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

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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 (munafiqun). The hypocrites too "disbelieved after [their] belief", but then pretended that they still believed 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 a lengthy passage condemning the hypocrites in surah 9 (at-Tawbah), some of them 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.
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.  
 
{{Main|Islam and Apostasy}}
{{Main|Islam and Apostasy}}


==Qur'an==
==Qur'an==
===Apostates===
{{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 helper}}
{{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 helper}}
{{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|4|137}}|Indeed, those who have believed then disbelieved, then believed, then disbelieved, and then increased in disbelief - never will Allah forgive them, nor will He guide them to a way.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|5|54}}|O ye who believe! if any from among you turn back from his Faith, soon will Allah produce a people whom He will love as they will love Him,- lowly with the believers, mighty against the rejecters, fighting in the way of Allah, and never afraid of the reproaches of such as find fault. That is the grace of Allah, which He will bestow on whom He pleaseth. And Allah encompasseth all, and He knoweth all things.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|5|54}}|O ye who believe! if any from among you turn back from his Faith, soon will Allah produce a people whom He will love as they will love Him,- lowly with the believers, mighty against the rejecters, fighting in the way of Allah, and never afraid of the reproaches of such as find fault. That is the grace of Allah, which He will bestow on whom He pleaseth. And Allah encompasseth all, and He knoweth all things.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran-range|9|64|68}}|They hypocrites are apprehensive lest a surah be revealed about them, informing them of what is in their hearts. Say, "Mock [as you wish]; indeed, Allah will expose that which you fear." And if you ask them, they will surely say, "We were only conversing and playing." Say, "Is it Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?" Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief. If We pardon one faction of you - We will punish another faction because they were criminals. The hypocrite men and hypocrite women are of one another. They enjoin what is wrong and forbid what is right and close their hands. They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them [accordingly]. Indeed, the hypocrites - it is they who are the defiantly disobedient. Allah has promised the hypocrite men and hypocrite women and the disbelievers the fire of Hell, wherein they will abide eternally. It is sufficient for them. And Allah has cursed them, and for them is an enduring punishment.}}
{{Quote|{{cite quran|9|73|end=74|style=ref}}|O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites! Be harsh with them. Their ultimate abode is hell, a hapless journey's end. They swear by Allah that they said nothing (wrong), yet they did say the word of disbelief, and did disbelieve after their Surrender (to Allah). And they purposed that which they could not attain, and they sought revenge only that Allah by His messenger should enrich them of His bounty. If they repent it will be better for them; and if they turn away, Allah will afflict them with a painful doom in the world and the Hereafter, and they have no protecting friend nor helper in the earth.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|16|106}}|Whoso disbelieveth in Allah after his belief - save him who is forced thereto and whose heart is still content with the Faith - but whoso findeth ease in disbelief: On them is wrath from Allah. Theirs will be an awful doom.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|16|106}}|Whoso disbelieveth in Allah after his belief - save him who is forced thereto and whose heart is still content with the Faith - but whoso findeth ease in disbelief: On them is wrath from Allah. Theirs will be an awful doom.}}
{{Quote|{{cite quran|88|21|end=24|style=ref}}|Therefore do remind, for you are only a reminder. You are not a watcher over them; But whoever turns back and disbelieves, Allah will chastise him with the greatest chastisement.}}
{{Quote|{{cite quran|88|21|end=24|style=ref}}|Therefore do remind, for you are only a reminder. You are not a watcher over them; But whoever turns back and disbelieves, Allah will chastise him with the greatest chastisement.}}
===The hypocrites (munafiqun)===
An entire surah (63, al-Munafiqun) is dedicated to the hypocrites, who were a frequent complaint in the Quran. The hypocrites (al munafiqun) too "disbelieved after [their] belief", but claimed to still follow Muhammad while refusing to help in his cause and sought to lead others to do likewise.
In a lengthy passage condemning the hypocrites in surah 9 (at-Tawbah), some of the hypocrites are denounced for secretly criticising and mocking Muhammad and the Quran, and for proposing some plan motivated by resentment (there are conflicting traditions as to what this referred). Unless they repent, it commands the believers to strive against them if they "turn away". 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.
{{Quote|{{Quran-range|4|88|91}}|What is [the matter] with you [that you are] two groups concerning the hypocrites, while Allah has made them fall back [into error and disbelief] for what they earned. Do you wish to guide those whom Allah has sent astray? And he whom Allah sends astray - never will you find for him a way [of guidance]. They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies until they emigrate for the cause of Allah. But if they turn away, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them and take not from among them any ally or helper. Except for those who take refuge with a people between yourselves and whom is a treaty or those who come to you, their hearts strained at [the prospect of] fighting you or fighting their own people. And if Allah had willed, He could have given them power over you, and they would have fought you. So if they remove themselves from you and do not fight you and offer you peace, then Allah has not made for you a cause [for fighting] against them. You will find others who wish to obtain security from you and [to] obtain security from their people. Every time they are returned to [the influence of] disbelief, they fall back into it. So if they do not withdraw from you or offer you peace or restrain their hands, then seize them and kill them wherever you overtake them. And those - We have made for you against them a clear authorization.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran-range|4|137|138}}|Indeed, those who have believed then disbelieved, then believed, then disbelieved, and then increased in disbelief - never will Allah forgive them, nor will He guide them to a way. Give tidings to the hypocrites that there is for them a painful punishment -}}
{{Quote|{{Quran-range|9|64|68}}|They hypocrites are apprehensive lest a surah be revealed about them, informing them of what is in their hearts. Say, "Mock [as you wish]; indeed, Allah will expose that which you fear." And if you ask them, they will surely say, "We were only conversing and playing." Say, "Is it Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?" Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief. If We pardon one faction of you - We will punish another faction because they were criminals. The hypocrite men and hypocrite women are of one another. They enjoin what is wrong and forbid what is right and close their hands. They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them [accordingly]. Indeed, the hypocrites - it is they who are the defiantly disobedient. Allah has promised the hypocrite men and hypocrite women and the disbelievers the fire of Hell, wherein they will abide eternally. It is sufficient for them. And Allah has cursed them, and for them is an enduring punishment.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran-range|9|73|74}}|O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites! Be harsh with them. Their ultimate abode is hell, a hapless journey's end. They swear by Allah that they said nothing (wrong), yet they did say the word of disbelief, and did disbelieve after their Surrender (to Allah). And they purposed that which they could not attain, and they sought revenge only that Allah by His messenger should enrich them of His bounty. If they repent it will be better for them; and if they turn away, Allah will afflict them with a painful doom in the world and the Hereafter, and they have no protecting friend nor helper in the earth.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran-range|63|1|3}}|When the hypocrites come to you, [O Muhammad], they say, "We testify that you are the Messenger of Allah." And Allah knows that you are His Messenger, and Allah testifies that the hypocrites are liars. They have taken their oaths as a cover, so they averted [people] from the way of Allah. Indeed, it was evil that they were doing.That is because they believed, and then they disbelieved; so their hearts were sealed over, and they do not understand.}}


==Hadith==
==Hadith==
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