Eliminate the cancer of Shia / Qadiyani genocide

A. IntroductionA quick glance of Shia murder in pakistan alone.

1. 6-01-1963 – 118 Shia Muslims including many children were killed on Ashura Day in Therih, Khair Pur

2. 17-May-1988 – 800 Shias killed by attack form Kohistan, Chilas, Darel, Tangir, assisted by military govt

3. 10-Sep-1996 FATA ; Parachinar – 200 shia killed

4. 1-10- Aug-1997 – Punjab, Lahore- 100 Shia killed

5. 11-Jan-1988 – punjab, Lahore – 25 Shia Muslims including children were killed and many injured when Sipah e Sahaba terrorists opened fire at a funeral gathering at a graveyard in Momin Pura, Lahore

6. 4 July 2003 – balochistan, Quetta –  killing of 53 worshippers at the main Shia Friday Mosque in Quetta.

7. 10 April 2007 – Attack on Shia mosque and villages in Parchinar 60 killed

8. 16-23 Nov 2007 – FATA, Parachinar 183 Shia killed

9. 17 jan 2008 – A suicide bomber killed 10 and wounded 25 in an attack on a Shia mosque in Peshawar.

10. 1 sep 2008 FATA 100 Shia killed

11. 5 feb 2009 – Bomb attack on a Shia procession 35 killed

12. 20 oct 2009 -Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – Shia funeral attacked 40 Shia killed

13. 5 april 2009 suicide attack on imambargah – 30 shia killed

14. 28 dec 2009- Sindh – 40 people killed in a suicide bombing on a Shia procession in Karachi

15. 1 sep 2010 – 43 Shias were killed and 230 people  injured in a blast during a procession in Lahore

16. 4 sep 2010 – 73 people killed in a suicide bombing at a Shia Al-Quds rally in Quetta

17. 28 feb 2010 – Gilgit, Massacre – bus , identity card checked for sect, 19 Shia killed

18. 3 april 2010 – Gilgit – Over 200 Shia Muslims taken out of buses and killed, 6 buses burnt, two dozens kidnapped.

Are we addressing the REAL reason?

This string of attack against Shia is going in pakistan unabated. Somewhat similar is the story of murder of qadiyanis in pakistan. A complete failed state – pakistan; is completely unable to protect its own citizen. Every time one hear about innocent being killed – an honest person condemns. One disagree with these kind of brutal attack and demand strongest punishment for perpetrators of such dastardly act.. every time we condemn attack.. we condemn… what we condemn? Attack? But what happens afterwards? Again attack on Shia / qadiyani. Such attacks will not reduce or fizzle out unless we condemn and work for elimination of “root reason”. We – every time – fail to address the root reason behind such attacks. Please Note: i am talking about attacks that is because of “he / she is Shia” / “he / she is a qadiyani”. We are not talking about robbery, murder for gain or for personal reason – we are talking about attack that is because of “islamic” reason. We are talking about attack that originates due to hate for shia.

Think about this sequence:
A Salafi / Sunni is taught by his set of “scholars” that Shia are deviated.
He consider Shia to have gone astray.
He is taught that Shia abuse Sahaba, they have different Quran, they consider hazrat Ali superior to Prophet Muhammad, Shia are betrayer….. his blood is made to boil.
He starts hating Shia, his hatred for Shia grows with each sermon / lecture on topic related to Shia.
Some scholars go to another extreme and start preaching that Shia are apostate or murtad (means they are out of islam).
………
……..
… so anger against Shia is growing. A Salafi / Sunni starts considering hatred for Shia part of his deen.
— he is getting angry. Every kind of catalyst is provided to him to despise Shia. What is required is a mere push / emotional push.

His “Scholars” give final touch by declaring Shia to be muratd / kafir / wajib-ul-qatl.. i.e. you “can” kill Shia, … gradually things turn out that — in fact one “should” kill Shia because they abuse Sahaba, they are kafir…
…and..they should be killed… that days is ashura… kill them when they will be celebrating a “biddah”… kill..
…………..
…………. Then……
……
10-Jan-2013: BREAKING NEWS — A Bomb blast on Thursday 10th January 2013 occurred at a snooker club which was close to a police station and a Shia Mosque. “First suicidal attack was conducted and then a car bomb exploded on Alamdar Road,” Said Mir Zubair Mehmood, the Capital City Police Officer.The bomb exploded 8:50p.m local time. As police, rescuers and media personal rushed to the blast site, another bomb fixed to a vehicle parked nearby the site went off, causing an even greater number of causalities. Over 140 were killed and 121 wounded in the second twin bomb attack. Lashkae-e-jhangvi, a extremist terrorist group banned by the government has claimed responsibility for all the blasts.

More than 400 Shiites were killed in targeted attacks in Pakistan in 2012
Think about people killed. What if they were your brother? Your own sister? Your own father? What if these kids were your own kids?? Making suicide bombers for killing innocent human being in the name of islam??
Attacking people in masjid?? When they were remembering Allah you murdered them??
Shameless act!! Astaghfirullah. Killing people in the name of islam?? What has happened to muslim scholars?

Providing catalyst for murder of Shia

Though there are tons of material of hatred and despise available, i am quoting only three here. Many Sunni / Salafi knows why he “should” hate shia.

1. Wikipedia says:  “In recent decades the late leading Saudi cleric, Abd al-Aziz ibn Abd Allah ibn Baaz, issued fatwa denouncing Shia as apostates, and according to Shia scholar Vali Nasr “Abdul-Rahman al-Jibrin, a member of the Higher Council of Ulama, even sanctioned the killing of Shias,[145] a call that was reiterated by Wahhabi religious literature as late as 2002.”[147]”

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shi’a%E2%80%93Sunni_relations

2. While answering about Shia, a leading Salafi website says:

“Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: As for the one who goes further and claims that they apostatized after the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) died, apart from a small number, no more than ten or so, or that they (referring to Shia) became evildoers, there is no doubt that he is a kaafir, because he is rejecting what it says in the Qur’aan in more than one place, that Allaah was pleased with them and praised them. Indeed, the one who doubts that such a person is a kaafir is to be labelled as a kaafir himself, because what this view implies is that those who transmitted the Qur’aan and Sunnah were kuffaar or rebellious evildoers. …… End quote from al-Saarim al-Maslool ‘ala Shaatim al-Rasool (p. 590).

This does not mean that every sect that calls itself Muslim is actually Muslim, rather they may be kaafirs and apostates, such as the extreme Raafidis (referring to Shia), the extreme Sufis and the baatini sects such as the Druze, Nusayris and others. These are all beyond the pale of Islam and are not regarded as being among the sects mentioned in the hadeeth.”

Source: http://islamqa.info/en/ref/101272

3. A pseudo jihadi Salafi-website – taking “knowledge” from “Scholars of knowledge” (Such as above) says:

“..Furthermore, the Raafidah Shi’a are indeed Murtadeen (Murtad means one who has abandoned religion) (as we will come to see) so treating them like Muslims is out of the question as well as Jizya. Therefore, there is no practical solution with the Raafidah Shi’a except force since they are not even a sect within Islam; they are Murtadeen and the hudood must be implemented on them unless if they accept the true Islam. The same goes for the Ahmadiyya group who thinks they are a part of Islam.
……..
So we say: It should be clear to everyone here that the Shi’a Raafidah are Murtadeen and are not in the folds of Islam. We must avoid them and their gatherings and let others know of their disbelief so that they are not inclined towards them in any way. This is only done for the protection of Tawheed and its purity. Furthermore, others must know of them and their evil beliefs so that they can be confronted whenever they are around the people of Sunnah. All of this should tell us that we cannot unite with the Shi’a Raafidah on any bases and should refrain from making such ignorant statements.”

http://theunjustmedia.com/Islamic%20Perspectives/Shia%20are%20kafirs%20here%20is%20the%20proof.htm

Eliminate this “islamic” terrorism

1. One can find such numerous fatwas / opinion coming from the mouth of bloodthirsty / firebrand “s-c-h-o-l-a-r” and its “followers of Quran and Sunnah”. Let me assure you all – don’t get scared after reading above 3 points, don’t hate islam after reading above 3 points because they are diametrically opposite to teachings of islam; they are completely against the spirit of islam; they are completely against the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.
Above fatwas / wordings has nothing to do with Quran.

2. Please note here we are not discussing the exact status of Shia belief, Qadinai belief, Salafi belief. We are not discussing whose accusation is correct. We are – on the first level – discussing that even if each and every accusation against Shia is correct then do they have right to kill Shia?
Can a muslim kill someone because he does not agree with the belief of opponent?
Has Allah given right to anyone to kill people because of belief?
Instead of correcting others (whom you feel have gone astray) why you are indulging in spreading hatred, despise and arising emotions??

3. All such nonsense fatwas are  because of completely abandoning Quran. In fact Shia-Sunni-Salafi itself is result of abandoning Quran. For details listen to this with open mind both parts ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ7AMW1ei_I

4. Allah has not FORCED people to believe in something. Allah has made people free to believe in whatever they want. Allah has shown the way. Why you are interfering? Your job was to convey.

“There is no compulsion in religion” [Quran, Surah Baqrah 2:256]

“Say, ‘The truth is from your Lord’: Let him who wills believe it, and let him who wills, reject (it).” [Quran, Surah Kahaf 18:29]

“If it had been your Lord’s will, they all would have believed – all who are on earth. Will you, then, compel the people, against their will, to believe?” [Quran, Surah Yunus 10:99]

Please note this last ayah specially. Its not part of Allah plan that people should be forced to believe in something. How dare you kill people because of their faith and belief???

2. If you believe in day of judgment then why don’t you leave it to Allah to judge who was kafir, murtad? If you think that by calling yourself Shia / Sunni / Salafi you have certificate of jannah and rest all will go to hell then you can continue living in fool’s paradise. If you get some, try to read Quran. You abandoned Quran, Allah abandoned you and made you divide into sects.

Who is kafir as per GOD? read here: http://khurshidimam.blogspot.in/2011/09/who-is-kafir-clear-misconception_24.html

You are sending people to hell on petty issues; see the universal message of Quran which you would not be able to digest you sectarian muslims.

“Those who believe (in the Qur’an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians and the Christians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness,- on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” Quran 5: 69

Now some ill-informed people will say that this ayah is abrogated – leveling another charge against GOD.
For deatils about abrogation in Quran- read this: http://khurshidimam.blogspot.in/2012/05/how-many-ayah-of-quran-are-abrogated.html

3. If you feel that certain teachings of Shia or Sunni or Salafi is incorrect and wrong then all you can do is tell them things which you deem correct… but not with sword and knife but with wisdom, love and beautiful preaching. That is what is taught by Almighty God.

“Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance.” Quran 16:125

a. You don’t agree, don’t fight; rather educate; have dialogue, have discussion. Is it necessary to hate; to despise; to kill? If your scholars have taught you to hate then they are presenting evil picture of islam. Islam is pure and clean from such blame.

b. Is not it surprising that prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is mentioned as Rahmatul-alemeen i.e. mercy for all worlds .. yet followers of so-called Quran and “SUNNAH” are proving to be zalim, brutal, intolerant and inhumane?

c. Is not it surprising that though people made several accusation against Prophet; terming his sorcerer (Quran 10:2); poet; majnu… yet prophet Never ordered to KILL them??

d. IS not it surprising that in whole Quran Almighty God has addressed “real kafir” as KAFIR ONLY one time… i repeat – in whole Quran Almighty God has addressed “real kafir” as KAFIR ONLY one time… i.e in Surah kaferoon (Qul Ya ayyohal kaferoon);  rest all places God has referred them as HUMAN BEING (Ya ayyohannaas)… but follower of “Quran and Sunnah” has made it part of their faith to declare people kafir, send them to hell and kill them.

e. Is not it surprising that there are terrorist groups in pak whose very purpose is to kill Shia? And please mind it – these terrorist groups are leaded by scholars with “long beard” who are scholars of Quran and Sunnah?? Something is horribly wrong going the way muslim world is understanding islam.

f. Killing people because of their faith??? Not permitted in islam at least. God permits killing only in case wherein either one has murdered someone OR he is the cause of fasad on earth (refer to Quran 5:32). Fasaad means disturbing the balance of peace on earth. Its a broad term.

g. The Quran – whose 113 out of 114 chapter / surah starts with the introduction of Almighty GOD as “‘In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful” — the pathetic condition of some muslims is that – because of influence of some lunatic and fanatic scholars they are giving the opposite picture of God. Are those muslims anywhere closer to being merciful and compassionate due to their hatred and killings?

Conclusion

1. Murder of anyone – from any faith / cast / creed — if he is innocent — is against islam, against Quran. If any scholar / muslim preaches contrary to it then mind it he is wrong; no matter how long his beard is.

2. You have difference of opinion – discuss, have dialogue. That is the only way. This discussion need to be done under guidance of Quran.

3. You are bearing fruits of abandoning Quran that you are divided into sects. Hold firmly Quran and inshallah all sects will disappear – viz: Shia, Sunni, Salafi.

4. Respect, be tolerant, and learn to live with difference. Murder of one innocent is murder of whole humanity.

Note: * If you don’t agree with the mail then instead of giving fatwa of deviation / kufr / shirk / biddat – have faith in Allah and leave it to him to judge.

* Author: Khurshid Imam is software engineer at Bangalore, India. For any criticism / feedback / suggestion feel free to mail – serviceforhumanity@gmail.com

The article can be found at: http://khurshidimam.blogspot.in/2013/01/condemn-and-eliminate-real-reason.html

The article can be downloaded as pdf from: http://www.scribd.com/KHURSHIDIMAM

Does Islam teach to kill apostate?

By Khurshid Imam

Warning: This article is useful for people from any faith who are not blind followers of their-set-of-scholars. Blind followers with closed mind can ignore the article. Others: kindly read the whole article before concluding.

A. Welcome to the religion of peace?

“Welcome to Islam – the religion of peace! ! ! !”
“Islam stands for peace, justice and humanity. ! ! ! !”
“There is no compulsion in religion! ! ! !”
“Islam is religion of God. ! ! ! !”
“Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was rahmatul-alemeen i.e. mercy for all the worlds.”
……
Wait…… learn one more teachings alleged-to-be-of-Islam…
………………
if ..you.. want.. to.. leave.. Islam.. then…….. you deserve death penalty!!!!
What??? Did not understand?
Your head MUST be cut off if you abandon Islam.. -@#$%^&*
You know why?
Because Islam says that apostate should be killed .. killed .. killed .. killed .. killed!
What? Barbaric religion? No way – Islam is religion of peace and gives utmost freedom of thought.

B. What is this issue: Death-for-apostasy?

1. Why this issue is relevant?

• A person who leaves / abandons / shuns a faith or religion is called apostate.
• In Islamic context if a muslim become atheist or starts following another religion or just leaves Islam is called apostate of Islam.
• The horrific understanding of majority of Muslims is that Islam prescribes death for apostasy.
• The interesting point is: this issue is in the limelight not because many Muslims become apostate; but because of hue and cry made by non Muslims and a few Muslims. Common non-Muslims hate and abhor Islam saying how can one accept that God of Islam says that an apostate deserve death. Anti Islamic forces ridicule and lambaste Muslims, Quran and Prophet Muhammad saying “is this religion of peace? Is this freedom of thought in Islam? Islam is barbaric and inhumane religion. Why should one accept a religion when it’s a one way road-you enter alive but when you leave then you MUST die?”
• In today’s scenario; killings in the name of shia – sunni or sects is influenced by death-for-apostasy understanding. Equation is simple:

Equation A- a sunni “scholar” declares some shia as apostate because of some reasons (in most cases silly reasons).
Equation B – Apostate should be killed
Matching equation A & B – Shia should be killed and this is as per “teachings of Islam”. Hence proved.

2. Wait!! Don’t be biased. Be honest and just.

• Whether Islam prescribes death penalty for apostasy or not – we will see later; but the
billion dollar question is – whom should we please? Muslims? Islamic scholars? Non Muslims? Anti Islamic forces? Or Allah – the almighty God? If you say Allah then you MUST find out what Allah or Almighty God has told about this issue.

• If Almighty God guides us on any topic then will you still follow what you have been following? Will you prefer your set of scholars to God?

• “I will follow what I found my forefathers doing” – this mentality is condemned by Almighty God if it goes against the teachings of God.

When it is said to them: “Follow what God has sent down,” they say, “Nay! We shall follow what we found our fathers following.” What! Even if their fathers did not understand (ya‘qilun) anything and they were not guided? (Quran, Surah Baqrah 2:170)

• And when it is said to them: “Come to what God has sent down and to the Messenger,” they say, “Enough for us is that which we found our fathers following. What! Even if their fathers did not know anything and they were not guided? (Quran,Surah Maida 5:104)

C. The Misconception and its reason

The popular myth regarding apostasy is that “Apostate should be killed”.
Proof: People cite a few hadees from which they conclude that Islam prescribes death penalty for apostasy. Most oft-repeatedly cited statement is – Prophet told that whoever changes religion – kill him.

1. Reason for this misunderstanding

Again: the most commonly repeated mistake of the majority of Muslim. Not understanding an issue UNDER THE PRINCIPLE OF QURAN. When people don’t look at Quran, don’t analyze what Allah has revealed, don’t ponder over how Quran has guided and directly try to reach at conclusion just by looking at hadees in isolation then they are bound to make mistake.

2. Revisiting basics

“The month of Ramadhan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion …….” [Quran, Surah Baqrah 2: 185]

Please mark the purpose of Quran.
1. It is for whole mankind. Quran is not exclusive property of any particular sect, religion, group or race.
2. Quran is for guidance purpose. We MUST seek guidance from Quran.
3. Quran is the criterion – it means in any matter Quran will have the last say; what is right and what is wrong – what Quran decides will be final.

No wonder Muslims claim Quran to be word of God loudly but when it comes ACTUALLY believing and practicing it they fail miserably.

Quran says that one MUST judge as per the revelation of Almighty God.
……… If any do fail to judge by what Allah has revealed, they are Unbelievers (kaferoon). [Quran, Surah Maida 5:44]

………..And if any fail to judge by what Allah has revealed, they are wrong-doers (Zalemoon). [Quran, Surah Maida 5:45]

……… If any do fail to judge by what Allah has revealed, they are those who rebel (Faseqoon). [Quran, Surah Maida 5:47]

To you We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee…….;[Quran, Surah Maida 5:48]

And this (He commands): you judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their vain desires,…….. [Quran, Surah Maida 5:49]

Above ayah of Quran make very clear that if we judge against the guidance of Quran then it is kufr / zulm / fisq / absolutely wrong. See how much emphasis Allah has given on judging from what he has revealed.

D. There is absolutely NO punishment just for apostasy

1. Almighty God and Quran give absolute freedom to believe or disbelieve.

“There is no compulsion in religion” [Quran, Surah Baqrah 2:256]

You can not force anyone to become muslim. If you say that death should be awarded to apostate then it means you are forcing him not to leave islam. You are threatening him with death if he/she leaves islam.

“Say, ‘The truth is from your Lord’: Let him who wills believe it, and let him who wills, reject (it).” [Quran, Surah Kahaf 18:29]

“If it had been your Lord’s will, they all would have believed – all who are on earth. Will you, then, compel the people, against their will, to believe?” [Quran, Surah Yunus 10:99]

It is illogical-absurd-non sense-injustice to force someone to believe or enter Islam. Neither physical nor psychological force can be applied on anyone to believe in Islam. Faith comes from inner conviction and NOT from external compulsion.

2. Killing of human being in the house of Islam

• Life is sacred. Killing of one innocent is like killing whole mankind. [Quran, Surah Maidah 5:32]
• In order to safeguard the peace and human life; Quran permits capital punishment- but only in two cases – murder and spreading mischief. [Quran, Surah Maidah 5:32]

3. Quran is against death penalty for apostasy.

Does Quran mentions about apostasy? “YES” – “several times.”
What punishment it prescribes? “No worldly punishment for sure. It always speaks about punishment in the life hereafter.”

Quran address the issue of apostasy at several places. Almighty God tells about the people leaving Islam-but at not a single place God says that such people should be killed. Look at 2:217, 3:86-90, 4:137, 9:66,74, 16:106-109, 47:25-27

A)”… And if anyone among you turns back from his religion and dies as a disbeliever, then the works of such as these will be lost in this life and in the hereafter they will be the dwellers of the fire, abiding therein forever. [Quran, Surah Baqrah 2:217]

B) How shall God guide those who reject faith after their belief and after they bore witness that the Messenger was true and after clear (signs) had come unto them? God guides not unjust people.
They are those whose recompense is that on them (rests) the curse of God, of the angels, and of all humankind.
They will abide therein. Their torment will not be lightened and they will not be given any respite –
Except for those that repent after that, and make amends (by righteous deeds), for, verily God is forgiving, most merciful.
But surely those who disbelieved after their belief and then went on increasing in their disbelief, never will their repentance be accepted; for they are those who have gone astray. [Quran, Surah Ale Imran 3:86-90]

C) Surely those who believe, then disbelieve, then believe (again) and (again) disbelieve, and go on increasing in disbelief, God will not forgive them nor guide them nor guide them on the way. [Quran, Surah Nisa 4:137]

Please note: this ayah talk about an apostate coming back to islam and then again becoming apostate – if you kill apostate then how he will get chance to again come to islam? So this ayah directly contradicts with death-for-apostasy.
D) Make no excuses. You have disbelieved after your belief. If We pardon some of you, We (may) punish others amongst you, for they are guilty. [Quran, Surah Tauba 9:66]

They swear by God that they did not say, but they did say the word of disbelief and they disbelieved after their islam and meditated a plot which they were unable to carry out. And (by this) they avenged nothing except that God and his Messenger had enriched them of his bounty! If they repent, it will be better for them; but if they turn away, God will punish them with a grievous penalty in this world and in the hereafter. And there is none for them on earth as a protector or helper. [Quran, Surah Tauba 9:74]

E) Whoever disbelieved in God after his belief – not he who is forced to do so while his heart is content with faith but he who opens his breast to disbelief – on such wrath from God, and theirs will be a great torment. [Quran, Surah Nahal 16:106]
No doubt, in the hereafter they will be losers. [Quran, Surah Nahal 16:109]

F) 47:25 Surely those who have turned back (to their state of kufr) after the guidance was made manifest to them, Shaytan has enticed them and filled them with false hopes. [Quran, Surah Muhammad 47:25]

The crux of the issue:
1. Quran gives absolute freedom of belief / disbelief. None can be forced to believe in Islam. None can be threatened with death for leaving Islam.

2. Quran mentions about apostasy issues several times, but not a single time Allah says that apostate should be killed. Please mind it – almost every place Almighty God talk about punishment in the life hereafter.

3. The biggest irony is that almost all ayah that deal with apostasy were revealed in medina where Islamic state was established. Imagine – even Surah taubah (which was revealed during war time) speaks about apostasy but stop short of execution of apostates. In medina Islamic state was established and criminal laws were implemented. In this situation what big deal it was to reveal that apostates should be killed?

4. What difficult it was to say in such place that punishment for apostasy is capital punishment? But no, Quran never said so.

5. Any unbiased Muslim / non-Muslim after going through above ayah of Quran will agree that Quran does NOT prescribe death penalty for apostasy.

6. Death-for-apostasy directly contradicts with several ayah of Quran: 2:256, 3:90, 4:137

7 Quran clears in 5:32 the situations when capital punishment can be given – one is murder; another is spreading mischief in land. A person can be given death for apostasy if his apostasy falls under the category of “fasad” i.e. spreading mischief on the land or better to say – “misbalancing the peace of earth”. It will be up to the Islamic state rulers to decide whether a particular case of apostasy can be termed as fasad-fil-ard i.e. spreading mischief in land. This term fasad or spreading mischief on land is abstract term and its implementation will vary from time to time and case to case. Important point to note is that then death punishment will be because of spreading mischief in land and NOT because of ONLY apostasy.

4. Can death punishment be left for hadees?

Some people will come up with childish argument. They say – “death-for-apostasy” is not in Quran but not in hadees.” These people fail to realize that it’s crystal clear from Quran that death-for-apostasy contradicts with several ayah of Quran.
Life is extremely scared in Islam; a crime that deserves death has to be stated in Quran clearly.
When Almighty God mentions about various crimes and its punishment – some even less severe than death; for example – cutting off hands for theft, flogging for wrong accusation of zina – then how come Allah will leave it to hadees to explain a crime and the punishment that is more severe? As I mentioned earlier – apostasy may or may not come under spreading mischief on land depending upon the situation. However, saying apostasy per-se is crime and deserve death penalty is against Quranic.

Note: For a real “Muslim” or believer in God and his teachings – this article is complete at this stage in its purpose. However, since most of so-called-Muslims have abandoned Quran and actually don’t believe in Quran in totality (practically) – hence further information is provided.

E. Analysis of hadees that allegedly prove that apostate should be killed

1. Hadees saying – “WHOEVER CHANGED HIS RELIGION, KILL HIM”

As should become clear in the sequel, the only hadith that legislates or prescribes as a law the death penalty for apostasy is found, with some variations, in Bukhari 2794, 6411, Abu Da`ud 3787, Tirmidhi 1378, Nasa`i 3991-7, Ibn Majah 2526, Ahmad 1776, 2420, 2813 (cf. Ahmad 1802).

Ahmad ibn Muhammad bin Hanbal related to us: Isma‘il bin Ibrahim related to us: Ayyub informed us from ‘Ikrimah that ‘Ali, peace be upon him, burned some people who abandoned Islam. This reached Ibn ‘Abbas and he said: I would not have burnt them with fire. Indeed, the Messenger of God said: ‘Do not punish with the punishment of God.’ I would have killed them in accordance with the word of the Messenger of God. For, surely the Messenger of God said: ‘Whoever changed his religion kill him’.” This reached ‘Ali, peace be upon him, and he said: ‘Woe to Ibn ‘Abbas’. (Abu Da`ud 3787)

Grave problems with this hadees:

1. This hadees mentioned in different books of ahadees gives contradictory statement in the last part. There are several differences in the various narrations of the hadith, some of which are important. As per different traditions Hazrat Ali said different things:
“Woe to Ibn ‘Abbas” (wayha Ibn ‘Abbas).
“Woe to the mother of Ibn ‘Abbas” (wayha umm Ibn ‘Abbas)
“Ibn ‘Abbas said the truth.” (sadaqa Ibn ‘Abbas).

2. One of the crucial narrator of this hadees -‘Ikrimah, the slave of Ibn ‘Abbas, has received mixed reviews from the scholars of hadith. Though some have considered or are reported to consider him reasonably trustworthy while others considered him a liar or at least untrustworthy. He is reported by many as liar, cheater and saying wrong words in the name of hazrat ibn abbas.

3. The hadith requires us to believe that either Sayyidna ‘Ali did not know the prohibition by the Messenger of God against burning people or he knowingly acted contrary to it. Both possibilities are extremely remote.
And even if for some reason Hzrat ‘Ali was ignorant about the hadith against burning, some of the many other senior Companions alive at the time would have known about it. We expect them to bring the Prophet’s words to ‘Ali’s notice when he was deciding to burn people or after he had done so.

4. Quite apart from the hadith prohibiting the burning of people, there is no report of burning of a human being by the Prophet, or Abu Bakr, or ‘Umar, or ‘Uthman. So why would ‘Ali depart from the practice of his illustrious predecessors? Perhaps he became very angry at those people and wanted to punish them in the severest way. But it was not the style of the khulafa` rashidun to act in anger in this way. ‘Ali’s character was closer to the one depicted in the tradition in which he was about to kill a disbeliever during a battle when the man spat on him. ‘Ali withdrew his sword and let the man go. When asked about why he withdrew his sword, ‘Ali replied in effect that the man’s spitting on him might have tainted the purity of his intention of fighting only for the sake of God. Hence killing people because of excessive anger is not expected from ‘Ali. It was something that came after the time of al-khulafa` al-rashidun when the rulers became power-loving, dictatorial and unjust.

5. Furthermore had ‘Ali burned some people many Muslims would have come to know about it, not least because of the unprecedented nature of the punishment. Consequently, reports about the burning would have found their way in many books of history. But we do not seem to have any independent report about it in any reputed source.

There are several other reasons that put big question marks over the authenticity of this hadees.
For more analysis on this hadees: please read here – http://islamicperspectives.com/PunishmentOfApostasy_Part2.html

2. A few apostates killed because of murder

It should not be difficult for any person with common sense that in the following hadees where prophet ordered execution of some apostates who have murdered people – the execution was because of MURDER and not apostasy. This is in sync with Quran and Prophets come to implement Quran ONLY.

A group of people from ‘Ukal and ‘Urainah came to Madinah and accepted Islam. Subsequently they apostated , killed and tortured a Sheppard [other version say sheppards] and mutilated their bodies. The Prophet ordered their arrest and they were executed. Sahih Al-Bukhari, op. cit., Vol.8, Hadeeths # 794, 795, 796, 797, pp. 519-522.

F. Prophet not ordering killing of apostate

There are proofs from the book of ahadees where Prophet did not order execution of apostate. Had death been divine punishment from Allah then definitely Prophet would have followed the commandment. This is in sync with the Quranic spirit that apostasy does not require death punishment.
1. The below hadees says that how a person accepted Islam and then left it, yet prophet didn’t order to execute him.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Muhammad bin al-Munkadir from Jabir bin ‘Abd Allah: A Bedouin gave a pledge of allegiance for embracing Islam. The next day he came with fever and so came to the Prophet, saying: “O Messenger of God! Cancel my pledge.” The Prophet refused. He came to him again and said: “Cancel my pledge”. He refused. He came to him another time and said: “Cancel my pledge.” He refused again. The Bedouin then went out. Then the Messenger of God said: “Madinah is exactly like a furnace; it expels out the impurities and retains the good.” (Muwatta 1377)

2. Also we know the famous case of ‘Abd Allah bin Abi Sarh. He became a Muslims, used to write for the Messenger of God but Shaytan made him slip and he joined the disbelievers. The Messenger of God ordered his execution on the day of the conquest (of Makkah). This order was because of him being an open enemy and not just because of apostasy. But ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan sought protection for him and the Messenger of God granted it to him. Now we see he was not finally executed. If apostasy deserved a mandatory capital punishment then definitely Prophet would have got him executed. (Refer to Abu Da`ud 3792, see also Nasa`i 4001)

No wonder a large number of people are coming open against this Anti-Quranic concept of death-for-apostasy.
Read http://apostasyandislam.blogspot.in/

G. Conclusion

1. It is one of the wide spread myth that Islam prescribe death penalty for apostates.

2. Islam gives utmost freedom of faith; one is free to believe or disbelieve. 2:256; 18:29; 10:99

3. Though Quran mentions about the issue of apostasy several times but not for once it prescribes any worldly punishment for it. In fact – at all such places – Allah speaks about punishment in life hereafter. Read 2:217, 3:86-90, 4:137, 9:66,74, 16:106-109, 47:25-27

4. Death for apostasy contradicts with several ayah of quran. For ex- 4:137 ; 2:256

5. Almost all ayah dealing with apostasy were revealed in medina where Islam state was established and Islamic criminal system was implemented. In this favorable situation it was not difficult for Allah to reveal that apostasy deserves death penalty.

6. God can not leave it to hadees to prescribe divine punishment for apostasy when Quran clearly mentions about crimes and punishment less severe compared to apostasy. 5:32-33; 5:38; 24:2

7. Since Muslims, as a whole have abandoned Quran (25:30) so they think that apostate should be killed.

8. A very few hadees that gives idea that apostate should be killed is full of contradiction and have several flaws.

9. Prophet never ever ordered execution for apostasy. Several instances from ahadees prove that even though people left Islam Prophet did not order their execution.

Note: * If you don’t agree with the mail then instead of giving fatwa of deviation / kufr / shirk / biddat – have faith in Allah and leave it to him to judge.

* Author: Khurshid Imam is software engineer at Bangalore, India. For any criticism / feedback / suggestion feel free to mail – serviceforhumanity@gmail.com

The article can be found at: http://khurshidimam.blogspot.in/2012/09/does-islam-teach-to-kill-apostate.html.

The article can be downloaded as pdf from: http://www.scribd.com/KHURSHIDIMAM