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

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{{QuranHadithScholarsIndex}}
{{QuranHadithScholarsIndex}}


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 of the prophet and the practice of his companions as recorded in 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.
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. [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.
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. In certain circumstances hypocrites who "turn away" are to be seized and killed.  
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}}
{{Main|Islam and Apostasy}}


==Qur'an==
==Qur'an==
===Apostates===
===Those who disbelieved after they believed===
{{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-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.}}
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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.  
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". This word (in the same Arabic verb form) occurs also in a brief passage in surah 4 (al-Nisa), which commands that hypocrites who later migrate but then "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 left Mecca.
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|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.}}
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