By Amil Imani
Are you fed up with numerous daily horrific acts that are clearly committed under the banner of Islam throughout the world? Are you tired of hearing it? Well, so am I. However, I have to inform you that it is only going to get worse before it finally disappears into the dustbin of history. The savagery and variety of actions of Islamic extremists are seen daily around the globe committed under the banner of Islam, have become so commonplace that the world has come to view them as the normal part and parcel of a troubled humanity. And, from time-to-time, the world is shocked into a passing and momentary realization of the evil deeds these Islamist robots commit and quickly gets over it and does nothing to seriously address this affliction of humanity.
Numerous criminal acts are also committed on a daily basis, by non-Muslims. The critical difference is that non-Muslim criminals do not hoist a religious banner to justify their misdeeds, while Muslims proudly claim that they commit their heinous acts in obedience to the dictates of their religious faith.
Humanity is facing a deeply troubling dilemma. On the one hand is the desire of enlightened people whose aim it is to forge a world of diverse people into one universal society ruled by peace and justice for everyone while, on the other, Islamists are hell-bent on imposing their Stone-Age system on everyone. Tellingly, the Muslims themselves are at one another’s throat regarding which of dozens of Islamic sects’ dogma should rule.
Right from the start, violence served as the engine of Islam under the command and supervision of Muhammad himself. For one, the Prophet’s son-in-law cousin, Ali, was titled the Commander of the Faithful for his unsurpassed feats of butchery. Ali with the assistance of one or two of his thugs, beheaded some seven hundred captives, most of them Jews, in only one day. This man, highly esteemed by the prophet of Allah, had a sword that had its own name—Zolfaquar. Ali’s portrait, holding the menacing sword, adorns the homes and shops throughout Shi’a’-lands. And the Shiites, at the same level as Muhammad, revere Muhammad’s executioner, Imam Ali.
On the Sunni side, Muhammad’s co-revered is Umar, another unabashed killer of untold numbers. And of course the choice weapon of these champions of the religion of peace was the sword. And to this day, a sword adorns the flag of the birthplace of the religion of peace, Saudi Arabia.
And Islam, by the nature of its very doctrine, appeals to man’s baser nature. It promotes intolerance, hatred, discrimination, and much more:
Qur’an:61:2 “O Muslims, why say one thing and do another? Grievously odious and hateful is it in the sight of Allah that you say that which you do not. Truly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in a battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure.
Truth be told as bitter as it may be. Islam is a violent ideology. Islam is anything but a religion of peace. Violence is at the very core of Islam. Violence is institutionalized in the Muslim’s holy book, the Quran, in many suras:
Qur’an:9:5 “Fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, take them captive, harass them, lie in wait and ambush them using every stratagem of war.”
Qur’an:9:112 “The Believers fight in Allah’s cause; they slay and are slain, kill and are killed.”
Qur’an:8:39 “So fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief [non-Muslims]) and all submit to the religion of Allah alone (in the whole world).”
Qur’an:8:65 “O Prophet, urge the faithful to fight. If there are twenty among you with determination they will vanquish two hundred; if there are a hundred then they will slaughter a thousand unbelievers, for the infidels are a people devoid of understanding.”
Truth is not always welcome and can often be greatly disturbing. But truth is the best weapon against evil and falsehood. When I point out the horrific teachings of the Quran, I don’t make them up. I cite surahs from their holy book, surahs that exhort Muslims to carry out all kinds of evil deeds against non-Muslims. This book of Allah is a license to kill. When I point out that Muhammad set terrible examples for his followers by his own deeds, I cite from their own sources to document my assertion.
Is there anyone in this messed-up world who doesn’t read, see, or hear about the daily Islamic atrocities performed by these savages, with every act justified on the basis of Allah’s holy book?
Qur’an 8:12 “I shall terrorize the infidels. So wound their bodies and incapacitate them because they oppose Allah and His Apostle.”
Self-described doctors of Islamic ideology universally practice sugarcoating the cult of Islam. They keep ranting about the importance of accepting things on faith, denigrate reason, dangle carrots and sticks, and demand unconditional surrender in return for guaranteed bliss and salvation. The masses toe the line, support the clergy’s lavish parasitic lifestyle and the charade continues. It works like a charm. Use the Jihad of the sword when it can and use the “Soft Jihad” until the sword can be unsheathed to finish the job. And don’t forget, the end justifies any and all means, Islam apologists keep on preaching to the hordes.
Islam apologists never present the naked face of Islam. They never speak of the Islam that thrives on hate, throws acid in the face of women who fail to don the hijab or girls going to school; flogging people for sporting non-Islamic haircuts, stoning to death, violators of sexual norms and other forms of Islamic brutalities such as Honor Killing. They never talk about institutionalized pedophilia in Islam.
Moderate Muslims dilemma
In my opinion, cultural Muslims (Muslims in name only), or better known in the west as “Moderate Muslims” are a wavering segment who are caught between their imprinted belief in Islam, their disillusionment and problem with many aspects of the secular society, and their personal fantasies.
These people will continue wavering and reach for any straw to balance themselves. Not an easy task. Being a Muslim, no matter how little a Muslim, gives these vast numbers of people, many bewildered and overwhelmed by modern life’s complexities and contradictions, a kind of refuge. They yearn for safety, for immortality of the soul if not the body; they want all the pleasures of physical life, yet they want to make sure that they are also providing for the life after death by pleasing Allah. So, as you can surmise, this whole thing is extremely complicated. It is a most difficult task to give up the concocted and imaginary life vest that Islam seems to provide for these people. They have nothing else to grab onto.
Another religion? Would it be any better? Would it serve them both in this world and the next? Would it relieve their personal existentialistic crises? These are all tough issues. Most humans need to believe in something. Something bigger than themselves, something that would give them, or at least hold the promise of granting them, their wishes at little cost.
Religion of one form or another seems to be the most attractive source for the masses to turn to. Of course there are other sources. Many to be sure. Yet, all exact a price. Becoming a nihilist, for instance, and not believing in anything and leading life on a moment-to-moment basis is one way to go. A life that is akin to a rudder-less ship that drifts in circles until it sinks. This kind of life is extremely disturbing to the person and may lead him to resort to auxiliary activities such as excessive drinking, use of mind-numbing drugs, sexual promiscuity, and much more.
Yet, for one and all, there is a price to pay. Humans seem to be unable to exist in a psychological and spiritual vacuum. They need to believe in something to maintain a degree of self-sanity and stability. Islam provides a degree of this highly sought stability and security. For this reason leaving it altogether, even for the highly educated and for a person who knows better is extremely difficult.
It is indeed baffling to me that a particular tyrannical group of fanatics claim to represent the Creator of all and pass judgment who is to live in peace and who is to suffer horrific treatments. This mentality is the ultimate form of arrogance and the world must confront and erase it by a united effort. Enough is enough. This is the 21st century and people all over the world must be afforded the freedom to lead their lives, pray as they like, and be protected under fair laws.
It is truly sad that these people are driven by a horrific lower nature trait of hate. Love is alien to them, justice only limited to their own, and tolerance is something that they have nothing to do with. Sad, very sad indeed. They are like bats — beasts of darkness. They hate the light of love. How sad, indeed. We should do what Christ said: Pray for them, for they do not know better.
In short, Islam is busy with what it did from the time of its birth, fighting non-Muslims and infighting. Truth be told: Violence is the animating force of Islam. Islam is a religion born through violence, raised by violence; it thrives on violence and dies without violence.
Amil Imani is the author of Obama Meets Ahmadinejad and Operation Persian Gulf.
A collection of great writings from our Infidel and Apostate friends. Read my newspaper, The Pulp Ark Journal, and my magazine The Pulp Ark Gazette. Come check some nice books from my Scribd library.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Punishment of Apostates in Islam is Death by Beheading
The Quran, hadiths, sira and Islamic history from the days of Muhammad to the present agree to this.
By Syed Kamran Mirza
In Islam, “Apostasy” (Arabic: irtidad or ridda or Murtadd) means the rejection of Islam in word or deed by a person who has been a Muslim. An apostate in any pure Islamic country is deserved to be killed, period. Muslims, who deny this fact, are stealthily engaged in Taqiyya (lie and deceptions), or utterly ignorant about real Islam. Islam is the most intolerant religion on Earth. There are plenty of glaring examples or records of extreme intolerance and intimidations from the past and present history of Islam. And this intolerance is rooted in the Quran and Sunnah (Ahadiths – traditions of Prophet Muhammad), and also by the deeds and practices of the early disciples of Prophet Muhammad. In all Sharia-ruled pure Islamic countries, such as in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Kuwait, Sudan etc., all apostates are punished by death penalty.
All five major schools of Islamic jurisprudence agree that a sane male apostate must be executed. A female apostate may be put to death, according to some schools, or imprisoned, according to others.
Apostate punishing verses from Quran
Regarding punishing apostates, 4:89, 3:85 and 3.90-91 are the main verses, but many other verses like 16:106-107, 2:217, 9:73-74, 5:54, and 9:66 are considered supporting verses.
It also could be asserted here that, during the time of final compilation of the Quran, many important verses were lost in the process for various reasons, such as the demise of many disciples (who memorized Quranic verses) in the Battle of Apostasy (Ridda War) and invasion of Yamama. Verses of stoning-death for adultery were amongst the lost verses, but Prophet Muhammad and the rightly guided Caliphs routinely practiced stoning-death. Even in the modern world, in most Sharia-ruled Muslim nations, both apostates and adulterators are punished by death penalty and stoning deaths, respectively.
Support from Quranic verses for punishing apostates
Now some Sahih Hadiths
Most of the hadiths are from Sahih al-Bukhari and also by many others
Commandment to Execute the Apostate after the Qur'anic (Allah’s) orders (above), here are some glaring Commands (Hadiths)—from the Prophet of Islam.
The reason why executing apostates has always been well-ensconced in Islamic law is that there are indisputable and shining records of Muhammad and his companions doing exactly that according to the reliable Hadiths. According to the verse 4:80 (Yusuf Ali): "He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah: But if any turn away, We have not sent thee to watch over their (evil deeds)."
Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 84, Number 58:
Narrated Abu Burda: (Bukhari (84:58)Abu Musa said, "I came to the Prophet along with two men (from the tribe) of Ash'ariyin, one on my right and the other on my left, while Allah's Apostle was brushing his teeth (with a Siwak), and both men asked him for some employment. The Prophet said, 'O Abu Musa (O 'Abdullah bin Qais!).' I said, 'By Him Who sent you with the Truth, these two men did not tell me what was in their hearts and I did not feel (realize) that they were seeking employment.' As if I were looking now at his Siwak being drawn to a corner under his lips, and he said, 'We never (or, we do not) appoint for our affairs anyone who seeks to be employed. But O Abu Musa! (or 'Abdullah bin Qais!) Go to Yemen.'" The Prophet then sent Mu'adh bin Jabal after him and when Mu'adh reached him, he spread out a cushion for him and requested him to get down (and sit on the cushion). Behold: There was a fettered man beside Abu Muisa. Mu'adh asked, "Who is this (man)?" Abu Muisa said, "He was a Jew and became a Muslim and then reverted back to Judaism." Then Abu Muisa requested Mu'adh to sit down but Mu'adh said, "I will not sit down till he has been killed. This is the judgment of Allah and His Apostle (for such cases) and repeated it thrice. Then Abu Musa ordered that the man be killed, and he was killed. Abu Musa added, "Then we discussed the night prayers and one of us said, 'I pray and sleep, and I hope that Allah will reward me for my sleep as well as for my prayers.'"
[It should be noted that this incident took place during the life of the Prophet. At that time Abu Musa represented the Prophet as governor and Muadh as vice-governor. If their action had not been based on the decision of God and His Messenger, surely the Prophet would have objected.]
Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 84, Number 59:
Narrated Abu Huraira: When the Prophet died and Abu Bakr became his successor and some of the Arabs reverted to disbelief, 'Umar said, "O Abu Bakr! How can you fight these people although Allah's Apostle said, 'I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, 'and whoever said, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah', Allah will save his property and his life from me, unless (he does something for which he receives legal punishment) justly, and his account will be with Allah?' "Abu Bakr said, "By Allah! I will fight whoever differentiates between prayers and Zakat as Zakat is the right to be taken from property (according to Allah's Orders). By Allah! If they refused to pay me even a kid they used to pay to Allah's Apostle, I would fight with them for withholding it." 'Umar said, "By Allah: It was nothing, but I noticed that Allah opened Abu Bakr's chest towards the decision to fight, therefore I realized that his decision was right."
Bukhari (83:37)
"Allah's Apostle never killed anyone except in one of the following three situations: (1) A person who killed somebody unjustly, was killed (in Qisas), (2) a married person who committed illegal sexual intercourse, and (3) a man who fought against Allah and His Apostle and deserted Islam and became an apostate."
Bukhari (52:260):
"...The Prophet said, 'If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.'" Note that there is no distinction as to how that Muslim came to be a Muslim.
Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 84, Number 57:
Narrated 'Ikrima: Some Zanadiqa (atheists) were brought to 'Ali and he burnt them. The news of this event, reached Ibn 'Abbas who said, "If I had been in his place, I would not have burnt them, as Allah's Apostle forbade it, saying, 'Do not punish anybody with Allah's punishment (fire).' I would have killed them according to the [words of] Allah's Apostle, “Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him”.
Bukhari (89:271): A man who embraces Islam, then reverts to Judaism is to be killed according to "the verdict of Allah and his apostle."
Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 84, Number 64:
Narrated 'Ali: Whenever I tell you a narration from Allah's Apostle, by Allah, I would rather fall down from the sky than ascribe a false statement to him, but if I tell you something between me and you (not a Hadith) then it was indeed a trick (i.e., I may say things just to cheat my enemy). No doubt I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "During the last days there will appear some young foolish people who will say the best words but their faith will not go beyond their throats (i.e. they will have no faith) and will go out from (leave) their religion as an arrow goes out of the game. So, where-ever you find them, kill them, for whoever kills them shall have reward on the Day of Resurrection."
Abu Dawud (4346):
"Was not there a wise man among you who would stand up to him when he saw that I had withheld my hand from accepting his allegiance, and kill him?" Muhammad is chastising his companions for allowing an apostate to "repent" under duress. (The person in question was Muhammad's former scribe who left him after doubting the authenticity of divine "revelations" upon finding out that he could suggest grammatical changes. He was brought back to Muhammad after having been captured in Medina).
Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 59, Number 632:
Narrated Abu Burda: That the Prophet sent his (i.e. Abu Burda's) grandfather, Abu Musa and Mu'adh to Yemen and said to both of them "Facilitate things for the people (Be kind and lenient) and do not make things difficult (for people), and give them good tidings, and do not repulse them and both of you should obey each other." Abu Musa said, "O Allah's Prophet! In our land there is an alcoholic drink (prepared) from barley called Al-Mizr, and another (prepared) from honey, called Al-Bit"' The Prophet said, "All intoxicants are prohibited." Then both of them proceeded and Mu'adh asked Abu Musa, "How do you recite the Quran?" Abu Musa replied, "I recite it while I am standing, sitting or riding my riding animals, at intervals and piecemeal." Muadh said, "But I sleep and then get up. I sleep and hope for Allah's Reward for my sleep as I seek His Reward for my night prayer." Then he (i.e. Muadh) pitched a tent and they started visiting each other. Once Muadh paid a visit to Abu Musa and saw a chained man. Muadh asked, "What is this?" Abu Musa said, "(He was) a Jew who embraced Islam and has now turned apostate." Muadh said, "I will surely chop off his neck!"
Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 83, Number 37:
Narrated Abu Qilaba: Once 'Umar bin 'Abdul 'Aziz sat on his throne in the courtyard of his house so that the people might gather before him. Then he admitted them and (when they came in), he said, "What do you think of Al-Qasama?" They said, "We say that it is lawful to depend on Al-Qasama in Qisas, as the previous Muslim Caliphs carried out Qisas depending on it." Then he said to me, "O Abu Qilaba! What do you say about it?" He let me appear before the people and I said, "O Chief of the Believers! You have the chiefs of the army staff and the nobles of the Arabs. If fifty of them testified that a married man had committed illegal sexual intercourse in Damascus but they had not seen him (doing so), would you stone him?" He said, "No." I said, "If fifty of them testified that a man had committed theft in Hums, would you cut off his hand though they did not see him?" He replied, "No." I said, "By Allah, Allah's Apostle never killed anyone except in one of the following three situations: (1) A person who killed somebody unjustly, was killed (in Qisas), (2) a married person who committed illegal sexual intercourse, and (3) a man who fought against Allah and His Apostle and deserted Islam and became an apostate." Then the people said, "Didn't Anas bin Malik narrate that Allah's Apostle cut off the hands of the thieves, branded their eyes and then, threw them in the sun?" I said, "I shall tell you the narration of Anas. Anas said: "Eight persons from the tribe of 'Ukl came to Allah's Apostle and gave the Pledge of allegiance for Islam (became Muslim). The climate of the place (Medina) did not suit them, so they became sick and complained about that to Allah's Apostle. He said (to them ), "Won't you go out with the shepherd of our camels and drink of the camels' milk and urine (as medicine)?" They said, "Yes." So they went out and drank the camels' milk and urine, and after they became healthy, they killed the shepherd of Allah's Apostle and took away all the camels. This news reached Allah's Apostle, so he sent (men) to follow their traces and they were captured and brought (to the Prophet). He then ordered to cut their hands and feet, and their eyes were branded with heated pieces of iron, and then he threw them in the sun till they died." I said, "What can be worse than what those people did? They deserted Islam, committed murder and theft."
More Hadiths from various sources for Punishing Apostates
Sahih Bukhari hadith
Sahih Muslim hadiths
Sunaan Abu Dawud hadiths
Islamic Law
There is also a consensus by all four schools of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence (i.e., Maliki, Hanbali, Hanafi, and Shafii), as well as classical Shiite jurists, that apostates from Islam must be put to death. The process of declaring a person to be an apostate is known as takfir and the apostate is called a murtadd.
Reliance of the Traveller (Islamic Law) o8.1 - "When a person who has reached puberty and is sane voluntarily apostatizes from Islam, he deserves to be killed." (o8.4 affirms that there is no penalty for killing an apostate).
Averroes (d. 1198), the renowned philosopher and scholar of the natural sciences, who was also an important Maliki jurist, provided this typical Muslim legal opinion on the punishment for apostasy: "An apostate...is to be executed by agreement in the case of a man, because of the words of the Prophet, 'Slay those who change their din [religion]'...Asking the apostate to repent was stipulated as a condition... prior to his execution."
The contemporary (i.e., 1991) Al-Azhar (Cairo) Islamic Research Academy endorsed manual of Islamic Law, Umdat al-Salik (pp. 595-96) states: "Leaving Islam is the ugliest form of unbelief (kufr) and the worst.... When a person who has reached puberty and is sane voluntarily apostasizes from Islam, he deserves to be killed. In such a case, it is obligatory... to ask him to repent and return to Islam. If he does it is accepted from him, but if he refuses, he is immediately killed."
As Abu Bakr, Muhammad's closest companion, explained in a letter at the time, his prophet "struck whoever turned his back to Him until he came to Islam, willingly or grudgingly." Thus did Abu Bakr promise to "burn them with fire, slaughter them by any means, and take women and children captive" any, who left Islam. (al-Tabari v10, p. 55-57)
Ali, the fourth "Rightly Guided Caliph" was Muhammad's son-in-law and one of the first converts to Islam. He also had people burned alive for wanting to follow their conscience. An old man named Rumahis b. Mansur, who regretted leaving Christianity and vowed not to remain a Muslim, was beheaded by Ali. (al-Tabari v.17, p. 191).
Supports from historical facts
A. The First Caliph's Jihad (Holy War) against Apostates
After the death Prophet Muhammad, Abu Bakr became the first Caliph. Most of the Bedouin Arabs who had converted to Islam out of fear of their lives, changed their mind and reverted back to their parental religions. Caliph Abu Bakr immediately declared Jihad (Holy war) against those apostates. It took almost two years of bloody battles by the first Khalifa, Abu Bakr and under the generalship of Khalid Ibn al Walid (The Sword of Allah) to subdue, subjugate and force those secessionists and apostates to return them once more - to the fold of PEACEFUL 'Islam'; at the point and edge of SWORDS. Tens of thousands of Arab apostates were slaughtered in this war. This event therefore clearly proves that those persons who received religious instruction directly from the Prophet were united in deciding that an Islamic government should wage war against any group that renounces Islam. Within months, a great many people were dead, including Muslims who had memorized the Qur'an by heart.
The Sahih Hadiths below is the testament of this ancient historical battle against apostates:
Volume 9, Book 84, Number 59:
Narrated Abu Huraira:When the Prophet died and Abu Bakr became his successor and some of the Arabs reverted to disbelief, 'Umar said, "O Abu Bakr! How can you fight these people although Allah's Apostle said, 'I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, 'and whoever said, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah', Allah will save his property and his life from me, unless (he does something for which he receives legal punishment) justly, and his account will be with Allah?' "Abu Bakr said, "By Allah! I will fight whoever differentiates between prayers and Zakat as Zakat is the right to be taken from property (according to Allah's Orders). By Allah! If they refused to pay me even a kid they used to pay to Allah's Apostle, I would fight with them for withholding it." 'Umar said, "By Allah: It was nothing, but I noticed that Allah opened Abu Bakr's chest towards the decision to fight, therefore I realized that his decision was right."
At the time when Abu Bakr sent Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl to wage a jihad against the people in South Arabia who had confessed the prophethood of Laqit ibn Malik al-Azdi, he advised him: “Wherever you find apostates from Oman to Hadramaut and Yemen, crush them.”
First Caliph Abu Bakr’s historical Proclamation
It is worth noting that had there been no sanction or divine approval (from Allah and Prophet) of punishing apostates with deadly force—there could be no urgency or need of declaring such a bloody war by the first caliph against those apostates, immediately after ascending to the throne of infant state of Islamic Caliphate in the ancient Arabia. Caliph Abu Bakr's had issued in writing such proclamation to each of the commanders of the eleven armies at the time he sent the armies to the various parts of Arabia to wage jihad against the apostates. Hafiz ibn Kathir has copied the full proclamation in his book al-Badayah w'al-Nahayah (Vol. 6, p. 316). The following sentences especially merit consideration:
“I have come to know about the movement of those among you who have accepted following Satan and who, having no fear of God, have turned from Islam to kufr. Now I have sent you someone with an army of faithful followers [24], and have advised him to accept nothing from anyone except faith and to execute no one without first inviting him to God, the Mighty and Glorious One. Then whoever accepts his invitation to God and, after confession, maintains good conduct, he will accept his confession and assist him in walking in the right path. And he will fight whoever refuses until he returns to the commandment of God. And he has been ordered to leave no one alive whom he has seized among those who have refused, to set fire to their villages, to destroy them, to enslave their women and children and to accept nothing from anyone except Islam. Thus whoever accepts his word does it for his own good and whoever does not will not be able to impoverish God. I have also directed the commander whom I have sent to announce my plan in all your assemblies and that the sign of accepting Islam is the call to prayer. Do not oppose the village where the call to prayer is heard. Where there is no call to prayer, ask the people why. If they refuse, attack them. If they confess, treat them as they deserve.”
B. Punishment for apostate as per Fatwa by Alazher University Cairo Document
This document was received from Oda Dridi-Dörffel, Parliament (Bundestag), Ministry of the Interior, the Army (Bundeswehr), Ministry of Integration and the Police organizations. Oda Dridi-Dörffel is an esteemed figure in international circles.
Here Oda Dridi-Dörffel presents the actual fatwa issued at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, the most important institution of islamic law in the sunni world, and where Obama made his speech to the Muslim world. (More on Obama's speech here and here.)
Obama describes Al-Azhar University this way: "For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning, and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt’s advancement". The following translation is a rough guide:
In the Name of Allah the Most Beneficient the Most Merciful. Al-Azhr Council of Fatawa.
This question was presented by Mr. Ahmed Darwish and brought forward by [name obscured] who is of German nationality.
A man whose religion was Islam and his nationality is Egyptian married a German Christian and the couple agreed that the husband would join the Christian faith and doctrine.
1) What is the Islamic ruling in relation to this man? What are the punishments prescribed for this act?
2) Are his children considered Muslim or Christian?
The Answer:
All praise is to Allah, the Lord of the Universe and salutations on the leader of the righteous, our master Muhammed, his family and all of his companions.
Thereafter, this man has committed apostasy; he must be given a chance to repent and if he does not then he must be killed according to Shariah.
As far as his children are concerned, as long as they are children they are considered Muslim, but after they reach the age of puberty, then if they remain with Islam they are Muslim, but if they leave Islam and they do not repent they must be killed and Allah knows best.
Seal of Al-Azhr
Head of the Fatawa Council of Al-Azhr.
Abdullah al-Mishadd ( عبد الله المشد )
23rd September 1978.
C. Some Examples of modern day incidence of punishing an Apostate
Throughout the history of 1,400 years of Islam, millions of human beings lost their precious lives at the hands of Islamic jihadi butchers every where in the whole world. And even today—tens of thousands of innocent humans are losing their lives every year, simply because they have changed their belief, or left Islam (apostate) for another faith. Below are some examples of such tragedy caused by the religion of peace (see links to following news-reports at http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Quran/012-apostasy.htm):
Conclusion
Islam survived for 1400 years by Taqiyya (Deceptions and lies) and also by coercion, intolerance, and intimidations. Islam is one way traffic; one can get in, but can not get out with his life. The only freedom of belief in Islam is the freedom to become Muslim. Those who turn their back on Islam are to be executed. This is confirmed by the words and deeds of Prophet Muhammad and his early disciples.
For hundreds of years, there has never been a system of Islamic law that did not prescribe the death penalty for any Muslim choosing to leave Islam. Even in modern, ostensibly secular Muslim majority countries with constitutions "guaranteeing" freedom of religion, there is de facto enforcement of this law with intimidation and the occasional murder of apostates.
Contrary to all the platitudes, Taqiyya, disinformation, misinformation, lies and falsifications of the historical records conducted by the followers of Muhammad, his 'Islam' was born by the shedding of a SEA of blood in the Arabian Peninsula, followed by the shedding of an OCEAN of blood throughout the Asia, Africa and Europe, and elsewhere.
References
1. The Holy Qur'an, Translated by A. Yousuf Ali, Published by Amana Corporation, Brentwood, Maryland, 1983.
2. Hadiths from various sources (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslims, Sunaan Abu Dawud, Sunaan ibn Majah, Tirmidhi, Sunaan Nasai) and ancient Islamic history.
3. Guide to Understanding Islam: TheReligionofPeace.com:http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Quran/012-apostasy.htm
4. The punishment of the Apostate according to Islamic law: Abdul Ala Mawdudi, Translated and annotated by Syed Silas Husain and Ernest Hahn. URL: http://www.answering-islam.de/Main/Hahn/Mawdudi/index.htm#publisher
5. Fatwa by Alazher University, Cairo, Egypt on Punishment for apostate.
6. Some Examples of modern day incidences of punishing an Apostate in the 21st Century world.
Kuwait: New Death Penalty for Blasphemy
So what should international human rights organization regard as the threat: the Quran, Quranic instructions, or the people who are just following its recommended path?
By Mohshin Habib
Kuwaiti lawmakers have passed a legal amendment authorizing the death penalty for Muslims who curse their God or the Quran, or who defame their Prophet Mohammed or his wife. In the amended article, if the defendant publicly repents and apologizes for the crime, the penalty will be reduced to five years in jail, a fine of 10,000 Kuwaiti Dinars (KD), or both.
The approved article states that non-Muslims who commit the same crime face at least 10 years in jail. Some MPs demanded the death penalty should also apply to them as well. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan boast the same death penalty law for blasphemy. In other Muslim countries, there are different interpretations to executing people who are outspoken and have different opinion. The Islamic States also never tolerate apostasy, conversion, or freedom from religion.
Islam is a belief. It is not clear in any Muslim country why a man before a court in any Muslim country would be termed Muslim if he does not believe in the religion, or possibly any religion, just because he happened to be born into a home in which Islam happened to be the religion of the family living there.
Overriding Kuwaiti disapproval, international human rights organizations, including the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, expressed deep concern. The Chairman of USCIRF, Leo Leonard, said he judged these penalties as alarming and contrary to international human rights standards.
As the commission recognizes the Quran as a holy script for the Muslims, however, the question arises as to how can the commission can feel concerned about the new law if the law has been derived from the Quranic instructions of which they ostensibly approve?
Although most Islamists formally say that the Quran itself does not prescribe any earthly punishment for apostasy, in fact Sharia Law and Islamic schools of jurisprudence strongly advocate that an apostate must be either executed or imprisoned until he or she re-converts to Islam. In the last 1400 years, Islam has been always harsh and brutal to non-believers, apostates and people who might have different opinions. Here is what Quran says on these issues:
Without Islam’s Command for Killing Apostates, Islam Would Not Survive Today
By Ali Khalaf
In his book “The 100”, which lists history’s top-100 most influential people, author Michael Hart declared Prophet Muhammad to be No. 1, while Genghis Khan came 21st, Hitler 35th and Stalin 63rd. Why was Prophet Muhammad given the top position, although he only mass murdered thousands while the other three had killed in millions. Because Muhammad’s was way smarter and his cult and memory flourished, but the other three are forgotten along with their cult. Today, even after 1,400 years of his passing, his cultists continue to love and adore him and passionately, would kill any one who insults Muhammad or draws his cartoon.
How Muhammad did it was truly genius. He devised a “Carrot and Stick” scheme to fool his fool hardy cultists to gain wealth, women and power. His plan worked beyond his wildest imagination. Through this scheme, Prophet Muhammad soon became the ruler of whole Arabia, gathered immense wealth, and slept with more women than he had dreamt.
Here is his Carrot-and-Stick Scheme:
1. God guarantees paradise only to those, who kill, or get killed by, infidels (9.111).
2. God wants Muslims to attack, rob and kill the infidels and capture their goods and women as booty. God gets 20% of this booty, which Muhammad collects and enjoys on His behalf. The remaining 80% are distributed among Muhammad’s looters. Sex with captured women is considered halal and clean by God (8.41, 4.3, 4.24, 23.6, 33.50. 70.30). If any one dies in this attack, God rewards him with paradise (many ayas). If the infidels surrendered without fighting, God got 100% of the booty, collected by Muhammad.
3. If any one refuses to go, tries to leave the cult, criticizes or even expresses doubts on what Muhammad says, he is to be immediately killed by the next person. The killed one heads to perpetual hell and the killer is guaranteed paradise with virgins with swelling breasts. (4.89, others)
It is 3rd last clause of blasphemy/apostasy, which has kept Islam alive and kicking till today. Had he not incorporated his third rule, Muhammad’s cult would have vanished after him like all other cults. That is exactly what today’s leading Islamic authority, Imam Al Qardawi, acknowledges:
By Syed Kamran Mirza
In Islam, “Apostasy” (Arabic: irtidad or ridda or Murtadd) means the rejection of Islam in word or deed by a person who has been a Muslim. An apostate in any pure Islamic country is deserved to be killed, period. Muslims, who deny this fact, are stealthily engaged in Taqiyya (lie and deceptions), or utterly ignorant about real Islam. Islam is the most intolerant religion on Earth. There are plenty of glaring examples or records of extreme intolerance and intimidations from the past and present history of Islam. And this intolerance is rooted in the Quran and Sunnah (Ahadiths – traditions of Prophet Muhammad), and also by the deeds and practices of the early disciples of Prophet Muhammad. In all Sharia-ruled pure Islamic countries, such as in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Kuwait, Sudan etc., all apostates are punished by death penalty.
All five major schools of Islamic jurisprudence agree that a sane male apostate must be executed. A female apostate may be put to death, according to some schools, or imprisoned, according to others.
Apostate punishing verses from Quran
Regarding punishing apostates, 4:89, 3:85 and 3.90-91 are the main verses, but many other verses like 16:106-107, 2:217, 9:73-74, 5:54, and 9:66 are considered supporting verses.
It also could be asserted here that, during the time of final compilation of the Quran, many important verses were lost in the process for various reasons, such as the demise of many disciples (who memorized Quranic verses) in the Battle of Apostasy (Ridda War) and invasion of Yamama. Verses of stoning-death for adultery were amongst the lost verses, but Prophet Muhammad and the rightly guided Caliphs routinely practiced stoning-death. Even in the modern world, in most Sharia-ruled Muslim nations, both apostates and adulterators are punished by death penalty and stoning deaths, respectively.
Support from Quranic verses for punishing apostates
- Quran 4.89: They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades (change to other religion), seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks; (trs. YUSUFALI; Saudi King approved translation).
- Quran 3.85: If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah), never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter, He will be in the ranks of those who have lost (All spiritual good). (trs. YUSUFALI)Quran 3.90-91: "But those who reject Faith [kafaroo] after they accepted it, and then go on adding to their defiance of Faith, - never will their repentance be accepted; for they are those, who have (of set purpose) gone astray. As to those who reject Faith [kafaroo], and die rejecting [kuffaroo], - never would be accepted from any such as much gold as the earth contains, though they should offer it for ransom. For such is (in store) a penalty grievous, and they will find no helpers."
- Quran 2.217: …Nor will they cease fighting you until they turn you back from your faith if they can. And if any of you Turn back from their faith and die in unbelief, their works will bear no fruit in this life and in the Hereafter; they will be companions of the Fire and will abide therein. (trs. YUSUFALI)
- Quran 9.73: O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the Hypocrites, and be firm against them. Their abode is Hell, - an evil refuge indeed. (trs. YUSUFALI)
- Quran 9.074: They swear by Allah that they said nothing (evil), but indeed they uttered blasphemy, and they did it after accepting Islam; and they meditated a plot which they were unable to carry out: this revenge of theirs was (their) only return for the bounty with which Allah and His Messenger had enriched them! If they repent, it will be best for them; but if they turn back (to their evil ways), Allah will punish them with a grievous penalty in this life and in the Hereafter: They shall have none on earth to protect or help them. (trs. YUSUFALI)
- Quran 5.054: 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. (trs. YUSUFALI)
- 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. (trs. YUSUFALI)
Now some Sahih Hadiths
Most of the hadiths are from Sahih al-Bukhari and also by many others
Commandment to Execute the Apostate after the Qur'anic (Allah’s) orders (above), here are some glaring Commands (Hadiths)—from the Prophet of Islam.
The reason why executing apostates has always been well-ensconced in Islamic law is that there are indisputable and shining records of Muhammad and his companions doing exactly that according to the reliable Hadiths. According to the verse 4:80 (Yusuf Ali): "He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah: But if any turn away, We have not sent thee to watch over their (evil deeds)."
Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 84, Number 58:
Narrated Abu Burda: (Bukhari (84:58)Abu Musa said, "I came to the Prophet along with two men (from the tribe) of Ash'ariyin, one on my right and the other on my left, while Allah's Apostle was brushing his teeth (with a Siwak), and both men asked him for some employment. The Prophet said, 'O Abu Musa (O 'Abdullah bin Qais!).' I said, 'By Him Who sent you with the Truth, these two men did not tell me what was in their hearts and I did not feel (realize) that they were seeking employment.' As if I were looking now at his Siwak being drawn to a corner under his lips, and he said, 'We never (or, we do not) appoint for our affairs anyone who seeks to be employed. But O Abu Musa! (or 'Abdullah bin Qais!) Go to Yemen.'" The Prophet then sent Mu'adh bin Jabal after him and when Mu'adh reached him, he spread out a cushion for him and requested him to get down (and sit on the cushion). Behold: There was a fettered man beside Abu Muisa. Mu'adh asked, "Who is this (man)?" Abu Muisa said, "He was a Jew and became a Muslim and then reverted back to Judaism." Then Abu Muisa requested Mu'adh to sit down but Mu'adh said, "I will not sit down till he has been killed. This is the judgment of Allah and His Apostle (for such cases) and repeated it thrice. Then Abu Musa ordered that the man be killed, and he was killed. Abu Musa added, "Then we discussed the night prayers and one of us said, 'I pray and sleep, and I hope that Allah will reward me for my sleep as well as for my prayers.'"
[It should be noted that this incident took place during the life of the Prophet. At that time Abu Musa represented the Prophet as governor and Muadh as vice-governor. If their action had not been based on the decision of God and His Messenger, surely the Prophet would have objected.]
Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 84, Number 59:
Narrated Abu Huraira: When the Prophet died and Abu Bakr became his successor and some of the Arabs reverted to disbelief, 'Umar said, "O Abu Bakr! How can you fight these people although Allah's Apostle said, 'I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, 'and whoever said, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah', Allah will save his property and his life from me, unless (he does something for which he receives legal punishment) justly, and his account will be with Allah?' "Abu Bakr said, "By Allah! I will fight whoever differentiates between prayers and Zakat as Zakat is the right to be taken from property (according to Allah's Orders). By Allah! If they refused to pay me even a kid they used to pay to Allah's Apostle, I would fight with them for withholding it." 'Umar said, "By Allah: It was nothing, but I noticed that Allah opened Abu Bakr's chest towards the decision to fight, therefore I realized that his decision was right."
Bukhari (83:37)
"Allah's Apostle never killed anyone except in one of the following three situations: (1) A person who killed somebody unjustly, was killed (in Qisas), (2) a married person who committed illegal sexual intercourse, and (3) a man who fought against Allah and His Apostle and deserted Islam and became an apostate."
Bukhari (52:260):
"...The Prophet said, 'If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.'" Note that there is no distinction as to how that Muslim came to be a Muslim.
Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 84, Number 57:
Narrated 'Ikrima: Some Zanadiqa (atheists) were brought to 'Ali and he burnt them. The news of this event, reached Ibn 'Abbas who said, "If I had been in his place, I would not have burnt them, as Allah's Apostle forbade it, saying, 'Do not punish anybody with Allah's punishment (fire).' I would have killed them according to the [words of] Allah's Apostle, “Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him”.
Bukhari (89:271): A man who embraces Islam, then reverts to Judaism is to be killed according to "the verdict of Allah and his apostle."
Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 84, Number 64:
Narrated 'Ali: Whenever I tell you a narration from Allah's Apostle, by Allah, I would rather fall down from the sky than ascribe a false statement to him, but if I tell you something between me and you (not a Hadith) then it was indeed a trick (i.e., I may say things just to cheat my enemy). No doubt I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "During the last days there will appear some young foolish people who will say the best words but their faith will not go beyond their throats (i.e. they will have no faith) and will go out from (leave) their religion as an arrow goes out of the game. So, where-ever you find them, kill them, for whoever kills them shall have reward on the Day of Resurrection."
Abu Dawud (4346):
"Was not there a wise man among you who would stand up to him when he saw that I had withheld my hand from accepting his allegiance, and kill him?" Muhammad is chastising his companions for allowing an apostate to "repent" under duress. (The person in question was Muhammad's former scribe who left him after doubting the authenticity of divine "revelations" upon finding out that he could suggest grammatical changes. He was brought back to Muhammad after having been captured in Medina).
Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 59, Number 632:
Narrated Abu Burda: That the Prophet sent his (i.e. Abu Burda's) grandfather, Abu Musa and Mu'adh to Yemen and said to both of them "Facilitate things for the people (Be kind and lenient) and do not make things difficult (for people), and give them good tidings, and do not repulse them and both of you should obey each other." Abu Musa said, "O Allah's Prophet! In our land there is an alcoholic drink (prepared) from barley called Al-Mizr, and another (prepared) from honey, called Al-Bit"' The Prophet said, "All intoxicants are prohibited." Then both of them proceeded and Mu'adh asked Abu Musa, "How do you recite the Quran?" Abu Musa replied, "I recite it while I am standing, sitting or riding my riding animals, at intervals and piecemeal." Muadh said, "But I sleep and then get up. I sleep and hope for Allah's Reward for my sleep as I seek His Reward for my night prayer." Then he (i.e. Muadh) pitched a tent and they started visiting each other. Once Muadh paid a visit to Abu Musa and saw a chained man. Muadh asked, "What is this?" Abu Musa said, "(He was) a Jew who embraced Islam and has now turned apostate." Muadh said, "I will surely chop off his neck!"
Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 83, Number 37:
Narrated Abu Qilaba: Once 'Umar bin 'Abdul 'Aziz sat on his throne in the courtyard of his house so that the people might gather before him. Then he admitted them and (when they came in), he said, "What do you think of Al-Qasama?" They said, "We say that it is lawful to depend on Al-Qasama in Qisas, as the previous Muslim Caliphs carried out Qisas depending on it." Then he said to me, "O Abu Qilaba! What do you say about it?" He let me appear before the people and I said, "O Chief of the Believers! You have the chiefs of the army staff and the nobles of the Arabs. If fifty of them testified that a married man had committed illegal sexual intercourse in Damascus but they had not seen him (doing so), would you stone him?" He said, "No." I said, "If fifty of them testified that a man had committed theft in Hums, would you cut off his hand though they did not see him?" He replied, "No." I said, "By Allah, Allah's Apostle never killed anyone except in one of the following three situations: (1) A person who killed somebody unjustly, was killed (in Qisas), (2) a married person who committed illegal sexual intercourse, and (3) a man who fought against Allah and His Apostle and deserted Islam and became an apostate." Then the people said, "Didn't Anas bin Malik narrate that Allah's Apostle cut off the hands of the thieves, branded their eyes and then, threw them in the sun?" I said, "I shall tell you the narration of Anas. Anas said: "Eight persons from the tribe of 'Ukl came to Allah's Apostle and gave the Pledge of allegiance for Islam (became Muslim). The climate of the place (Medina) did not suit them, so they became sick and complained about that to Allah's Apostle. He said (to them ), "Won't you go out with the shepherd of our camels and drink of the camels' milk and urine (as medicine)?" They said, "Yes." So they went out and drank the camels' milk and urine, and after they became healthy, they killed the shepherd of Allah's Apostle and took away all the camels. This news reached Allah's Apostle, so he sent (men) to follow their traces and they were captured and brought (to the Prophet). He then ordered to cut their hands and feet, and their eyes were branded with heated pieces of iron, and then he threw them in the sun till they died." I said, "What can be worse than what those people did? They deserted Islam, committed murder and theft."
More Hadiths from various sources for Punishing Apostates
Sahih Bukhari hadith
- Abu Bakr vowed to fight the apostates and those who refused to pay Zakat… (2.23.483)
- Muhammad ordered to kill the apostates (‘If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him’)… (4.52.260)
- Khalid killed some apostates and ordered those taken as captives to be killed too... (5.59.628)
- An apostate was killed for no reason... (5.59.630)
- A Jewish apostate's head was chopped off... (5.59.632)
- Apostates will be sent to hellfire… (8.76.587)
- A Muslim can be killed only for: (1) qisas for murder, (2) a married person committing adultery, (3) becomes an apostate... (9.83.17, 20)Whoever changed his Islamic religion must be killed... (9.84.57)
- M'uadh would not sit down until the apostate was killed... (9.84.58)
- Some Muslims will leave Islam like an arrow goes out of the bow; so wherever you find them kill them... (9.84.64, 66)
- Some Iraqi believers will go out of Islam... (9.84.68)
- Young people will leave Islam like an arrow leaves its bow; whoever leaves Islam kill him... (4.55, 577,578)
- Some Muslims will leave Islam like an arrow goes out of the bow; so wherever you find them kill them... (9.84.64, 66)
- Whoever changes his religion (apostasy) kill him… (9.83.57)
Sahih Muslim hadiths
- Muhammad (SWS) asked Urina tribe to drink camel’s milk and camels urine; then they killed a shepherd and became apostates; so Muhammad got their hands and feet cut off and put out their eyes and then threw them on the stony ground until they died… (16.4130, 4131, 4132)
- Muadh did not want to sit down until an apostate who was bound hand and feet was killed in front of him… (20.4490)
- Anyone to whom Allah and Muhammad is dearer than all else, who loves a person for Allah’s sake alone and who does not apostatize is the best Muslim… (1.7, 1.68)
- Muslims will leave Islam just as an arrow leaves its bow; so kill them, Muhammad said… (5.2323)
- The future young Muslims would leave Islam as an arrow leaves its bow; so kill them; if you kill them you will get a great reward from Allah… (5.2328).
Sunaan Abu Dawud hadiths
- Kill the apostates… (3.38.4337).
- A Muslim should not be killed except for three reasons: 1. adultery, 2. killing another Muslim intentionally, 3. becoming an apostate… (3.38.4338)
- Muadh b. Jabal would not sit down until an apostate who was standing was killed right in front of him… (3.38.4340, 4341)
- An apostate (Jew) was killed because he retreated from Islam… (38.4341)
- An apostate was given twenty (20) days to repent but he refused to revert to Islam; so he was beheaded… (3.38.4342, 4344)
- A scribe of Muhammad (Abdullah ibn Abu Sarh) was ordered by Muhammad to be killed because the scribe joined the infidels; however Uthman ibn Affan saved his life… (38.434)
- When a Muslim’s slave runs away and becomes an apostate he should be killed… (3.38.4347)
- Some Muslim apostates’ hands and feet were cut off and their eyes were put out because they stole Muhammad’s camels and killed the Muslim herdsman… (38.4356)
- Muhammad (SWS) ordered the killing of ibn Khatal, the apostate; he was killed while hanging on the curtain of Kaba. Abu Barzat al-Aslami killed ibn Khatal… (2.14.2679)
- Many people will recite the Qur’an but will leave Islam very quickly; so kill them wherever you find them… (40.474)
- Young people with feeble mind will leave Islam like an arrow goes through the animal aimed at, wherever you meet them kill them… (3.40.4749, 4750)
- Kill adult fornicators, murderers, and apostates of Islam… (4.2534)
- Kill the apostates of Islam… (4.2535)
- Allah does not accept the testimony of an apostate till he returns to Islam… (4.2536)
- Muhammad tortured and then killed the Uraina apostates… (4.2578)
- Those who leave Islam, kill them… (1.168)
- Any Muslim who leaves the community will be in hell-fire… (57, 58)
- A Muslim must not be killed except for adultery, apostasy or killing another Muslim… (993)
- Sunaan Nasai hadiths
- Uraina/Uki tribes punishment was for their apostasy… (1.309)
Islamic Law
There is also a consensus by all four schools of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence (i.e., Maliki, Hanbali, Hanafi, and Shafii), as well as classical Shiite jurists, that apostates from Islam must be put to death. The process of declaring a person to be an apostate is known as takfir and the apostate is called a murtadd.
Reliance of the Traveller (Islamic Law) o8.1 - "When a person who has reached puberty and is sane voluntarily apostatizes from Islam, he deserves to be killed." (o8.4 affirms that there is no penalty for killing an apostate).
Averroes (d. 1198), the renowned philosopher and scholar of the natural sciences, who was also an important Maliki jurist, provided this typical Muslim legal opinion on the punishment for apostasy: "An apostate...is to be executed by agreement in the case of a man, because of the words of the Prophet, 'Slay those who change their din [religion]'...Asking the apostate to repent was stipulated as a condition... prior to his execution."
The contemporary (i.e., 1991) Al-Azhar (Cairo) Islamic Research Academy endorsed manual of Islamic Law, Umdat al-Salik (pp. 595-96) states: "Leaving Islam is the ugliest form of unbelief (kufr) and the worst.... When a person who has reached puberty and is sane voluntarily apostasizes from Islam, he deserves to be killed. In such a case, it is obligatory... to ask him to repent and return to Islam. If he does it is accepted from him, but if he refuses, he is immediately killed."
As Abu Bakr, Muhammad's closest companion, explained in a letter at the time, his prophet "struck whoever turned his back to Him until he came to Islam, willingly or grudgingly." Thus did Abu Bakr promise to "burn them with fire, slaughter them by any means, and take women and children captive" any, who left Islam. (al-Tabari v10, p. 55-57)
Ali, the fourth "Rightly Guided Caliph" was Muhammad's son-in-law and one of the first converts to Islam. He also had people burned alive for wanting to follow their conscience. An old man named Rumahis b. Mansur, who regretted leaving Christianity and vowed not to remain a Muslim, was beheaded by Ali. (al-Tabari v.17, p. 191).
Supports from historical facts
A. The First Caliph's Jihad (Holy War) against Apostates
After the death Prophet Muhammad, Abu Bakr became the first Caliph. Most of the Bedouin Arabs who had converted to Islam out of fear of their lives, changed their mind and reverted back to their parental religions. Caliph Abu Bakr immediately declared Jihad (Holy war) against those apostates. It took almost two years of bloody battles by the first Khalifa, Abu Bakr and under the generalship of Khalid Ibn al Walid (The Sword of Allah) to subdue, subjugate and force those secessionists and apostates to return them once more - to the fold of PEACEFUL 'Islam'; at the point and edge of SWORDS. Tens of thousands of Arab apostates were slaughtered in this war. This event therefore clearly proves that those persons who received religious instruction directly from the Prophet were united in deciding that an Islamic government should wage war against any group that renounces Islam. Within months, a great many people were dead, including Muslims who had memorized the Qur'an by heart.
The Sahih Hadiths below is the testament of this ancient historical battle against apostates:
Volume 9, Book 84, Number 59:
Narrated Abu Huraira:When the Prophet died and Abu Bakr became his successor and some of the Arabs reverted to disbelief, 'Umar said, "O Abu Bakr! How can you fight these people although Allah's Apostle said, 'I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, 'and whoever said, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah', Allah will save his property and his life from me, unless (he does something for which he receives legal punishment) justly, and his account will be with Allah?' "Abu Bakr said, "By Allah! I will fight whoever differentiates between prayers and Zakat as Zakat is the right to be taken from property (according to Allah's Orders). By Allah! If they refused to pay me even a kid they used to pay to Allah's Apostle, I would fight with them for withholding it." 'Umar said, "By Allah: It was nothing, but I noticed that Allah opened Abu Bakr's chest towards the decision to fight, therefore I realized that his decision was right."
At the time when Abu Bakr sent Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl to wage a jihad against the people in South Arabia who had confessed the prophethood of Laqit ibn Malik al-Azdi, he advised him: “Wherever you find apostates from Oman to Hadramaut and Yemen, crush them.”
First Caliph Abu Bakr’s historical Proclamation
It is worth noting that had there been no sanction or divine approval (from Allah and Prophet) of punishing apostates with deadly force—there could be no urgency or need of declaring such a bloody war by the first caliph against those apostates, immediately after ascending to the throne of infant state of Islamic Caliphate in the ancient Arabia. Caliph Abu Bakr's had issued in writing such proclamation to each of the commanders of the eleven armies at the time he sent the armies to the various parts of Arabia to wage jihad against the apostates. Hafiz ibn Kathir has copied the full proclamation in his book al-Badayah w'al-Nahayah (Vol. 6, p. 316). The following sentences especially merit consideration:
“I have come to know about the movement of those among you who have accepted following Satan and who, having no fear of God, have turned from Islam to kufr. Now I have sent you someone with an army of faithful followers [24], and have advised him to accept nothing from anyone except faith and to execute no one without first inviting him to God, the Mighty and Glorious One. Then whoever accepts his invitation to God and, after confession, maintains good conduct, he will accept his confession and assist him in walking in the right path. And he will fight whoever refuses until he returns to the commandment of God. And he has been ordered to leave no one alive whom he has seized among those who have refused, to set fire to their villages, to destroy them, to enslave their women and children and to accept nothing from anyone except Islam. Thus whoever accepts his word does it for his own good and whoever does not will not be able to impoverish God. I have also directed the commander whom I have sent to announce my plan in all your assemblies and that the sign of accepting Islam is the call to prayer. Do not oppose the village where the call to prayer is heard. Where there is no call to prayer, ask the people why. If they refuse, attack them. If they confess, treat them as they deserve.”
B. Punishment for apostate as per Fatwa by Alazher University Cairo Document
This document was received from Oda Dridi-Dörffel, Parliament (Bundestag), Ministry of the Interior, the Army (Bundeswehr), Ministry of Integration and the Police organizations. Oda Dridi-Dörffel is an esteemed figure in international circles.
Here Oda Dridi-Dörffel presents the actual fatwa issued at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, the most important institution of islamic law in the sunni world, and where Obama made his speech to the Muslim world. (More on Obama's speech here and here.)
Obama describes Al-Azhar University this way: "For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning, and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt’s advancement". The following translation is a rough guide:
In the Name of Allah the Most Beneficient the Most Merciful. Al-Azhr Council of Fatawa.
This question was presented by Mr. Ahmed Darwish and brought forward by [name obscured] who is of German nationality.
A man whose religion was Islam and his nationality is Egyptian married a German Christian and the couple agreed that the husband would join the Christian faith and doctrine.
1) What is the Islamic ruling in relation to this man? What are the punishments prescribed for this act?
2) Are his children considered Muslim or Christian?
The Answer:
All praise is to Allah, the Lord of the Universe and salutations on the leader of the righteous, our master Muhammed, his family and all of his companions.
Thereafter, this man has committed apostasy; he must be given a chance to repent and if he does not then he must be killed according to Shariah.
As far as his children are concerned, as long as they are children they are considered Muslim, but after they reach the age of puberty, then if they remain with Islam they are Muslim, but if they leave Islam and they do not repent they must be killed and Allah knows best.
Seal of Al-Azhr
Head of the Fatawa Council of Al-Azhr.
Abdullah al-Mishadd ( عبد الله المشد )
23rd September 1978.
C. Some Examples of modern day incidence of punishing an Apostate
Throughout the history of 1,400 years of Islam, millions of human beings lost their precious lives at the hands of Islamic jihadi butchers every where in the whole world. And even today—tens of thousands of innocent humans are losing their lives every year, simply because they have changed their belief, or left Islam (apostate) for another faith. Below are some examples of such tragedy caused by the religion of peace (see links to following news-reports at http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Quran/012-apostasy.htm):
- Girl Severely Beaten, Families Threatened for Showing Interest in Jesus
- Iran: No College for Ex-Muslims
- Two Converts to Christianity Stabbed in Norway
- Uganda Girl Learning to Walk after Brutal Torture for Leaving Islam
- Egyptian Cleric Says to Behead Apostates
- Convert Beheaded for Leaving Islam
- Iran Jails Christian Woman for Two Years over Leaving Islam
- Muslim Father Arrested to Lure Christian Sons Back to Fate
- Zanzibar Christian Suffers in Jail after Incarceration and Torture for Apostasy
- Christian Woman Faints While Being Publicly Flogged for Leaving Islam
- Secularist Endures 'Unbearable' Torture, Prepares for Execution
- Apostate Pastor Blinded with Acid in Uganda
- Children Murdered to Punish Ex-Muslim for Embracing Christianity
- Christian Convert Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison following Baptism
- Iran Orders Ex-Muslim Pastors to Serve Prison Sentences
- Kenyan Convert Stripped and Beaten with Iron Rods at Kenyan Church
- Christian Convert Tied Up and Stomped On
- Five Afghan Christian Converts Martyred...
- Converts from Islam Detained and Beaten Christian Convert Survives Brutal Stabbing in "Moderate" Morocco
- Converts to Christianity Ordered to 'Repent' or Face 'Social Boycott'
- Schoolteacher Gunned Down After Converting to Ahmadi Faith
- Man Beheaded for Leaving Islam and Embracing Christianity...
- Christian Girl Tortured and Killed for Leaving Islam...
- Christian Convert Flees after Severe Beating by Family...
- Swedish Imam Calls on Muslims to Kill Converts...
- 25 Ex-Muslims Arrested in Iran...
- Morocco Gives Ex-Muslim 15 Years in Jail for 'Proselytizing'...
- 14-Year-Old 'Apostate' Girl Unable to Walk after Torture...
- Court Orders Apostate to 'Repent His Christian Faith' or Die...
- Christian Released after 9 Months in prison for Leaving Islam
- New Ground Zero Imam Says Apostates Should be Jailed...
- Muslim Murdered for Intention to Convert to Hinduism...
- Palestinian Couple Declared Apostates, Forcibly Divorced...
- Time Running Out for Apostate Pastor Facing Execution...
- Muslim-American Leaders Challenged to Reject Killing Apostates
- Palestinian Authority Labels Ahmadis 'Apostates'...
- Suicide Bombers Close in on 'Apostate' Pakistan Ahmadi Community...
- 'Blessings' Promised to Those who Kill Ahmadiya 'Apostates'
- 'Apostate' Ahmadiyahs Brutally Murdered by 'Allah Akbar' Mob
- Man in Britain Beaten with Plank for Leaving Islam...
- Christian Couple Stabbed in Home for Leaving Islam...
- Iranian Christian Beaten to Death by Relative 21-Year-Old Christian Executed for Leaving Islam...
- Afghan Released after 9 Months in prison for Leaving Islam...
- Christian Father of Ten Executed in Front of Home Christian Faces Death Penalty for Leaving Islam...
- Father of 6 Jailed and Beaten for Leaving Islam...
- Tortured Aid Worker Faces Execution for Becoming Christian...
- 63-Year-Old Convert & Son Beaten for Leaving Islam...
- Imprisoned Pastor Faces Death Penalty for Leaving Islam...
- Ethiopian Stabbed for Leaving Islam...
- Son Confesses to Killing Father for Leaving Islam...
- 17-Year-Old Girl Beaten by Family, in Shackles for Leaving Islam...
- 15-Year-Old Girl Attacked with Acid for Leaving Islam...
- Asylum Seekers in Norway Scald Christian Convert with Boiling Water...
- Christian Convert Flees Torture in Bangladesh...
- Christian Convert Beaten to Death...
- False Cattle Theft Charge Used to Stop Christian Convert...
- Egyptian Muslims Attempt to Behead Christian Convert...
- Afghanistan Detains 20 Christian Converts amid Call for Death...
- Torture Fears for Humanitarian Worker Charged with Apostasy...
- Schoolchildren Forced to Watch Execution of Christian Convert...
- Pastor to Hang for Apostasy...
- Islamic Scholars Mull Putting Ex-Muslims to Death...
- Pastors Warned to Return to Islam or Risk Murder...
- Australian Islamists Vow to Murder Ex-Muslims...
- Cleric: Ex-Muslims Should be Reasoned With - Then Killed...
- Egypt Jails Christian Convert Accused of Distributing Bibles...
- Elderly Woman Burned to Death for Converting Family from Islam...
- Christian Convert Executed by Somali Islamists...
- Malaysia: Whipping, Prison and Fines for Anyone Trying to Convert Muslims...
- Bangladeshi Christian Convert Threatened with Death...
- Ethiopian Christian Convert Languishes in Jail over Bibles...
- Bibles Burned, Christian Converts Threatened with Same Fate...
- Family Ordered to 'Sacrifice' Christian Convert Son...
- Judge Tells Christian Convert of His Desire to Kill Her...
- Police Round Up Christian Converts in Iran...
- Comoros Imam who Converts to Christianity is Forced into Hiding Elderly Christian Converts Driven from Home...
- Police Rape and Torture Christian Convert - Promise to Release Her if She Will Return to Islam...
- Christian Converts Hunted Down and Beaten in Comoros...
- Son of Murdered Christian Convert Also Faces Death...
- Iran's Parliament Votes to Kill Christian Converts...
- Christian Convert Shot to Death by Devout Muslims...
- Mob Pelts Christian Converts with Rocks...
- Innocent Man Slain After Cleric Declares Ahmadis to be Wajibul Qatl...
- 'Moderate' Malaysia Sends Christian Converts to Re-Education Camps...
- Jordan Annuls Marriage of Christian Convert...
- Christian Convert & Wife Beaten, Flee to Save Children...
- New Zealand Christian Convert Goes Underground to Stay Alive...
- Christian Convert Needs Police Protection - in the UK!...
- Genital-Shocking Egyptian Police Detain Christian Convert...
- Ethiopian Islamists Stab Christian Convert's Son...
- Christian Convert (Father of 4) Murdered by Islamists...
- Christian Convert Murdered by Islamic Radicals...
- 16-Year-Old Christian Convert has Muslim Man Forced on Her...
- Imam Calls for His Own Son's Murder for Leaving Islam...
- Somali Christian Shot to Death for Leaving Islam...
- Father of Two Shot to Death for Leaving Islam...
- Palestinian Terrorists Butcher and Cut Christian Man into Four Pieces...
- Iran Holds Women in Notorious Prison for Leaving Islam...
- Christian Woman Divorced and Beaten for Leaving Islam...
- Libya Urged to Stop Torturing Christians for Leaving Islam...
- Graphic Video Posted of Man Beheaded for Leaving Islam...
- Christian Beheaded for Leaving Islam...
- Saudi Cuts Out Daughter's Tongue and Burn Her Alive for Leaving Islam...
- Prominent Canada Threatens to Kill Daughter for Leaving Islam...
- Yemen Arrests Nine for Leaving Islam...
- Maldives Cleric Vows to Kill Anyone Leaving Islam...
- Four Christians Sent to Jail for Leaving Islam...
- Elderly Woman Burned to Death for Leaving Islam...
- Malaysia Officially Bars Muslims from Leaving Islam...
- Young Christian Murdered after Leaving Islam...
- Apostate Woman's Fingernails Torn Out by Family...
- Apostate Spat on in the UK, Threatened with Death...
- Poll: 4 in 5 Pakistanis Support Stoning Adulterers, Apostates...
- Iraqi Mujahideen Post Video of 'Apostate' Beheading...
- Harvard Chaplain Defends Killing Apostates...
- Executed Somali Christian was Accused of Apostasy...
- Man Under House Arrest over Son's Apostasy...
- (Canada) Mother Threatens to Kill Apostate Son...
- Apostasy: Iran to Enforce Death Penalty Worldwide?...
- Apostates Suffer Religious Persecution in Britain...
- UK Clerics Refuse to Denounce Killing Apostates...
- Somali Christian Casually Executed for Apostasy...
- Dutch Muslims Assault Apostate...
- Non-Muslims Horrified by Details of Apostate Family's Murder...
- Apostate and Christian Father of 7 Shot Dead in Ethiopia...
- Islamists Post 'Hit List' of Apostates...
Conclusion
Islam survived for 1400 years by Taqiyya (Deceptions and lies) and also by coercion, intolerance, and intimidations. Islam is one way traffic; one can get in, but can not get out with his life. The only freedom of belief in Islam is the freedom to become Muslim. Those who turn their back on Islam are to be executed. This is confirmed by the words and deeds of Prophet Muhammad and his early disciples.
For hundreds of years, there has never been a system of Islamic law that did not prescribe the death penalty for any Muslim choosing to leave Islam. Even in modern, ostensibly secular Muslim majority countries with constitutions "guaranteeing" freedom of religion, there is de facto enforcement of this law with intimidation and the occasional murder of apostates.
Contrary to all the platitudes, Taqiyya, disinformation, misinformation, lies and falsifications of the historical records conducted by the followers of Muhammad, his 'Islam' was born by the shedding of a SEA of blood in the Arabian Peninsula, followed by the shedding of an OCEAN of blood throughout the Asia, Africa and Europe, and elsewhere.
References
1. The Holy Qur'an, Translated by A. Yousuf Ali, Published by Amana Corporation, Brentwood, Maryland, 1983.
2. Hadiths from various sources (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslims, Sunaan Abu Dawud, Sunaan ibn Majah, Tirmidhi, Sunaan Nasai) and ancient Islamic history.
3. Guide to Understanding Islam: TheReligionofPeace.com:http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Quran/012-apostasy.htm
4. The punishment of the Apostate according to Islamic law: Abdul Ala Mawdudi, Translated and annotated by Syed Silas Husain and Ernest Hahn. URL: http://www.answering-islam.de/Main/Hahn/Mawdudi/index.htm#publisher
5. Fatwa by Alazher University, Cairo, Egypt on Punishment for apostate.
6. Some Examples of modern day incidences of punishing an Apostate in the 21st Century world.
Kuwait: New Death Penalty for Blasphemy
So what should international human rights organization regard as the threat: the Quran, Quranic instructions, or the people who are just following its recommended path?
By Mohshin Habib
Kuwaiti lawmakers have passed a legal amendment authorizing the death penalty for Muslims who curse their God or the Quran, or who defame their Prophet Mohammed or his wife. In the amended article, if the defendant publicly repents and apologizes for the crime, the penalty will be reduced to five years in jail, a fine of 10,000 Kuwaiti Dinars (KD), or both.
The approved article states that non-Muslims who commit the same crime face at least 10 years in jail. Some MPs demanded the death penalty should also apply to them as well. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan boast the same death penalty law for blasphemy. In other Muslim countries, there are different interpretations to executing people who are outspoken and have different opinion. The Islamic States also never tolerate apostasy, conversion, or freedom from religion.
Islam is a belief. It is not clear in any Muslim country why a man before a court in any Muslim country would be termed Muslim if he does not believe in the religion, or possibly any religion, just because he happened to be born into a home in which Islam happened to be the religion of the family living there.
Overriding Kuwaiti disapproval, international human rights organizations, including the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, expressed deep concern. The Chairman of USCIRF, Leo Leonard, said he judged these penalties as alarming and contrary to international human rights standards.
As the commission recognizes the Quran as a holy script for the Muslims, however, the question arises as to how can the commission can feel concerned about the new law if the law has been derived from the Quranic instructions of which they ostensibly approve?
Although most Islamists formally say that the Quran itself does not prescribe any earthly punishment for apostasy, in fact Sharia Law and Islamic schools of jurisprudence strongly advocate that an apostate must be either executed or imprisoned until he or she re-converts to Islam. In the last 1400 years, Islam has been always harsh and brutal to non-believers, apostates and people who might have different opinions. Here is what Quran says on these issues:
- But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever you find them. - 4:89
- Therefore, we stirred among them [unbelievers] enmity and hatred, which shall endure till the Day of Resurrection, when Allah will declare to them all that they have done. - 5:14
- O believers, take not Jews and Christians as friends; they are friends of each other. Those of you who make them his friends are one of them. God does not guide an unjust people. - 5:54
- Make war on them until idolatry is no more and Allah's religion reigns supreme - 8:39
- O Prophet! Exhort the believers to fight. If there are 20 steadfast men among you, they shall vanquish 200; and if there are a hundred, they shall rout a thousand unbelievers, for they are devoid of understanding. - 8:65
- It is not for any Prophet to have captives until he has made slaughter in the land. - 8:67
- Allah will humble the unbelievers. Allah and His apostle are free from obligations to idol-worshipers. Proclaim a woeful punishment to the unbelievers. - 9:2-3
- When the sacred months are over, slay the idolaters wherever you find them. Arrest them, besiege them, and lie in ambush everywhere for them. - 9:5
- Believers! Know that idolators are unclean. - 9:28
- Fight those who believe neither in God nor the Last Day, nor what has been forbidden by God and his messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, even if they are People of the Book, until they pay the tribute and have been humbled. The unbelievers are impure and their abode is hell. Humiliate the non-Muslims to such an extent that they surrender and pay tribute. - 9:29
- Whether unarmed or well-equipped, march on and fight for the cause of Allah, with your wealth and your persons. - 9:41
- O Prophet! Make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites. Be harsh with them. Their ultimate abode is hell, a hapless journey's end. - 9:73
- Allah has purchased of their faithful lives and worldly goods, and in return has promised them the Garden. They will fight for His cause, kill and be killed. - 9:111
- Fight unbelievers who are near to you. 9:123 [Different translation: Believers! Make war on the infidels who dwell around you. Let them find harshness in you. (Another source: ) Ye who believe! Murder those of the disbelievers....]
- As for those who are slain in the cause of Allah, He will not allow their works to perish. He will vouchsafe them guidance and ennoble their state; He will admit them to the Paradise He has made known to them. - 10:4-15
- Allah has cursed the unbelievers and proposed for them a blazing hell. - 33:60
- Unbelievers are enemies of Allah and they will roast in hell. - 41:14
- When you meet the unbelievers, smite their necks, then when you have made wide slaughter among them, tie fast the bonds, then set them free, either by grace or ransom, until the war lays down its burdens. - 47:4 [Different translation: When you meet the unbelievers in the battlefield, strike off their heads, and when you have laid them low, bind your captives firmly.]
- Those who are slain in the way of Allah - he will never let their deeds be lost. Soon will he guide them and improve their condition, and admit them to the Garden, which he has announced for them. - 47:5
- Muslims are harsh against the unbelievers, merciful to one another. - 48:25
- Muhammad is Allah's apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another. Through them, Allah seeks to enrage the unbelievers. - 48:29
- Prophet! Make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites and deal sternly with them. Hell shall be their home, evil their fate. - 66:9
- The unbelievers among the People of the Book and the pagans shall burn forever in the fire of hell. They are the vilest of all creatures. - 98:51
Without Islam’s Command for Killing Apostates, Islam Would Not Survive Today
By Ali Khalaf
In his book “The 100”, which lists history’s top-100 most influential people, author Michael Hart declared Prophet Muhammad to be No. 1, while Genghis Khan came 21st, Hitler 35th and Stalin 63rd. Why was Prophet Muhammad given the top position, although he only mass murdered thousands while the other three had killed in millions. Because Muhammad’s was way smarter and his cult and memory flourished, but the other three are forgotten along with their cult. Today, even after 1,400 years of his passing, his cultists continue to love and adore him and passionately, would kill any one who insults Muhammad or draws his cartoon.
How Muhammad did it was truly genius. He devised a “Carrot and Stick” scheme to fool his fool hardy cultists to gain wealth, women and power. His plan worked beyond his wildest imagination. Through this scheme, Prophet Muhammad soon became the ruler of whole Arabia, gathered immense wealth, and slept with more women than he had dreamt.
Here is his Carrot-and-Stick Scheme:
1. God guarantees paradise only to those, who kill, or get killed by, infidels (9.111).
2. God wants Muslims to attack, rob and kill the infidels and capture their goods and women as booty. God gets 20% of this booty, which Muhammad collects and enjoys on His behalf. The remaining 80% are distributed among Muhammad’s looters. Sex with captured women is considered halal and clean by God (8.41, 4.3, 4.24, 23.6, 33.50. 70.30). If any one dies in this attack, God rewards him with paradise (many ayas). If the infidels surrendered without fighting, God got 100% of the booty, collected by Muhammad.
3. If any one refuses to go, tries to leave the cult, criticizes or even expresses doubts on what Muhammad says, he is to be immediately killed by the next person. The killed one heads to perpetual hell and the killer is guaranteed paradise with virgins with swelling breasts. (4.89, others)
It is 3rd last clause of blasphemy/apostasy, which has kept Islam alive and kicking till today. Had he not incorporated his third rule, Muhammad’s cult would have vanished after him like all other cults. That is exactly what today’s leading Islamic authority, Imam Al Qardawi, acknowledges: