Welcome to the 30th weekly episode of the series Islamic Human Rights. Today, we discuss the reason behind consideration of a heavy punishment for apostasy in sacred religion of Islam.

As it was mentioned last week, the divine religion of Islam delegates the responsibility of discovery of the truth and the right ideology to mankind. Hence, this divine religion invites mankind to contemplate over acceptance of Islam. The divine religion of Islam points out that mankind should freely contemplate and ponder to be able to alertly accept the monotheistic religion and to distance oneself from polytheism and disbelief. Obviously, Islam does not want to impose this thought upon individuals. This is because religious and wholehearted beliefs take shape via contemplation and acceptance of that religion by one’s conscience. Therefore, one’s belief cannot be changed via resorting to force. God Almighty, in addition to guidance of mankind to the righteous path, invites people to freely choose the right path.

On the other hand, in accordance to Quranic instructions, in the Islamic ruling system, Muslims are duty-bound to maintain peaceful coexistence with non-Muslims and to be kind and fair toward them, to an extent that it would not lead to the domination of non-Muslims upon the Islamic community.

The principle of freedom of thought in Islam is based on wholehearted faith, in the absence of any force or pressure. Meanwhile, Islam has not allowed Muslims to commit apostasy. Apostasy has been highly criticized in Holy Quran. Meanwhile, none of the ayahs of Holy Quran related to apostasy have set a worldly punishment for apostasy. However, in the tradition of Prophet of Islam, Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny), the Infallible Imams of Prophet of Islam’s Household (Peace be upon them), and in the view of Islamic theologians, heavy punishments have been set for apostasy. Ayahs of Holy Quran repeatedly refer to apostates as disbelievers, losers, and those deceived by Satan.

The 217^th ayah of Surat al-Baqarah in Holy Quran notes: “… And whoever of you turns away from his religion and dies faithless – they are the ones whose works have failed in this world and the Hereafter. They shall be the inmates of the Fire, and they shall remain in it forever.”

One of the important points in regards to apostasy is the reasons, which are rendered in order to prove commitment of this crime in Islamic theology and law.

In accordance to the prominent Islamic Mujtahed and theologian, late Imam Khomeini (May his soul rest in peace), apostasy is proved with the testimony of two just men and/or upon the confession of the individual, twice. In order to issue the ruling of apostasy, the accused should be mature, wise, free and independent, and purposeful. Given these reasons, it seems difficult to prove apostasy. On the other hand, the testimony of two just men is related to the apparent behavior of the apostate in the Islamic community which leaves a social impact. Hence, it seems that the ideological apostasy and practical apostasy can be differently dealt with.

In practical apostasy, the apostasy goes beyond the personal relationship of the individual with God, and his acts are to the detriment of the community and cause corruption. In this case, the apostate has committed a public crime and should be legally punished.

Hence, it can be concluded that the Islamic narrations related to issuance of death penalty for apostates, which are agreed upon by the Ulema of all Islamic denominations, are related to apostates, who have taken practical measures against the community’s order and security. Thus, it can be said that the issuance of ruling on apostasy takes place when the individual has openly announced his disbelief. This goes to show that Islam emphasizes on the political and social aspects of apostasy in order to prevent the social vulnerabilities resulting from denial of religion, and in order to foil the conspiracies hatched by the enemies of sacred religion of Islam.

In apostasy, the assumption is that the apostate, in his view, has preferred another religion; and this change of view leaves a negative impact on the community.

In the advent of Islam, Jews, in an effort to demoralize converts to Islam, sent a number of Jews to Muslim lands, who ostensibly converted to Islam. These infiltrators after a while turned away from Islam, thereby shaking the faith of a number of Muslims.

Apostasy and its announcement is in fact a practical confrontation against Islam and the Muslim community; sabotage of order and the spiritual calm of the community; establishment of conditions for promotion of disbelief; and an ominous effort to undermine Muslims. In fact, apostasy is one of the most dangerous tools which have been employed against the biggest goal of creation; which is worship of God and establishment of a close bond with the one and only creator of the world.

Hence, the philosophy behind the punishment considered for apostates in the divine religion of Islam is to protect and safeguard the Islamic country; to prevent its collapse; and to prevent the infiltration of foreign powers and hypocrites. The ruling issued for apostasy is only related to those who openly announce or promote their apostasy, and in fact stage plots and conspiracies against the existing order and system of the community.

MR/SS