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:

Why if somebody born muslim doesn`t have right to change to anther religion? 

As Salaam Aleikum, I was wondering what Allah says about people who lose faith in him and Islam? Faith is rather personal as it is, but losing faith happens due to circumstances etc. So whats the punishment for those if any? I have always thought of Islam as being something spiritual and understandind, but I am not sure anymore. What does one do, when one lose ones way. I dont mean losing your way as in commiting sins but losing your faith, your faith in god, in life, in the world. Theres a limit to what a person can do to help the situation so what does Islam propose?  

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Why Muslims are not allowed to Convert?

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.

Allah Subhanah has given each human being intelligence and the power of reasoning, and a free will to choose whatever path he wishes to follow. If one of his own free will chooses to deny Allah Subhanah and His Messenger (saws), he will deserve the Wrath and Anger of his Creator; and if one, of his own free will chooses to follow the guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws), he will deserve His Mercy and Grace.

If one is a disbeliever, or is born in a dis-believing family, he has the right to choose whatever Way of Life he wishes to follow. But if one is blessed with guidance, and he refutes this guidance after receiving it; he will be guilty of one of the gravest sins in the sight of Allah Subhanah: Apostasy.

The guidance to Islam is the single biggest blessing, amongst all of Allah Subhanah’s innumerable blessings. Thus if Allah has blessed one to be born and grown up in a shadow of believing parents, or if one has been blessed with guidance; and subsequently this person refutes this Grandest of Blessings and turns ungrateful….. he will indeed be doing a grave sin in the sight of Allah Subhanah! The punishment for this tyranny is capital punishment in this world, and the guaranteed everlasting torture of the Hell Fire in the Hereafter.

Allah Subhanah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 47 Surah Mohammed verse 25: Those who turn back as apostates after Guidance was clearly shown to them, the Shaitaan has instigated them and buoyed them up with false hopes!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 137: Those who believe, then reject faith, then believe (again), and (again) reject faith, and go on increasing in unbelief; Allah will not forgive them, nor guide them on the way.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.17 Narrated by Abdullah

The Messenger of Allah (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 (retaliation) for murder, a married person who commits illegal sexual intercourse, and the one who reverts from Islam (apostate) and leaves the Muslims."

Your Question: What does one do, when one lose ones way. I dont mean losing your way as in commiting sins but losing your faith, your faith in god, in life, in the world. Theres a limit to what a person can do to help the situation so what does Islam propose?  

The truth of the matter is that ‘faith’ is not something that can disappear or lost! Faith is something that the Creator has put into the hearts of man. Thus, when one says he/she has lost faith, they actually mean to say that they have put their faith into someone or something else other than their Merciful Creator! Even those who claim to be atheists have faith, but their faith is on things they can see and feel, or in ideologies or self!

If, for any reason, one, after accepting Islam, looses his way; he must sincerely strive to find the Straight Path again. And the best way to seek the Faith of Truth, is to read and understand and study the Message of Guidance, revealed by the One and Only Creator of the heavens and the earth and everything that exists in between! This is the Divine Book that guides to Faith and the Path that is Straight! This is the Book that has been made a Criterion between Truth and falsehood! This is the Book that is a Perfect Guidance to all of mankind! This Book contains the very words and Message of the Merciful Lord, Who Created everything in existence! This Book, when understood, will fill one’s heart with the sweetness of faith! This Book, when accepted, followed, and obeyed will increase one’s Faith in his Creator!

Allah says in Chapter 2, Surah Baqarah aayat 185:"Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down: this Book is a perfect guidance for mankind and consists of CLEAR teachings which show the Right Way and are a Criterion of the Truth and falsehood."

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan