Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Apostasy: Difference between revisions

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All of the schools of Islamic jurisprudence agree that the punishment for an apostate, a Muslim who renounces the faith, is death. This punishment is based on both the command and the example of the prophet and the [[Rashidun Caliphs]].  
All of the schools of Islamic jurisprudence agree that the punishment for an apostate, a Muslim who renounces the faith, is death. This punishment is based on the command of the prophet mentioned and practiced by his companions according to hadiths. This tradition, even when not legislated or enforced by most modern states, brings an intense negativity over apostasy in Islam, often with personal risk or severe social consequences, and thereby maintaining a powerful deterant and silencing effect. Apostates in many cases also face [[Shari%27ah_(Islamic_Law)#Interfaith_Marriage|annulment of their marriages]] and other consequences when local religious authorities pressure families to follow Islamic law. [https://persecution.exmuslims.org/countries A maintained list of punishments for apostates] legislated in majority Muslim countries today is available.
 
Today, traditionalist Islamic scholars generally either take the view that all apostasy is punishable, or see punishment as necessary only for those who are public about their renunciation of Islam. In contrast, Islamic modernists generally point to {{Quran|2|256}}, the interpretations of which are described in the article [[Let There be no Compulsion in Religion|Let There be no Compulsion in Religion]]. The death penalty mentioned in hadiths is incompatible with this verse as interpreted by modernists, so to them it is reasonable to reject the tradition as inauthentic, in line with their relative skepticism towards the hadith corpus.
 
The Quran itself speaks of apostates in terms of Allah's punishment for them in the next world. It has yet harsher words for the hypocrites (al munafiqun). The hypocrites too "disbelieved after [their] belief", but claimed to still believe Muhammad while privately criticising and mocking him, refusing to leave Medina to strive with their wealth and lives in the cause of Allah and enjoining others to do likewise. The Quran says that Allah will give the hypocrites a painful punishment in this world and the next. Hypocrites who "turn away" are to be seized and killed if they might join the fight against the believers.
{{Main|Islam and Apostasy}}


==Qur'an==
==Qur'an==
{{Quote|{{cite quran|3|90|end=91|style=ref}}|Surely, those who disbelieve after their believing, then increase in unbelief, their repentance shall not be accepted, and these are they that go astray. Surely, those who disbelieve and die while they are unbelievers, the earth full of gold shall not be accepted from one of them, though he should offer to ransom himself with it, these it is who shall have a painful chastisement, and they shall have no helpers.}}
===Those who disbelieved after they believed===
{{Quote|{{Quran-range|4|89|90}}|They long that ye should disbelieve even as they disbelieve, that ye may be upon a level (with them). So choose not friends from them till they forsake their homes in the way of Allah; if they turn back (to enmity) then take them and kill them wherever ye find them, and choose no friend nor helper from among them, Except those who seek refuge with a people between whom and you there is a covenant, or (those who) come unto you because their hearts forbid them to make war on you or make war on their own folk. Had Allah willed He could have given them power over you so that assuredly they would have fought you. So, if they hold aloof from you and wage not war against you and offer you peace, Allah alloweth you no way against them.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran-range|3|86|91}}|How shall Allah guide a people who disbelieved after their belief and had witnessed that the Messenger is true and clear signs had come to them? And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. Those - their recompense will be that upon them is the curse of Allah and the angels and the people, all together, Abiding eternally therein. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved. Except for those who repent after that and correct themselves. For indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. Indeed, those who reject the message after their belief and then increase in disbelief - never will their [claimed] repentance be accepted, and they are the ones astray. Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers - never would the [whole] capacity of the earth in gold be accepted from one of them if he would [seek to] ransom himself with it. For those there will be a painful punishment, and they will have no helpers.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|5|54}}|O ye who believe! if any from among you turn back from his Faith, soon will Allah produce a people whom He will love as they will love Him,- lowly with the believers, mighty against the rejecters, fighting in the way of Allah, and never afraid of the reproaches of such as find fault. That is the grace of Allah, which He will bestow on whom He pleaseth. And Allah encompasseth all, and He knoweth all things.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|5|54}}|O ye who believe! if any from among you turn back from his Faith, soon will Allah produce a people whom He will love as they will love Him,- lowly with the believers, mighty against the rejecters, fighting in the way of Allah, and never afraid of the reproaches of such as find fault. That is the grace of Allah, which He will bestow on whom He pleaseth. And Allah encompasseth all, and He knoweth all things.}}
{{Quote|{{cite quran|9|11|end=12|style=ref}}|But if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, they are your brethren in faith; and We make the communications clear for a people who know.  And if they break their oaths after their agreement and (openly) revile your religion, then fight the leaders of unbelief-- surely their oaths are nothing-- so that they may desist.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|9|66}}|Make ye no excuses: ye have rejected Faith after ye had accepted it. If We pardon some of you, We will punish others amongst you, for that they are in sin.}}
{{Quote|{{cite quran|9|73|end=74|style=ref}}|O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites! Be harsh with them. Their ultimate abode is hell, a hapless journey's end. They swear by Allah that they said nothing (wrong), yet they did say the word of disbelief, and did disbelieve after their Surrender (to Allah). And they purposed that which they could not attain, and they sought revenge only that Allah by His messenger should enrich them of His bounty. If they repent it will be better for them; and if they turn away, Allah will afflict them with a painful doom in the world and the Hereafter, and they have no protecting friend nor helper in the earth.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|16|106}}|Whoso disbelieveth in Allah after his belief - save him who is forced thereto and whose heart is still content with the Faith - but whoso findeth ease in disbelief: On them is wrath from Allah. Theirs will be an awful doom.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|16|106}}|Whoso disbelieveth in Allah after his belief - save him who is forced thereto and whose heart is still content with the Faith - but whoso findeth ease in disbelief: On them is wrath from Allah. Theirs will be an awful doom.}}
{{Quote|{{cite quran|88|21|end=24|style=ref}}|Therefore do remind, for you are only a reminder. You are not a watcher over them; But whoever turns back and disbelieves, Allah will chastise him with the greatest chastisement.}}
{{Quote|{{cite quran|88|21|end=24|style=ref}}|Therefore do remind, for you are only a reminder. You are not a watcher over them; But whoever turns back and disbelieves, Allah will chastise him with the greatest chastisement.}}
===The hypocrites (al munafiqun)===
An entire surah (63, al-Munafiqun) is dedicated to the hypocrites, who were a frequent complaint in the Quran. The hypocrites (al munafiqun) too "disbelieved after [their] belief", but claimed to still follow Muhammad while refusing to help in his cause and sought to lead others to do likewise.
In a lengthy passage condemning the hypocrites in surah 9 (at-Tawbah), some of the hypocrites are denounced for secretly criticising and mocking Muhammad and the Quran, and for proposing some plan motivated by resentment (there are conflicting traditions as to what this referred). Unless they repent, it commands the believers to strive against them if "they turn away" (yatawallaw). This word occurs in the same Arabic verb form also in a brief passage in surah 4 (al-Nisa), which commands that hypocrites who "turn away" are to be seized and killed unless they are clearly not a threat or take refuge with a people protected by treaty. According to conflicting traditions this passage related either to deserters from the battle of Uhud, or to some hypocrites who had emerged from Mecca.
{{Quote|{{Quran-range|4|88|91}}|What is [the matter] with you [that you are] two groups concerning the hypocrites, while Allah has made them fall back [into error and disbelief] for what they earned. Do you wish to guide those whom Allah has sent astray? And he whom Allah sends astray - never will you find for him a way [of guidance]. They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies until they emigrate for the cause of Allah. But if they turn away, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them and take not from among them any ally or helper. Except for those who take refuge with a people between yourselves and whom is a treaty or those who come to you, their hearts strained at [the prospect of] fighting you or fighting their own people. And if Allah had willed, He could have given them power over you, and they would have fought you. So if they remove themselves from you and do not fight you and offer you peace, then Allah has not made for you a cause [for fighting] against them. You will find others who wish to obtain security from you and [to] obtain security from their people. Every time they are returned to [the influence of] disbelief, they fall back into it. So if they do not withdraw from you or offer you peace or restrain their hands, then seize them and kill them wherever you overtake them. And those - We have made for you against them a clear authorization.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran-range|4|137|138}}|Indeed, those who have believed then disbelieved, then believed, then disbelieved, and then increased in disbelief - never will Allah forgive them, nor will He guide them to a way. Give tidings to the hypocrites that there is for them a painful punishment -}}
{{Quote|{{Quran-range|9|64|68}}|They hypocrites are apprehensive lest a surah be revealed about them, informing them of what is in their hearts. Say, "Mock [as you wish]; indeed, Allah will expose that which you fear." And if you ask them, they will surely say, "We were only conversing and playing." Say, "Is it Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?" Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief. If We pardon one faction of you - We will punish another faction because they were criminals. The hypocrite men and hypocrite women are of one another. They enjoin what is wrong and forbid what is right and close their hands. They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them [accordingly]. Indeed, the hypocrites - it is they who are the defiantly disobedient. Allah has promised the hypocrite men and hypocrite women and the disbelievers the fire of Hell, wherein they will abide eternally. It is sufficient for them. And Allah has cursed them, and for them is an enduring punishment.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran-range|9|73|74}}|O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites! Be harsh with them. Their ultimate abode is hell, a hapless journey's end. They swear by Allah that they said nothing (wrong), yet they did say the word of disbelief, and did disbelieve after their Surrender (to Allah). And they purposed that which they could not attain, and they sought revenge only that Allah by His messenger should enrich them of His bounty. If they repent it will be better for them; and if they turn away, Allah will afflict them with a painful doom in the world and the Hereafter, and they have no protecting friend nor helper in the earth.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran-range|63|1|3}}|When the hypocrites come to you, [O Muhammad], they say, "We testify that you are the Messenger of Allah." And Allah knows that you are His Messenger, and Allah testifies that the hypocrites are liars. They have taken their oaths as a cover, so they averted [people] from the way of Allah. Indeed, it was evil that they were doing.That is because they believed, and then they disbelieved; so their hearts were sealed over, and they do not understand.}}


==Hadith==
==Hadith==
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{{Quote|{{Al Nasai||5|37|4063}}|Ibn 'Abbas said:
{{Quote|{{Al Nasai||5|37|4063}}|Ibn 'Abbas said:
"The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'Whoever changes his religion, kill him.'"}}
"The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'Whoever changes his religion, kill him.'"}}
{{Quote|{{Al Nasai||5|45|4747}}|It was narrated from 'Aishah, the Mother of the Believers, that the Messenger of Allah said:
"It is not permissible to kill a Muslim except in one of three cases: A adulterer who has been married, who is to be stoned; a man who kills a Muslim deliberately; and a man who leaves Islam and wages war against Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, and His Messenger, who is to be killed, crucified or banished from the land."}}


{{Quote|{{Al Nasai||5|37|4073}}|It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said:
{{Quote|{{Al Nasai||5|37|4073}}|It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said:
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===Ibn Ishaq===
===Ibn Ishaq===


{{Quote|{{citation|title=The Life of Muhammad|trans_title=Sirat Rasul Allah|ISBN=0-19-636033-1|year=1955|publisher=Oxford UP|author1=Ibn Ishaq (d. 768)|author2=Ibn Hisham (d. 833)|editor=A. Guillaume|url=https://archive.org/details/GuillaumeATheLifeOfMuhammad/page/n1/mode/2up|page=550}}<br> {{citation|title=سيرة ابن هشام ت السقا|author1=ابن إسحاق|author2=ابن هشام|url=https://app.turath.io/book/23833|publisher=al-Maktabah al-Shamilah|volume=volume 2|page=409}}|"The apostle had instructed his commanders when they entered Mecca only to fight those who resisted them, except a small number who were to be killed even if they were found beneath the curtains of the Kaba. Among them was Abdullah Sa'd, brother of the B. Amir Luayy. '''The reason he ordered him to be killed was that he had been a Muslim and used to write down revelation; then he apostatized''' and returned to Quraysh [Mecca] and fled to Uthman Affan whose foster brother he was. The latter hid him until he brought him to the apostle after the situation in Mecca was tranquil, and asked that he might be granted immunity. They allege that the apostle remained silent for a long time till finally he [Muhammad] said yes [granting Abdullah immunity from the execution order].  
{{Quote|{{citation|title=The Life of Muhammad|trans_title=Sirat Rasul Allah|ISBN=0-19-636033-1|year=1955|publisher=Oxford UP|author1=Ibn Ishaq (d. 768)|author2=Ibn Hisham (d. 833)|editor=A. Guillaume|url=https://archive.org/details/GuillaumeATheLifeOfMuhammad/page/n1/mode/2up|page=550}}<br> {{citation|title=سيرة ابن هشام ت السقا|author1=ابن إسحاق|author2=ابن هشام|url=https://app.turath.io/book/23833|publisher=al-Maktabah al-Shamilah|volume=vol. 2|page=409}}|"The apostle had instructed his commanders when they entered Mecca only to fight those who resisted them, except a small number who were to be killed even if they were found beneath the curtains of the Kaba. Among them was Abdullah Sa'd, brother of the B. Amir Luayy. '''The reason he ordered him to be killed was that he had been a Muslim and used to write down revelation; then he apostatized''' and returned to Quraysh [Mecca] and fled to Uthman Affan whose foster brother he was. The latter hid him until he brought him to the apostle after the situation in Mecca was tranquil, and asked that he might be granted immunity. They allege that the apostle remained silent for a long time till finally he [Muhammad] said yes [granting Abdullah immunity from the execution order].  


When Uthman had left he [Muhammad] said to his companions who were sitting around him, ‘I kept silent so that one of you might get up and strike off his head!’ One of the Ansar said, "Then why didn't you give me a sign, O apostle of God?’ He answered that a prophet does not kill by pointing."}}
When Uthman had left he [Muhammad] said to his companions who were sitting around him, ‘I kept silent so that one of you might get up and strike off his head!’ One of the Ansar said, "Then why didn't you give me a sign, O apostle of God?’ He answered that a prophet does not kill by pointing."}}
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Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 21/234-231.}}
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 21/234-231.}}


{{Quote|1=[http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?cid=1119503547222&pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaEAskTheScholar Source of the Punishment for Apostasy]<BR>Group of Muftis, Islam Online, July 26, 2003|2=Speaking of the authority of the punishment and its being genuine and based on the authentic sources of Islam, Sheikh `Attiyah Saqr, former Head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, states:
{{Quote|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100419182404/https://islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?cid=1119503547222&pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaEAskTheScholar<BR>Group of Muftis, Islam Online, July 26, 2003 Source of the Punishment for Apostasy ]|2=Speaking of the authority of the punishment and its being genuine and based on the authentic sources of Islam, Sheikh `Attiyah Saqr, former Head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, states:


"It is not right to deny the punishment of apostasy claiming that it has not been reported in the Qur'an, because it has been recorded in the mutawatir (Hadith which has been reported by at least four of the Companions in different times and places in a way that make a person sure that such Hadith is not fabricated) and the non-mutawatir Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him). Hudud (Islamic punishment specified for certain crimes) may, of course, be based on the non-mutawatir Sunnah."
"It is not right to deny the punishment of apostasy claiming that it has not been reported in the Qur'an, because it has been recorded in the mutawatir (Hadith which has been reported by at least four of the Companions in different times and places in a way that make a person sure that such Hadith is not fabricated) and the non-mutawatir Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him). Hudud (Islamic punishment specified for certain crimes) may, of course, be based on the non-mutawatir Sunnah."
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[[Category:Hudud (punishments)]]
[[Category:Hudud (punishments)]]
[[Category:Human rights]]
[[Category:Human rights]]
[[ar:القرآن_والحديث_والعلماء:_الردة]]
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