In the quran it states that there is no compulsion in religion (ie. you can`t/don`t need to force someone into beleiving the truth).
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa
Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our
brothers/sisters has asked this question:
assalamualaikum,
in the quran it states that there is no compulsion in religion (ie. you
can`t/don`t need to force someone into beleiving the truth). how do you
reconcile this with the hadith regarding the killing of apostates? ("he
who changes his deen must be killed" - the book i read this in had no reference,
so im not sure about how authentic the hadeeth is).
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Answer:
Killing Apostates
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help
and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and
whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness
that there is no one (no idol, no person,
no grave, no prophet, no
imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone,
and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of
His Messengers.
Your Question: in the quran it
states that there is no compulsion in religion (ie. you can`t/don`t need to
force someone into beleiving the truth). how do you reconcile this with the
hadith regarding the killing of apostates?
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2
Surah Baqarah verses 256-257:
256 Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from
error; whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most
trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks.
And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.
257 Allah is the Protector of those who have faith: from the depths of
darkness He will lead them forth into light.
Of those who reject faith the patrons are the Evil Ones: from light they
will lead them forth into the depths of darkness. They will be companions of the fire to dwell
therein (for ever).
Dear and Beloved Brother, in light of the context
of the guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah this Command of the Lord Most High ‘Let there be no compulsion in
religion’ means and implies that since Allah has given every individual a ‘free
will’ as a test; for a period of one lifetime every individual has a God-given
right to choose for himself between the paths of Truth and error, Guidance and
misguidance, Belief and disbelief, Obedience or disobedience. Every individual has a right to choose
whatever path he wishes to live his life, and none should or can be forced or
coerced or compelled to choose belief if one chooses to disbelieve. Thus it is
absolutely impermissible in Islamic Law to force, or coerce, or compel anyone
to accept Islam as their way of life if they do not themselves, of their own
free will, choose to do so.
But if one, of his own
free will chooses to believe and enters Islam by declaring the ‘shahaadah’ or
testification of faith, then he is bound by his declaration and all the
disciplines of Islam become obligatory upon such a person. If one after accepting Islam as his deen does
not pray, he will be compelled by Law to offer his prayers; or if he refuses to
pay the zakah dues, he will be compelled by Law to fulfill his zakah dues; or
if he refuses to distribute inheritance as prescribed by Shariah, he will be
compelled by Law to do so; etc. Once the
person of his own free will accepts Islam, he has no right to pick-and-choose
the laws he wishes to follow; but rather he will be compelled to follow all the
obligatory dictates of Shariah by Law. Here one cannot say or bring forth the excuse ‘Let there be no compulsion in religion’! nor would it
be accepted. This command only applies
to one who has not accepted Islam as his way of life.
Allow us to relate a
simple example to further explain the point.
In today’s age, one is not compelled to take citizenship of any nation
(for eg.
Your Question: how do you
reconcile this with the hadith regarding the killing of apostates? ("he
who changes his deen must be killed" - the book i read this in had no
reference, so im not sure about how authentic the hadeeth is).
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.17 Narrated by Abdullah
Allah's Messenger (saws) said,
"The blood of a Muslim who confesses that none has the right to be
worshipped but Allah and that I am His Messenger cannot be shed except in three
cases: In Qisas (retribution) for
murder, a married person who commits illegal sexual intercourse, and the
one who reverts from Islam (apostate) and leaves the Muslims."
It is indeed an authentic and established hadith
and thus a part of Islamic Law that corporal punishment will be applied to one
who, after accepting Islam as his way of life, openly and verbally declares in
a Court of Islamic Law in a proper Islamic State that he wants to become an
apostate.
One must bear in mind that it is not as if every
person who declares apostasy, or every person one may think or believe is an
apostate will be put to death without due process of law. It is only when one confesses in a Shariah
Court in a proper Islamic State that he wills to become an apostate, after
knowing fully well and being warned that the punishment for apostasy in Islam
is death, he still holds on to his confession in a Shariah Court that he wills
to become an apostate that he will be prescribed the due corporal
punishment.
Thus even if there is enough evidence and a case of
apostasy has been brought against one in a Shariah Court, all the person has to
do is declare the ‘shahaadah’ or testification of faith in Court to save
himself from the prescribed punishment!
The wisdom behind this Law of prescribing corporal
punishment for apostasy in Islam is only to manifest the value and worth of the
declaration of ‘shahaadah’ which enables one to enter Islam, and the severity
of the crime of becoming an apostate in the Sight of Allah, Islamic Law, and
the believers.; for unless and until one, of his own free will and without any
coercion or force, himself declares his apostasy in a Shariah Court of a
righteous Islamic State, the prescribed punishment of apostasy cannot be
implemented.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due
to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only
Source of Strength.
Your brother and well
wisher in Islam,
Burhan
Wister