes (celebrity) geword in hulle eie reg.
Moslems verlaat Islam by die Miljoene
Hoof artikel. Mense wie Islam verlaat het en Komentaar van Voormalige Moslems
Baie kere adverteer Moslems ( soms valslik) nuus oor hoe nie-Moslems hulle bekeer tot Islam, maar hulle vertel jou nie die ander kant van die storie nie waar Moslems ook Islam verlaat. Daar is meer Moslems vandag wie Islam verlaat as nuwe bekeerlinge na die godsdiens. In sub-Sahara alleen verlaat 6 miljoen Moslems Islam elke jaar. Eers die meerderheid godsdiens op die vasteland, hulle is vandag ‘n minderheid met die Christelike geloof in die meerderheid. Die groot getalle afvalliges in Islam is ongeken in die geskiedenis van Islam. Hier by WikiIslam  dokumenteer ons die nuus en is die gasheer vir honderde geskrewe getuienisse.
Afvalligheid bespreek in Arabiese / Islamitiese Media
Hoof artikel: Afvalligheid (Vertalings van Arabiese / Islamitiese Media)
Die gedeelte bevat Engelse vertalings van verskeie Arabiese / Islamitiese media wat afvalligheid bespreek.
Wie okal Allah beledig, die Engele, en die godsdiens het afvallig geword van Islam en het ‘n ongelowige (infidel) geword – (ooreengekom)
Die afvallige is die wetlike bevoegde een wie vrywilliglik ontrek van Islam, of hy openlik sy afvalligheid verklaar, of iets sê wat hom ‘n afvallige maak, of iets doen wat hom ‘n afvallige maak. In die geval het die man iets gesê wat hom ‘n Afvallige maak!!Hy het die godsdiens beledig, of in ander woorde, het die spot gedryf en die godsdiens verkleineer.  Ons neem dit van Islam – (ooreengekom)
Die beslissing oor die Afvallige is dat hy vergifnis moet soek binne 3 dae, en indien nie, moet hy dood gemaak word volgens die woorde van die profeet Muhammed (peace be upon him): Die bloed van ‘n Moslem is ontoelaatbaar behalwe onder een van drie voorwaardes: 1) hy pleeg egbreuk, 2) hy neem ‘n onskildige lewe, of 3) hy het sy geloof laat vaar en skei hom van sy gemeenskap ( vertel deur Al-Bukhari en Moslem van Ibn Mas’ud) 
Laat ons waaksaam wees, dienaars van Almagtige Allah, sodat ons nie sorgeloos en roekeloos wees in ons woorde en dade nie, en om Almagtige Allah te vrees in dit wat ons sê. Dit is ‘n groot ramp vir beledigings na die godsdiens en soort gelyk om  op ons tonge gevind te word instede van herinnering en dankbaarheid aan God.
Wat is die versoening vir die wie die godsdiens beledig het, en as hy die pelgrimstog (Hajj) voltooi het, moet hy dit weer onderneem? Islamic Fatwa Council of Jerusalem, February 10, 2009


===Definitions===


Opstelle
In Islam, the rejection in part (of any of the pillars, or individual principles of Islam), or discarding the faith as a whole, amounts to apostasy.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.alsunna.org/Questions-about-Apostasy-Blasphemy.html|2=2011-02-25}} Questions about Apostasy (Blasphemy)] - Al Sunna.org</ref> The punishment for apostasy in the Islamic faith is death. Though it may be argued that this is not clear through the [[Qur'an]] alone, scholars have found justification for the penalty from [[Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Apostasy|within its pages]], and there are also numerous [[Sahih]] (authentic) [[hadith]]s confirming this punishment as attested by Prophet Muhammad. In Sahih Bukhari, we see it as “Allah's Apostle said, 'Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him'”,<ref name="apostasy">M. Muhsin Khan (Translator) - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.cmje.org/religious-texts/hadith/bukhari/084-sbt.php#009.084.057|2=2011-10-30}} Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 84 - Dealing with Apostates, Number 57] - USC-MSA, [[Compendium of Muslim Texts]]</ref> and it was also one of only three reasons given by him where killing a Muslim is permitted.<ref>M. Muhsin Khan (Translator) - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.cmje.org/religious-texts/hadith/bukhari/083-sbt.php#009.083.017|2=2011-10-30}} Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 83 - Blood Money (Ad-Diyat), Number 17] - USC-MSA, [[Compendium of Muslim Texts]]</ref>
Opstelle of ‘’Op-Eds’’ weerspieël nie noodwendig die oogpunte van WikiIslam nie. Kyk na die WikiIslam: Opstelle / ‘Op-Eds‘ vir meer besonderhede.
Wenke vir Ex-Moslems
Hoof Artikel: Wenke vir Ex-Moslems
Selfs in vry en sekulêre samelewings is die lewe vir ‘n Islamitiese Afvallige dikwels moeilik en gevaarlik soos wat ‘n onlangse opname in die Verenigde Koninkryk bloot gelê het (1 uit 3 Britse Moslems tussen 16 en 24 glo dat Moslem Afvalliges tereg gestel moet word). Die artikels bied praktiese advies vir nuwe Afvalliges.


Even in free and secular societies, life for the Islamic apostate is often a difficult and dangerous one, as a recent poll in the United Kingdom found out (1 out of 3 British Muslims aged 16 to 24 believe that Muslim apostates should be executed).[18] This article offers practical advice for new apostates.
===Historical Context===
Help Andere om Islam te verlaat
 
Hoof Artikel: Verlig andere om Islam te verlaat
An evaluation of Islam's attitude to apostasy would not be complete without expounding on the political make up of the religion. Islam is essentially a tribal system that once was the social composition of Arabia in the north. Society, in its absolute sense, had never been in existence in the north prior to Islam. All that existed there were certain assemblages that never flourished or evolved into a fully fledged society for several reasons; one being, that most at that time were nomads wandering throughout the desert. Religion was not a personal but communal affair in pre-Islamic Arabia. Deserting religion thus amounted to treason and so was punishable by death. The death penalty being incorporated into Islam for apostasy is better understood when viewed through this tribal prism. Muhammad once belonged to this way of life, but reshuffled society and he did so by organizing certain tribes under one roof without sacrificing much of the already existing norms. Muhammad was successful, thus, did not venture to get rid of all pre-existing tribal prescripts. Instead, he assimilated many of them into his new religion. The prescribed punishment for apostasy was one such practice which Muhammad annexed.
‘N artikel wat fokus om andere te oortuig om Islam te verlaat. Deur belangrike kwessies en vra te ondersoek kan dit as ‘n vertrek punt dien vir verdere navorsing en bespreking. Ons moet altyd onthou om die individuele Moslem te respekteer, maar om krities te wees oor Islam.
 
‘N Afvallige Buite die Moslem Wêreld
===Early Islam===
Hoof Artikel: Rifqa Barry
 
Terwyl die vervolging van mense wie besluit om Afvallig te wees van Islam in die meer ontwikkelde gedeeltes van die wêreld, meer aandag geniet as andere, is geen ander meer gepubliseer as die van die tiener Fathima Rifqa Barry nie. As ‘n immigrant van Sri Lanka na Amerika het sy in die geheim haar bekeer het tot die Christelike geloof op die ouderdom van dertien. ‘N lid van die‘‘ Noor Islamic Cultural Center’’ het haar godsdienstige oortuigings ontdek. Die Artikel vertel haar storie.
We do not know of any apostates being killed during the lifetime of Muhammad for the specific crime of apostasy. This is largely due to the lack of individuals apostatizing during Muhammad's life. However in one Sahih Bukhari hadith, Muhammad is seen deporting a Bedouin who desired to discard his religion. This incident alone does not indicate Muhammad viewing apostasy as anything less than treason or a crime worthy of death. This alleged incident occurred during the early stages of Islam in Medina where Muhammad’s Islam and its revelations were incomplete and a far cry from the all encompassing way of life it was to become by the time of his death. After the [[Muhammad's Death|death of Muhammad]] and under the [[Caliph|Caliphate]] of Abu Bakr, many apostates had been killed during the lengthy “Riddah (apostasy) wars”. This attests to the fact that apostasy had already become a serious crime within Islam and was not some later innovation. In fact, it was a Qur’anic verse<ref>"''But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.''" - {{Quran|9|5}}</ref> which prompted Abu Bakr to fight against the people who refused to pay tithe. These people were not rejecting Islam as a whole but only refusing to abide by one of its five pillars ([[Zakat]]). As historians will testify, Abu Bakr took up arms against them in a bloody war which lasted for over a year (632–633 CE). The Caliph did not put down his arms until all rejectors were either killed or had reverted back into the fold of Islam. There are also many narrations which record Muhammad's command being followed by his [[Sahabah|companions]], with atheists,<ref name="apostasy"></ref> Christians,<ref name="Maududi">Abul Ala Maududi - [http://www.answering-islam.org/Hahn/Mawdudi/index.htm The Punishment of the Apostate According to Islamic Law] - Islamic Publications Ltd., Lahore, 1963</ref> and Jews<ref>M. Muhsin Khan (Translator) - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.cmje.org/religious-texts/hadith/bukhari/084-sbt.php#009.084.058|2=2011-10-30}} Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 84 - Dealing with Apostates, Number 58] - USC-MSA, [[Compendium of Muslim Texts]]</ref> being put to death for leaving Islam.
Voor die Bekering tot Islam
 
Hoof Artikels: Voor die Bekering tot Islam en Bekommernis Met Islam: Gedagtes van ‘n Amerikaanse Bekeerling
===Shari'ah===
Baie bekeerlinge na Islam is Christene, Jode, Hindoes, Ateïste ens., wie beweer dat hulle die lig gesien het en dat Islam is die enigste ware godsdiens. Moslems verwelkom die nuwe bekeerlinge en moedig hulle aan om hulle stories te deel op die Internet, tydskrifte en televisie. Hulle verskyn baie kere op verskeie Muslim media uitlaat punte om te demonstreer dat Islam bereik verder as net eenvoudig die wie in die geloof gebore is. Die nuwe bekeerlinge is bewyse dat Islam die waarheid is.
 
Maar die meeste individue wie bekeer selde kies om Islam objektief te bestudeer voor om so ‘n belangrike besluit te maak. Instede verkies hulle om in geneem te word deur propaganda net om te ontdek dat hulle een van die grootste foute van hulle lewe gemaak het. Dit is bevestig deur navorsing wat uit gevoer is deur die gerespekteerde Pakistani-gebore Amerikaanse Moslem Dr. Ilyas Ba-Yunus (1932 – 2007) wie ontdek het dat 75% van nuwe Moslem bekeerlinge in Amerika los Islam binne ‘n paar jaar. Die artikel poog om nie-Moslems te help om dieselfde lot te vermei wat deur miljoene Afvalliges reg oor die wêreld beleef is.
Islamic jurisdiction on Apostasy is derived from the words of Muhammad and the aforementioned actions of the Caliph and other companions. If rejecting one of the [[Five Pillars of Islam|pillars of Islam]] is considered to be a crime warranting war against such people, it is only logical for the prescribed punishment for apostasy in Islam to be death. Imam Abu Hanifa’s prescript as seen in Al-Shybani's Kitab al-Siyar grants the apostate a stipulated period (no more than a couple of days) to revert back to Islam or face the death penalty. All [[Madh'hab|four schools]] of Islamic [[Fiqh|jurisprudence]] are in agreement with this ruling, with only slight variations on whether to allow the grace period.<ref name="Maududi"></ref> The Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence believe female apostates are an exception to the rule and are not to be killed, but beaten and put under confinement until death or repentance, while the remaining Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools all agree the verdict for the female apostate is the same as for the male.<ref>'Abdurrahmani'l-Djaziri - [http://www.light-of-life.com/eng/ilaw/l5721et1.htm#p19 The Penalties for Apostasy in Islam According to the Four Schools of Islamic Law] - "The Case of the Female Apostate" (Pg. 19)</ref>
Verskeidenheid (Miscellaneous)
 
Moslem belofte vir Godsdiens Vryheid
===Modern Muslims===
Hoof Artikel: Moslem Belofte vir Godsdiens Vryheid en Veiligheid van Leed vir Voormalige Moslems
 
Die Moslem Belofte vir Godsdiens Vryheid en Veiligheid van Leed vir Voormalige Moslems was gestig deur Voormalige Moslems Verenig (Former Muslims United), ‘n menslike regte organisasie gestig in September 2009 deur ‘n groep  Amerikaanse Afvalliges van Islam. Dit vra dat Amerikaanse Moslem leiers en Moslems wie in ‘n posisie van verantwoordelikheid is in Federale, staat of plaaslike regering om godsdiens vryheid te eerbiedig en die veiligheid van voormalige Moslems deur die verwerping van Islamitiese wetgewing pertinent tot fisisiese leed of die moord van die wie Islam verlaat.
For almost 1,400 years, the punishment for apostasy has been death. Only recently has this been challenged, mainly by a few [[apologists]] from among the tiny 3% of the world's Muslims living in "more-developed regions".<ref>''"As of 2010, about three-quarters of the world’s Muslims (74.1%) live in the 49 countries in which Muslims make up a majority of the population. More than a fifth of all Muslims (23.3%) live in non-Muslim-majority countries in the developing world. About 3% of the world’s Muslims live in more-developed regions, such as Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan."'' - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.pewforum.org/The-Future-of-the-Global-Muslim-Population.aspx|2=2012-12-02}} The Future of the Global Muslim Population], The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, January 27, 2011</ref> A Pew poll released on December 2, 2010,  found that even today “The majority of Muslims would favor changing current laws in their countries to “allow stoning as punishment for adultery, hand amputation for theft, and death for those who convert from Islam as their religion”.<ref>Devonia Smith - [http://www.examiner.com/political-transcripts-in-national/pew-poll-most-muslims-favor-law-to-allow-islam-stoning-amputation-death Pew Poll: Most Muslims favor law to allow Islam stoning , amputation & death] - Examiner, December 8, 2010</ref><ref>Survey Reports - [http://pewglobal.org/2010/12/02/muslims-around-the-world-divided-on-hamas-and-hezbollah/ Muslim Publics Divided on Hamas and Hezbollah] - Pew Research Center, December 2, 2010</ref>
Die Vryheid Belofte, gepaardgaande met ‘n dek brief, was gestuur na 125 leiers van Moslem organisasies op 25 September, 2009, en ook na 234 Moslems in posisies van verantwoordelikheid in regering en private organisasies op 4 Julie, 2012. Tot hede het net 2 Moslems die skriftelike belofte geteken: Dr. Zuhdi Jasser van die Amerikaanse Islamitiese Forum vir Demokrasie en Dr. Ali Alyami van die ‘Center for Democracy & Human Rights in Saudi Arabia. ‘ Prominente individue soos Dalia Mogahed is gekritiseer omdat sy nie ondersteuning vir die belofte getoon het nie.
 
Webtuistes, ‘Blogs‘ en Bronne vir Voormalige Moslems
To give you an idea of the kind of figures we are dealing with, we will use Pakistan as an example; the 2010 poll found that 76% of Pakistanis agree apostates are to be killed. In a country with a population of 172,800,000<ref>[http://www.prb.org/pdf08/08WPDS_Eng.pdf 2008 World Population Data Sheet] - Population Reference Bureau</ref> (96% of whom are Muslim)<ref>[http://www.statpak.gov.pk/depts/pco/statistics/other_tables/pop_by_religion.pdf Population By Religion] - Statistics Division, Government  of  Pakistan</ref> that would be 126,074,880 individuals in a single country. Conversely only a mere 13% of Muslims opposed killing apostates. If we are to assume the position that, Muslims who espouse such views are extremists who misunderstand the teachings of Islam, then we must also concede the fact that [[Are the Overwhelming Majority of Muslims Peaceful Moderates|the majority of Muslims in the world are extremists]]. They are not simply a fringe group.
Hoof Artikels : Islam on the Net: Ex-Muslim en Resources for Former Muslims
 
Daar is ‘n verskeidenheid webtuistes en ‘Blogs’ wat deur voormalige Moslems geskep is. Ons bied skakels (links) en ‘n kort opvatting van baie van hulle (voeg jou tuiste). Ons bied ook aan ‘n hulpbronne blaai gemik op voormalige Moslems wat skakel na sommige webtuistes en forums vir intergeloof besprekings, netwerking en soort gelyke dinge. Sienings op daai webtuistes is nie noodwendig die van WikiIslam nie.
So with all points considered, we can rightly conclude from religious texts, history and even modern Muslim opinion, that the ruling of Islam is to put apostates to death if they refuse to revert back to their Islamic faith. This ruling remains true even among the [[Shiite|Shi'ite]] sect,<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://formermuslimsunited.org/?page_id=2169|2=2011-10-04}} A Shiite Opinion on Apostasy] - Originally from Kayhan International, March 1986</ref>  whom together with the [[Sunni]]s constitute almost the entirety of the world's Muslim population.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/comparison_charts/islamic_sects.htm|2=2011-10-04}} Comparison of Sunni and Shia Islam] - ReligionFacts, accessed October 4, 2011</ref><ref>Tracy Miller - [http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population] - Pew Research Center, October 2009</ref>
 
==Primary Articles==
 
The following are summaries of pages discussing Islam, in relation to Apostasy:
 
===Islamic Writing and Apostasy===
{{Main|Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Apostasy}}
 
This page simply quotes authoritative Islamic sources, i.e. the Qur'an, hadith, and both classical and modern scholars, to provide you with an accurate picture of what Islam teaches in regards to apostasy.
 
{{ quote |{{Bukhari|9|83|17}} |  Narrated 'Abdullah:
 
Allah's Apostle said, "The blood of a Muslim who confesses that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that I am His Apostle, cannot be shed except in three cases: In Qisas for murder, a married person who commits illegal sexual intercourse and the one who reverts from Islam (apostate) and leaves the Muslims." }}
 
{{ quote |{{Bukhari|4|52|260}} | Narrated Ikrima:
 
Ali burnt some people and this news reached Ibn 'Abbas, who said, "Had I been in his place I would not have burnt them, as the Prophet said, 'Don't punish (anybody) with Allah's Punishment.' No doubt, I would have killed them, for the Prophet said, 'If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.' "}}
 
===Apostasy and Human Rights===
{{Main|Apostasy and Human Rights}}
The full text taken from a paper that was presented by Ibn Warraq at a panel discussion on "Apostasy, Human Rights, Religion and Belief" held at the the 60<sup>th</sup> Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, held in Geneva, 18<sup>th</sup> April 2005.
 
{{Quote||It is clear quite clear that under Islamic Law an apostate must be put to death. There is no dispute on this ruling among classical Muslim or modern scholars... Sura II.217 is interpreted by no less an authority than al-Shafi'i(died 820 C.E.), the founder of one of the four orthodox schools of law of Sunni Islam to mean that the death penalty should be prescribed for apostates. Sura II.217 reads: "... But whoever of you recants and dies an unbeliever , his works shall come to nothing in this world and the next, and they are the companions of the fire for ever." Al-Thalabi and al -Khazan concur. Al-Razi in his commentary on II:217 says the apostate should be killed .
 
Similarly, IV. 89: "They would have you disbelieve as they themselves have disbelieved, so that you may be all like alike. Do not befriend them until they have fled their homes for the cause of God. If they desert you seize them and put them to death wherever you find them. Look for neither friends nor helpers among them..." Baydawi (died c. 1315-16), in his celebrated commentary on the Koran, interprets this passage to mean: "Whosover turns back from his belief ( irtada ), openly or secretly, take him and kill him wheresoever ye find him, like any other infidel. Separate yourself from him altogether .Do not accept intercession in his regard". Ibn Kathir in his commentary on this passage quoting Al Suddi (died 745) says that since the unbelievers had manifested their unbelief they should be killed.}}
 
===Real-World Impact of Apostasy Laws===
{{Main|Persecution of Ex-Muslims}}
 
Former Muslims are often persecuted, abused and killed by Muslims. This treatment of apostates is not simply down to the issue of state-enforced religion as some may suggest. The violence or threats of violence against apostates in the Muslim world usually derives, not from government authorities, but from family members and individuals from the Islamic communities themselves, who operate very often with impunity from the government. This point is further emphasized by the persecution and murder of former Muslims which has now become evident in many non-Muslim societies. For example, in 2007 the daughter of a British Imam was taken under police protection after receiving death threats from her father (a leader of a mosque in Lancashire) for converting to Christianity.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.standard.co.uk/news/imams-daughter-in-hiding-after-her-conversion-to-christianity-sparked-death-threats-7291664.html|2=2012-10-12}} Imam's daughter in hiding after her conversion to Christianity sparked death threats] - London Evening Standard, December 6, 2007</ref>
 
===Notable Former Muslims===
{{Main|Notable Former Muslims}}
 
Whilst apostatizing from the Islamic faith is a dangerous thing to do, in addition to movie stars and rappers, many outspoken Muslim preachers, mullahs, imams, scholars, missionaries and even terrorists have apostatized and become atheists, Buddhists, Christians, Hindu's etc. In doing so, many (including Ibn Warraq and Mark Gabriel) have taken it upon themselves to oppose the Islamic ideology and have become celebrities in their own right.
 
===Muslims Leaving Islam by the Millions===
{{Main|People Who Left Islam|Comments from Former Muslims}}
 
Muslims often (sometimes [[Fake Conversions|falsely]]) advertise news of non-Muslims converting to Islam, but they do not tell the other side of the story, where Muslims are also leaving Islam. There are more Muslims leaving Islam today than there are new converts joining it.<ref>[http://www.formermuslims.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=972 6 Million Muslims LEAVE Islam every year!] Shiekh Ahmed Katani, speaking with Maher Abdallah</ref> In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, 6 million Muslims are leaving Islam each and every year. Once the majority faith of the continent, they are now the minority with Christianity being the majority. The sheer volume of recent apostates is unprecedented in the history of Islam. Here at WikiIslam, we document this news and host hundreds of written testimonies.
 
===Apostasy Discussed in Arabic/Islamic Media===
{{Main|Apostasy (Translations of Arabic/Islamic Media)}}
 
This hub page contains English translations of various Arabic/Islamic media discussing apostasy.
 
{{Quote|1=[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.fatawah.com/Fatawah/348.aspx|2=2011-04-21}} What is the expiation for he who insults the religion, and if he has performed the hajj, does he need to perform it (again)?]<BR>Islamic Fatwa Council of Jerusalem, February 10, 2009|2=Whoever insults Allah, the angels, and the religion, has apostatized from Islam, and become an infidel -- (agreed).
 
The apostate is the legally competent one who voluntarily withdraws from Islam, whether he openly declares his infidelity, or utters something which makes him an infidel, or does something which makes him an infidel. In this case, this man has uttered something which makes him an infidel! For he insulted the religion, or in other words mocked, ridiculed, and belittled it. We take this from Islam -- (agreed).
 
The ruling on the apostate is for him to seek forgiveness within three days, and if not he is killed, according to the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him): "The blood of a Muslim man is not permissible except under one of three conditions:  1) he commits adultery, 2) he takes an innocent life, or 3) he abandons his religion and separates himself from the community" (narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim from Ibn Mas'ud).
 
Let us beware, servants of Almighty Allah, to not be careless or reckless in our words and deeds, and to fear Almighty Allah in that which we say. For it is a great disaster for insults to the religion and the like to be found on our tongues, rather than remembrance and thanks for Almighty Allah.}}
 
==Essays==
 
Essays or op-eds do not necessarily reflect the views of WikiIslam. See the [[WikiIslam:Essays/Op-Eds Disclaimer]] for more details.
 
===Helpful Hints for Ex-Muslims===
{{Main|Helpful Hints for Ex-Muslims}}
 
Even in free and secular societies, life for the Islamic apostate is often a difficult and dangerous one, as a recent poll in the United Kingdom found out (1 out of 3 British Muslims aged 16 to 24 believe that Muslim apostates should be executed).<ref>Stephen Bates - [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/thinktanks/story/0,,2000984,00.html More young Muslims back sharia, says poll] - The Guardian, January 29, 2007</ref> This article offers practical advice for new apostates.
 
===Help Others to Leave Islam===
{{Main|Enlightening Others to Leave Islam}}
 
An article that focuses on convincing others to leave Islam. By examining important issues and questions, it can serve as a starting point for further research and discussion. We should always remember to respect the individual Muslim, but be critical of Islam.  
 
===An Apostate Outside of the Muslim World===
{{Main|Rifqa Bary}}
 
While the persecution of people who decide to apostatize from Islam in the more-developed regions of the world has been acknowledged by some, no case has been more publicized than that of teenager Fathima Rifqa Bary. As a Sri Lankan immigrant to the U.S. Rifqa secretly converted to Christianity aged thirteen. In June 2009, Rifqa's religious beliefs were discovered by a member of the Noor Islamic Cultural Center. This article tells her story.
 
===Before Converting to Islam===
{{Main|Before Converting to Islam|Concerns with Islam: Thoughts from an American Convert}}
 
Many converts to Islam are Christians, Jews, Hindus, atheists etc., who claim to have seen the light and believe that Islam is the one and only true religion. Muslims welcome these new converts and encourage them to share their stories on the Internet, magazines, and television. They are often featured on various Muslim media outlets to demonstrate that Islam's appeal reaches further than simply those who are born into the faith. To Muslims these new converts are proof that Islam is the truth.
 
However, most individuals who convert rarely choose to study Islam objectively before making such an important decision. Instead they choose to be taken in by the propaganda, only to discover that they have made one of the biggest mistakes of their lives. This is confirmed with research carried out by the respected Pakistani-born American Muslim Dr. Ilyas Ba-Yunus (1932 - 2007),<ref> Dr. Ilyas Ba-Yunus, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, State University of New York at Cortland</ref><ref>Faraz Rabbani, Former SunniPath Instructor - [http://blog.sunnipath.com/2007/10/05/dr-ilyas-ba-yunus-pioneer-msa-and-isna-activist-leader-passes-away/ Dr. Ilyas Ba-Yunus – Pioneer MSA and ISNA Activist & Leader Passes Away] - SunniPath, October 5, 2007</ref> who found that 75% of new Muslim converts in the US leave Islam within a few years.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.radioislam.com/_asx/PublicAffairs/whynewmleave.asx|2=2011-11-19}} Listen to the clip] detailing this research ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8EC8-aVlrE listen on Youtube])</ref> This article aims to help non-Muslims avoid the same fate suffered by millions of apostates around the globe.
 
==Miscellaneous==
 
===Muslim Pledge for Religious Freedom===
{{Main|Muslim Pledge for Religious Freedom and Safety from Harm for Former Muslims}}
 
The Muslim Pledge for Religious Freedom and Safety from Harm for Former Muslims was created by Former Muslims United (FMU), a civil rights organization formed in September 2009 by a group of American apostates from Islam. It asks American Muslim leaders and Muslims in a position of responsibility in federal, state or local government to honor the religious freedom and safety of former Muslims by rejecting Islamic laws pertaining to physically harming or killing those who leave Islam.
 
The Freedom Pledge, along with a covering letter, was sent to 125 leaders of Muslim organizations on September 25, 2009, and again to 234 Muslims in positions of responsibility in government and private organizations on July 4, 2012. To date, only two Muslims have signed the pledge: Dr. Zuhdi Jasser of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy and Dr. Ali Alyami of the Center for Democracy & Human Rights in Saudi Arabia. Prominent individuals such as Dalia Mogahed have been criticized for not showing support for the pledge.
 
===Websites, Blogs and Resources for Former Muslims===
{{Main|Islam on the Net: Ex-Muslim|Resources for Former Muslims}}
 
There are a number of websites and blogs created by former Muslims. We offer links and a brief summary to many of them ({{plainlink|url=http://www.wikiislam.com/wiki/index.php?title=List_Islam:_Add_site&action=edit&section=2 add your site}}). We also offer a resource page aimed at former Mulsims that links to some websites and forums for interfaith discussions and exploration, networking and support. Views expressed on these websites are not necessarily endorsed by WikiIslam.
 
===Videos Documenting Persecution of Ex-Muslims===
{{Main|Videos on Islam: Islamic Persecution}}
 
*{{flag|the United Kingdom}} UK - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXF-rJAOHGQ Persecution of 3000 Muslim Converts to Christianity]
*{{flag|Turkey}} Turkey - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLGt2skCVhk Muslim converts to Christianity face upto 3 year jail]
*{{flag|Germany}} Germany - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxAf_t0_IB8&feature=PlayList&p=7CF74F7D5EB58567&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=11 Persecution of Muslim Converts to Christianity]
*{{flag|Egypt}} Egypt - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niVL_LQEpco&feature=PlayList&p=7CF74F7D5EB58567&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=9  Persecution of Muslim Converts to Christianity]
*{{flag|Malaysia}} Malaysia - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08AeiUoont0 Persecution of Muslim Converts to Christianity]
 
==See Also==
 
'''Articles'''
 
* [[Converts to Islam]]
* [[Fake Conversions]]
* [[Islam and Freedom of Speech]]
 
'''Multimedia'''
 
* [[Videos on Islam: Former Muslims Speak about Islam]]
* [[Videos on Islam:Christianity|Videos on Islam: Muslim Converts to Christianity]]
 
'''Satire'''
 
* [[Farsideology: Lesson 7 - Apostates]]
 
{{Translation-links-english|[[Uvod do problematiky odpadlictvi v Islamu|Czech]], [[Une introduction a lapostasie dans lislam|French]]}}
 
'''Other Core Articles'''
 
''Core articles contain an overview of other articles related to a specific issue, and serve as a starting point for anyone wishing to learn about Islam:''
 
* [[Islam and Homosexuality]]
* [[Islam and Miracles]]
* [[Islam and Pedophilia]]
* [[Islam and Propaganda]]
* [[Islam and Science]]
* [[Islam and Scripture]]
* [[Islam and the People of the Book]]
* [[Islam and Violence]]
* [[Islam and Women]]
 
==External Links==
 
* [http://www.answering-islam.org/Index/A/apostasy.html Apostasy] ''- Answering Islam''
*[http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=ia&ID=IA20805 Accusing Muslim Intellectuals of Apostasy] ''- Aluma Dankowitz, MEMRI: Inquiry and Analysis No. 208, February, 18,2005''
* [http://www.faithfreedom.org/2009/06/11/apostasy-in-islam/ Apostasy in Islam] ''- Ibn Kammuna''
* [http://frontpagemag.com/2010/10/12/throwing-apostates-to-the-wolves/ Throwing Apostates to the Wolves] ''- Nonie Darwish''
 
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
 
[[Category:Core Article]]
[[Category:Apostasy]]
[[Category:Islamic Law]]
__NOEDITSECTION__

Revision as of 17:24, 4 March 2015

Apostasy (ارتداد, irtidād and ridda) i.e. the rejection of faith, is a serious offense in Islam. The punishment for apostasy as prescribed by Prophet Muhammad is death. A murtad (مرتد apostate) who hides his apostasy is referred to as a munāfiq (منافق hypocrite).

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This is a core topic which contains summaries
of WikiIslam articles related to it

Introduction

Definitions

In Islam, the rejection in part (of any of the pillars, or individual principles of Islam), or discarding the faith as a whole, amounts to apostasy.[1] The punishment for apostasy in the Islamic faith is death. Though it may be argued that this is not clear through the Qur'an alone, scholars have found justification for the penalty from within its pages, and there are also numerous Sahih (authentic) hadiths confirming this punishment as attested by Prophet Muhammad. In Sahih Bukhari, we see it as “Allah's Apostle said, 'Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him'”,[2] and it was also one of only three reasons given by him where killing a Muslim is permitted.[3]

Historical Context

An evaluation of Islam's attitude to apostasy would not be complete without expounding on the political make up of the religion. Islam is essentially a tribal system that once was the social composition of Arabia in the north. Society, in its absolute sense, had never been in existence in the north prior to Islam. All that existed there were certain assemblages that never flourished or evolved into a fully fledged society for several reasons; one being, that most at that time were nomads wandering throughout the desert. Religion was not a personal but communal affair in pre-Islamic Arabia. Deserting religion thus amounted to treason and so was punishable by death. The death penalty being incorporated into Islam for apostasy is better understood when viewed through this tribal prism. Muhammad once belonged to this way of life, but reshuffled society and he did so by organizing certain tribes under one roof without sacrificing much of the already existing norms. Muhammad was successful, thus, did not venture to get rid of all pre-existing tribal prescripts. Instead, he assimilated many of them into his new religion. The prescribed punishment for apostasy was one such practice which Muhammad annexed.

Early Islam

We do not know of any apostates being killed during the lifetime of Muhammad for the specific crime of apostasy. This is largely due to the lack of individuals apostatizing during Muhammad's life. However in one Sahih Bukhari hadith, Muhammad is seen deporting a Bedouin who desired to discard his religion. This incident alone does not indicate Muhammad viewing apostasy as anything less than treason or a crime worthy of death. This alleged incident occurred during the early stages of Islam in Medina where Muhammad’s Islam and its revelations were incomplete and a far cry from the all encompassing way of life it was to become by the time of his death. After the death of Muhammad and under the Caliphate of Abu Bakr, many apostates had been killed during the lengthy “Riddah (apostasy) wars”. This attests to the fact that apostasy had already become a serious crime within Islam and was not some later innovation. In fact, it was a Qur’anic verse[4] which prompted Abu Bakr to fight against the people who refused to pay tithe. These people were not rejecting Islam as a whole but only refusing to abide by one of its five pillars (Zakat). As historians will testify, Abu Bakr took up arms against them in a bloody war which lasted for over a year (632–633 CE). The Caliph did not put down his arms until all rejectors were either killed or had reverted back into the fold of Islam. There are also many narrations which record Muhammad's command being followed by his companions, with atheists,[2] Christians,[5] and Jews[6] being put to death for leaving Islam.

Shari'ah

Islamic jurisdiction on Apostasy is derived from the words of Muhammad and the aforementioned actions of the Caliph and other companions. If rejecting one of the pillars of Islam is considered to be a crime warranting war against such people, it is only logical for the prescribed punishment for apostasy in Islam to be death. Imam Abu Hanifa’s prescript as seen in Al-Shybani's Kitab al-Siyar grants the apostate a stipulated period (no more than a couple of days) to revert back to Islam or face the death penalty. All four schools of Islamic jurisprudence are in agreement with this ruling, with only slight variations on whether to allow the grace period.[5] The Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence believe female apostates are an exception to the rule and are not to be killed, but beaten and put under confinement until death or repentance, while the remaining Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools all agree the verdict for the female apostate is the same as for the male.[7]

Modern Muslims

For almost 1,400 years, the punishment for apostasy has been death. Only recently has this been challenged, mainly by a few apologists from among the tiny 3% of the world's Muslims living in "more-developed regions".[8] A Pew poll released on December 2, 2010, found that even today “The majority of Muslims would favor changing current laws in their countries to “allow stoning as punishment for adultery, hand amputation for theft, and death for those who convert from Islam as their religion”.[9][10]

To give you an idea of the kind of figures we are dealing with, we will use Pakistan as an example; the 2010 poll found that 76% of Pakistanis agree apostates are to be killed. In a country with a population of 172,800,000[11] (96% of whom are Muslim)[12] that would be 126,074,880 individuals in a single country. Conversely only a mere 13% of Muslims opposed killing apostates. If we are to assume the position that, Muslims who espouse such views are extremists who misunderstand the teachings of Islam, then we must also concede the fact that the majority of Muslims in the world are extremists. They are not simply a fringe group.

So with all points considered, we can rightly conclude from religious texts, history and even modern Muslim opinion, that the ruling of Islam is to put apostates to death if they refuse to revert back to their Islamic faith. This ruling remains true even among the Shi'ite sect,[13] whom together with the Sunnis constitute almost the entirety of the world's Muslim population.[14][15]

Primary Articles

The following are summaries of pages discussing Islam, in relation to Apostasy:

Islamic Writing and Apostasy

Main Article: Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Apostasy

This page simply quotes authoritative Islamic sources, i.e. the Qur'an, hadith, and both classical and modern scholars, to provide you with an accurate picture of what Islam teaches in regards to apostasy.

Narrated 'Abdullah: Allah's Apostle said, "The blood of a Muslim who confesses that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that I am His Apostle, cannot be shed except in three cases: In Qisas for murder, a married person who commits illegal sexual intercourse and the one who reverts from Islam (apostate) and leaves the Muslims."
Sahih Bukhari 9:83:17
Narrated Ikrima: Ali burnt some people and this news reached Ibn 'Abbas, who said, "Had I been in his place I would not have burnt them, as the Prophet said, 'Don't punish (anybody) with Allah's Punishment.' No doubt, I would have killed them, for the Prophet said, 'If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.' "
Sahih Bukhari 4:52:260

Apostasy and Human Rights

Main Article: Apostasy and Human Rights

The full text taken from a paper that was presented by Ibn Warraq at a panel discussion on "Apostasy, Human Rights, Religion and Belief" held at the the 60th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, held in Geneva, 18th April 2005.

It is clear quite clear that under Islamic Law an apostate must be put to death. There is no dispute on this ruling among classical Muslim or modern scholars... Sura II.217 is interpreted by no less an authority than al-Shafi'i(died 820 C.E.), the founder of one of the four orthodox schools of law of Sunni Islam to mean that the death penalty should be prescribed for apostates. Sura II.217 reads: "... But whoever of you recants and dies an unbeliever , his works shall come to nothing in this world and the next, and they are the companions of the fire for ever." Al-Thalabi and al -Khazan concur. Al-Razi in his commentary on II:217 says the apostate should be killed . Similarly, IV. 89: "They would have you disbelieve as they themselves have disbelieved, so that you may be all like alike. Do not befriend them until they have fled their homes for the cause of God. If they desert you seize them and put them to death wherever you find them. Look for neither friends nor helpers among them..." Baydawi (died c. 1315-16), in his celebrated commentary on the Koran, interprets this passage to mean: "Whosover turns back from his belief ( irtada ), openly or secretly, take him and kill him wheresoever ye find him, like any other infidel. Separate yourself from him altogether .Do not accept intercession in his regard". Ibn Kathir in his commentary on this passage quoting Al Suddi (died 745) says that since the unbelievers had manifested their unbelief they should be killed.

Real-World Impact of Apostasy Laws

Main Article: Persecution of Ex-Muslims

Former Muslims are often persecuted, abused and killed by Muslims. This treatment of apostates is not simply down to the issue of state-enforced religion as some may suggest. The violence or threats of violence against apostates in the Muslim world usually derives, not from government authorities, but from family members and individuals from the Islamic communities themselves, who operate very often with impunity from the government. This point is further emphasized by the persecution and murder of former Muslims which has now become evident in many non-Muslim societies. For example, in 2007 the daughter of a British Imam was taken under police protection after receiving death threats from her father (a leader of a mosque in Lancashire) for converting to Christianity.[16]

Notable Former Muslims

Main Article: Notable Former Muslims

Whilst apostatizing from the Islamic faith is a dangerous thing to do, in addition to movie stars and rappers, many outspoken Muslim preachers, mullahs, imams, scholars, missionaries and even terrorists have apostatized and become atheists, Buddhists, Christians, Hindu's etc. In doing so, many (including Ibn Warraq and Mark Gabriel) have taken it upon themselves to oppose the Islamic ideology and have become celebrities in their own right.

Muslims Leaving Islam by the Millions

Main Articles: People Who Left Islam and Comments from Former Muslims

Muslims often (sometimes falsely) advertise news of non-Muslims converting to Islam, but they do not tell the other side of the story, where Muslims are also leaving Islam. There are more Muslims leaving Islam today than there are new converts joining it.[17] In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, 6 million Muslims are leaving Islam each and every year. Once the majority faith of the continent, they are now the minority with Christianity being the majority. The sheer volume of recent apostates is unprecedented in the history of Islam. Here at WikiIslam, we document this news and host hundreds of written testimonies.

Apostasy Discussed in Arabic/Islamic Media

Main Article: Apostasy (Translations of Arabic/Islamic Media)

This hub page contains English translations of various Arabic/Islamic media discussing apostasy.

Whoever insults Allah, the angels, and the religion, has apostatized from Islam, and become an infidel -- (agreed).

The apostate is the legally competent one who voluntarily withdraws from Islam, whether he openly declares his infidelity, or utters something which makes him an infidel, or does something which makes him an infidel. In this case, this man has uttered something which makes him an infidel! For he insulted the religion, or in other words mocked, ridiculed, and belittled it. We take this from Islam -- (agreed).

The ruling on the apostate is for him to seek forgiveness within three days, and if not he is killed, according to the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him): "The blood of a Muslim man is not permissible except under one of three conditions: 1) he commits adultery, 2) he takes an innocent life, or 3) he abandons his religion and separates himself from the community" (narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim from Ibn Mas'ud).

Let us beware, servants of Almighty Allah, to not be careless or reckless in our words and deeds, and to fear Almighty Allah in that which we say. For it is a great disaster for insults to the religion and the like to be found on our tongues, rather than remembrance and thanks for Almighty Allah.
What is the expiation for he who insults the religion, and if he has performed the hajj, does he need to perform it (again)?
Islamic Fatwa Council of Jerusalem, February 10, 2009

Essays

Essays or op-eds do not necessarily reflect the views of WikiIslam. See the WikiIslam:Essays/Op-Eds Disclaimer for more details.

Helpful Hints for Ex-Muslims

Main Article: Helpful Hints for Ex-Muslims

Even in free and secular societies, life for the Islamic apostate is often a difficult and dangerous one, as a recent poll in the United Kingdom found out (1 out of 3 British Muslims aged 16 to 24 believe that Muslim apostates should be executed).[18] This article offers practical advice for new apostates.

Help Others to Leave Islam

Main Article: Enlightening Others to Leave Islam

An article that focuses on convincing others to leave Islam. By examining important issues and questions, it can serve as a starting point for further research and discussion. We should always remember to respect the individual Muslim, but be critical of Islam.

An Apostate Outside of the Muslim World

Main Article: Rifqa Bary

While the persecution of people who decide to apostatize from Islam in the more-developed regions of the world has been acknowledged by some, no case has been more publicized than that of teenager Fathima Rifqa Bary. As a Sri Lankan immigrant to the U.S. Rifqa secretly converted to Christianity aged thirteen. In June 2009, Rifqa's religious beliefs were discovered by a member of the Noor Islamic Cultural Center. This article tells her story.

Before Converting to Islam

Main Articles: Before Converting to Islam and Concerns with Islam: Thoughts from an American Convert

Many converts to Islam are Christians, Jews, Hindus, atheists etc., who claim to have seen the light and believe that Islam is the one and only true religion. Muslims welcome these new converts and encourage them to share their stories on the Internet, magazines, and television. They are often featured on various Muslim media outlets to demonstrate that Islam's appeal reaches further than simply those who are born into the faith. To Muslims these new converts are proof that Islam is the truth.

However, most individuals who convert rarely choose to study Islam objectively before making such an important decision. Instead they choose to be taken in by the propaganda, only to discover that they have made one of the biggest mistakes of their lives. This is confirmed with research carried out by the respected Pakistani-born American Muslim Dr. Ilyas Ba-Yunus (1932 - 2007),[19][20] who found that 75% of new Muslim converts in the US leave Islam within a few years.[21] This article aims to help non-Muslims avoid the same fate suffered by millions of apostates around the globe.

Miscellaneous

Muslim Pledge for Religious Freedom

Main Article: Muslim Pledge for Religious Freedom and Safety from Harm for Former Muslims

The Muslim Pledge for Religious Freedom and Safety from Harm for Former Muslims was created by Former Muslims United (FMU), a civil rights organization formed in September 2009 by a group of American apostates from Islam. It asks American Muslim leaders and Muslims in a position of responsibility in federal, state or local government to honor the religious freedom and safety of former Muslims by rejecting Islamic laws pertaining to physically harming or killing those who leave Islam.

The Freedom Pledge, along with a covering letter, was sent to 125 leaders of Muslim organizations on September 25, 2009, and again to 234 Muslims in positions of responsibility in government and private organizations on July 4, 2012. To date, only two Muslims have signed the pledge: Dr. Zuhdi Jasser of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy and Dr. Ali Alyami of the Center for Democracy & Human Rights in Saudi Arabia. Prominent individuals such as Dalia Mogahed have been criticized for not showing support for the pledge.

Websites, Blogs and Resources for Former Muslims

Main Articles: Islam on the Net: Ex-Muslim and Resources for Former Muslims

There are a number of websites and blogs created by former Muslims. We offer links and a brief summary to many of them (add your site). We also offer a resource page aimed at former Mulsims that links to some websites and forums for interfaith discussions and exploration, networking and support. Views expressed on these websites are not necessarily endorsed by WikiIslam.

Videos Documenting Persecution of Ex-Muslims

Main Article: Videos on Islam: Islamic Persecution

See Also

Articles

Multimedia

Satire

Translations

  • A version of this page is also available in the following languages: Czech, French. For additional languages, see the sidebar on the left.

Other Core Articles

Core articles contain an overview of other articles related to a specific issue, and serve as a starting point for anyone wishing to learn about Islam:

External Links

References

  1. ↑ Questions about Apostasy (Blasphemy) - Al Sunna.org
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 M. Muhsin Khan (Translator) - Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 84 - Dealing with Apostates, Number 57 - USC-MSA, Compendium of Muslim Texts
  3. ↑ M. Muhsin Khan (Translator) - Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 83 - Blood Money (Ad-Diyat), Number 17 - USC-MSA, Compendium of Muslim Texts
  4. ↑ "But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful." - Quran 9:5
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Abul Ala Maududi - The Punishment of the Apostate According to Islamic Law - Islamic Publications Ltd., Lahore, 1963
  6. ↑ M. Muhsin Khan (Translator) - Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 84 - Dealing with Apostates, Number 58 - USC-MSA, Compendium of Muslim Texts
  7. ↑ 'Abdurrahmani'l-Djaziri - The Penalties for Apostasy in Islam According to the Four Schools of Islamic Law - "The Case of the Female Apostate" (Pg. 19)
  8. ↑ "As of 2010, about three-quarters of the world’s Muslims (74.1%) live in the 49 countries in which Muslims make up a majority of the population. More than a fifth of all Muslims (23.3%) live in non-Muslim-majority countries in the developing world. About 3% of the world’s Muslims live in more-developed regions, such as Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan." - The Future of the Global Muslim Population, The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, January 27, 2011
  9. ↑ Devonia Smith - Pew Poll: Most Muslims favor law to allow Islam stoning , amputation & death - Examiner, December 8, 2010
  10. ↑ Survey Reports - Muslim Publics Divided on Hamas and Hezbollah - Pew Research Center, December 2, 2010
  11. ↑ 2008 World Population Data Sheet - Population Reference Bureau
  12. ↑ Population By Religion - Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan
  13. ↑ A Shiite Opinion on Apostasy - Originally from Kayhan International, March 1986
  14. ↑ Comparison of Sunni and Shia Islam - ReligionFacts, accessed October 4, 2011
  15. ↑ Tracy Miller - Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population - Pew Research Center, October 2009
  16. ↑ Imam's daughter in hiding after her conversion to Christianity sparked death threats - London Evening Standard, December 6, 2007
  17. ↑ 6 Million Muslims LEAVE Islam every year! Shiekh Ahmed Katani, speaking with Maher Abdallah
  18. ↑ Stephen Bates - More young Muslims back sharia, says poll - The Guardian, January 29, 2007
  19. ↑ Dr. Ilyas Ba-Yunus, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, State University of New York at Cortland
  20. ↑ Faraz Rabbani, Former SunniPath Instructor - Dr. Ilyas Ba-Yunus – Pioneer MSA and ISNA Activist & Leader Passes Away - SunniPath, October 5, 2007
  21. ↑ Listen to the clip detailing this research (listen on Youtube)
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