Punishment for an Apostate – in the light of the Quran, Sunnah, Consensus and Rational Argument

The people living in the world are of two types in terms of religion and sect

 Muslims and

 Non-Muslims.

Muslims:

Those who believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Hereafter, resurrection after death, and that good and bad destiny are from Allah alone. They believe in Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the true and final Prophet of Allah and the religion and Sharia he brought in the light of the interpretations of the Companions, the Tabi’een, the followers of the Tabi’een, and the predecessors of the Ummah.

 Non-Muslims:

 Those who deny the Prophet hood of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), the religion and the Sharia, all or any of the above beliefs, or deny any of the requirements of religion, whether they call themselves Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Zoroastrians, Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Qadianis, Mirzais (who also call themselves Ahmadis), Zikris and Agha Khanis, or call themselves by any other name, they are all non-Muslims.

Then there are many types of non-Muslims, since non-Muslims differ from each other in terms of their specific beliefs and ideologies and place of residence and residence, and the rulings of each of them are also different.

There are seven types of non-Muslims based on beliefs and ideologies

(1) Open infidel,

 (2) Polytheist,

(3) Atheist,

 (4) Suspended,

 (5) Hypocrite,

 (6) Heretic, who are also called atheists and esotericists,

(7) Apostates.

want to know abouthttps://baitularqam.com/marriage-importance-necessity-and-purpose/

Different Rulings based on War and Peace and Residence

Second: Then all of them have different rulings based on war and peace and residence, so the types, definitions and rulings of non-Muslims can be seen:

Open infidel: Also called absolute infidel, he is one who openly denies Islamic beliefs and considers himself separate from the Muslim community, such as Hindus, Sikhs, Jews and Christians, etc.

Polytheist: A polytheist is one who believes in several gods, or considers any stone, tree or idol, etc., to be the owner of profit and loss apart from Allah Almighty.

 Atheism: An atheism is one who attributes the events of the world to time and considers time to be ancient, that is, he considers time to be the creator of the world and eternal.

Apostate: Apostate is one who completely denies the Creator of the world.

A hypocrite: A hypocrite is one who outwardly, verbally, and falsely claims to be a Muslim, but is an infidel on the inside.

A heretic: A heretic is one who covers up his blasphemous beliefs with Islam and presents his corrupt and blasphemous beliefs in such a way that at a cursory glance they appear to be correct. Such a person is also called an atheist and a gnostic in Arabic.

Apostate: An apostate is one who abandons Islam and adopts any other religion.

Open Kafir: If such a person lives in a non-Muslim country, and that country is at war with an Islamic state, then this person will be called a warring Kafir and Muslims have no responsibility to protect the life, property, honor and reputation of such a person. However, if such a person (open Kafir) lives in a non-Muslim country, which has a treaty of friendship with an Islamic state, then this person will be called an ally of Muslims. If this person is not involved in any other criminal activities, then Muslims will not harm his life and property. Therefore, if such a person comes to a Muslim country with a visa, he will be called a Mustaman, and Muslims will be obliged to protect his life, property and honor and reputation.

 Similarly, if such an open infidel is a peaceful citizen of a Muslim country and pays the civic duties, i.e., jizya, etc., and does not commit enmity against any country or nation, then he will be called a dhimmi and the protection and preservation of his life, property, honor and dignity is obligatory on the Islamic state and the Muslims.

Polytheist: The ruling on a polytheist is also the same as that on an open infidel.

In addition, if atheists, disbelievers, hypocrites, heretics and apostates live in a non-Muslim country with which Muslims do not have any treaty of friendship, then they are also like open infidels and no rulings will be issued on them. However, if the people of a region or tribe collectively apostatize and start gaining power, then the Muslim ruler will have to take action against them and eradicate them before the militant infidels.

 Hypocrite: If a hypocrite lives in a Muslim country and is not involved in any kind of hostility towards the country or nation, Muslims will not attack him either. However, if a heretic, atheist, apostate or apostate commits this crime while living in an Islamic country, then no matter how peaceful he may seem, the Muslim ruler will punish him for this worst character and heinous crime in the light of Islamic law, because the head of a country is obliged to protect the religion and faith of his citizens, and it is the duty and fundamental right of the Muslim ruler to prosecute those who want to play with the religion and faith of Muslims, because according to the Prophet’s saying: “Every one of you is a guardian and every one of you will be responsible for his subjects” (Mishkat, p. 320) (Each of you is a guardian and each of you will be asked about his subjects), the Muslim ruler has full authority to reform his citizens. Therefore, the Muslim ruler should keep a close eye on the anti-national activities of such irreligious individuals and protect the religion and faith of his subjects from their secret mischief, conspiracies and evil and corruption.

Heretic: Therefore, if a citizen of an Islamic state adopts heresy and repents from this crime before being arrested, his repentance will be accepted, but if he expresses repentance after being arrested, his repentance will not be accepted. Therefore, Hazrat Imam Malik and others do not accept the repentance of such a person. Hazrat Imam Abu Hanifa also has the same school of thought, and Allama Shami has also preferred it.

Apostate: If a citizen of an Islamic state becomes an apostate by God’s will, then the rulings are different from all of them, for example:

If the apostate is a woman, she should be arrested and put in prison. If she has any doubts, they should be removed. She should be asked to repent. If she repents, then she should be punished. Otherwise, she should be imprisoned for life until she dies or repents.

 If a minor child becomes an apostate, it will be seen that if he understands the religion and has reached the age of reason and consciousness, then his ruling is also that of a male apostate, and if he is completely young and immature, then the rulings of apostasy will not be issued against him. Similarly, if a madman or insane person commits apostasy, the rulings of apostasy will not be issued against him either.

If a sane, adult male commits apostasy, he will be arrested and given a respite for three days, his doubts will be cleared, if he becomes a Muslim, then he will be punished, otherwise he will be killed.

This is the decision of the Quran and Sunnah, the consensus of the Ummah and the jurists of the Ummah, and this is also the requirement of reason and honesty.

In the Light of The Holy Quran

انماجزاء الذین یحاربون اللّٰہ ورسولہ ویسعون فی الارض فسادًا ان یقتلوا او یصلبوا او تقطع ایدیہم وارجلہم من خلاف او ینفوا من الارض ذلک لہم خزی فی الدنیا ولہم فی الآخرة عذاب عظیم، الا الذین تابو من قبل ان تقدروا علیہم فاعلموا ان اللّٰہ غفور رحیم“ (المائدہ: ۳۳-۳۴)

Translation: “This is the punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive to spread corruption in the land: that they be killed or crucified or their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or be banished from this place. This is their disgrace in this world, and for them is a great punishment in the Hereafter. Except for those who repent before you are overcome, then know that Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”

 Under this verse, all the commentators and hadith scholars have written the story of those people of intellect and intellect who had embraced Islam, but the climate and weather of Medina did not suit them, so on their complaint, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent them with the camels of charity, where they continued to drink their milk, etc. When they recovered, they became apostates and killed the camel herder and drove away the camels of charity. When the Muslims captured them and brought them to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) cut off their right hands and left feet and threw them into the Harrah. They kept asking for water, but he did not even give them water, until they died of thirst.

 Hadiths Regarding the punishment of apostates

Regarding the punishment of apostates, numerous sayings of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the actions of his companions are also narrated in the Sahih Satta and other books of Hadith.

۱– ”عن عکرمة قال: اتی علی رضی اللّٰہ عنہ بزنادقة فاحرقہم، فبلغ ذلک ابن عباس، فقال: لوکنت انا لم احرقہم لنہی رسول اللّٰہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم قال: لا تعذبوا بعذاب اللّٰہ، ولقتلتہم لقول رسول اللّٰہ صلی اللّٰہ علیہ وسلم: من بدّل دینہ فاقتلوہ۔“ (بخاری، ص: ۱۰۲۳، ج۲، ص: ۴۲۳،ج:۱

Translation: “It is narrated from Hazrat Ikrimah that some heretics were brought to Hazrat Ali and he burned them in fire. When Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RA) came to know about this incident, he said: I would not have burned them, because the Holy Prophet (PBUH) has said: Do not inflict a punishment that Allah Almighty will inflict (in Hell). I would have killed them in accordance with the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) command: “Kill the one who changes his religion.”

“It was narrated from ‘Ikrimah that Ibn ‘Abbas said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Whoever changes his religion, then kill him.” (Nasa’i, p. 149, vol. 2, Sunan Ibn Majah, p. 182).

   ”عن انس ان علیا اتی بناس من الزط یعبدون وثناً فاحرقہم، فقال ابن عباسؓ انما قال رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : من بدل دینہ فاقتلوہ“․ (سنن نسائی ص:۱۶۹، ج:۲، مسند احمد ص:۳۲۳، ج:۱).

Translation: “It is narrated from Hazrat Anas that some people from Zat (Sudan) were brought to Hazrat Ali who had become apostates after embracing Islam and were worshipping idols. He burned them in fire. Upon this, Hazrat Ibn Abbas said that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever leaves Islam and becomes an apostate, kill him.”

عن عبداللہ قال: قال رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ․․․ لا یحل دم رجل مسلم یشہد ان لا الٰہ الا اللہ وانی رسول اللہ الا باحدی ثلاث: الثیب الزانی، والنفس بالنفس، والتارک لدینہ المفارق للجماعة“۔ (ابوداؤد ص:۲۴۲، ج:۲، نسائی ص:۱۶۵، ج:۲، ابن ماجہ ص:۱۸۲، سنن کبریٰ بیہقی ص:۱۹۴، ج:۸، ترمذی ص:۲۵۹، ج:۱، مسلم ص:۵۹، ج:۲).

Translation: “It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Mas’ud that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: It is not permissible to shed the blood of a Muslim who testifies that there is no god but Allaah, except for three people: one who commits adultery while married, the second who kills someone unjustly, and the third who leaves Islam and becomes an apostate.”

عن معاذ بن جبل ان رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم قال لہ حین بعثہ الی الیمن: ایما رجل ارتد عن الاسلام فادعہ، فان تاب، فاقبل منہ، وان لم یتب، فاضرب عنقہ، وایما امرأة ارتدت عن الاسلام فادعہا، فان تابت، فاقبل منہا، وان ابت فاستتبہا“۔ (مجمع الزوائد: ۲۶۳، ج:۶)

Translation: It was narrated from Mu’adh bin Jabal that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent him to Yemen, he said: “Whoever apostates after embracing Islam, invite him to Islam. If he repents, accept his repentance. If he does not repent, behead him. And whoever abandons Islam and becomes an apostate, invite him to Islam. If he repents, accept his repentance. If he refuses to repent, continue to demand repentance (i.e. do not kill him).

Common Sense

Apart from this, common sense also demands that a person who enters Islam of his own free will and consent should not be allowed to apostatize from Islam, because if, God forbid, someone had any doubts about Islam or Islamic teachings, why did he accept Islam in the first place?  Therefore, a person who has entered Islam of his own free will and pleasure cannot be allowed to become an apostate because he has not only changed his religion and sect by leaving Islam, but also through this ugly and worst act, he has committed the worst conspiracy to tarnish religion and Sharia, Islamic teachings, Islamic society, to defame and defame Islamic teachings and to obstruct the path of those who become new Muslims.

 Therefore, before accepting Islam, his example was that of an open infidel, but now his status is that of a rebel against Islam. And it is an established principle of the world that a person who is not a citizen of a country and does not accept the laws of that country cannot be forced to do so, but when a person adopts the citizenship of a country, he will be bound by the civil laws of that country. Therefore, even if someone arbitrarily claims the citizenship of a country and declares rebellion against its orders, laws, principles and regulations, he has no right to live. Therefore, if a person violates the laws and regulations of a country,  Or is the death penalty due to rebellion against the head of a country worthy of death, then why should the perpetrator of rebellion against Islam, Islamic laws and the Prophet of Islam not be worthy of death penalty?

The Islamic law of Punishment for Apostasy is the Very Nature

Against Islam, and they are considered deserving of severe punishment.

 However, Islam and If seen and examined carefully, this Islamic law of punishment for apostasy is the very nature, which benefits not only Muslims, but also all citizens of the Islamic state. This is because the religion of Islam is the beloved religion of Allah and in this religion and belief lies the path of worldly success and salvation and the Hereafter, as Allah says:

1- “This day I have perfected your religion and completed my favor upon you and have chosen for you the religion of Islam.” (Al-Ma’idah: 3)

Translation: “This day I have perfected your religion and completed my favor upon you and have chosen for you the religion of Islam.”

 2- “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will not be accepted from him, and he will be among the losers in the Hereafter.” (Aal-e-Imran: 85)

Translation: “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will not be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.”

Therefore, the example of a person who has committed apostasy after accepting Islam is that of a mad dog or a foolish person who has no sense of his own or that of others. If a “wise” person spares his life out of pity, then is he a friend or an enemy of humanity? In the same way, sparing the life of an apostate is also tantamount to destroying the society, and his death is a source of peace, well-being, and tranquility for the Islamic society.

From the above details, it must have been understood that Islam and the Islamic constitution do not pursue every non-Muslim and infidel, but the Islamic constitution and constitution only prevent the path of those who are the enemies of the peace and order of the society and who are guilty of rebellion the Islamic constitution do not immediately punish such people, but rather provide them with an opportunity to reform themselves. If they reform, then great, otherwise they should be prepared for this worst punishment. Despite this, if some unfortunate person does not take advantage of it and makes an enemy of his life, then what is the fault of Islam in this?

As it has been stated earlier under the definition of apostasy and apostasy, a person who abandons Islam and adopts any other religion or sect after embracing Islam is an apostate, and the punishment for an apostate is death.