The Issue of Apostasy
By: Dr. Maqsood Jafri

The issue of apostasy has attracted the attention of people worldwide. It has been a controversial issue among the Muslim jurists. This issue became a heated issue in the sub-continent in 1920 when some Muslim clerics declared the death sentence for an apostate. Moulana Mohammad Ali Johar, a renowned Muslim poet, politician, orator, and scholar, argued in the press that death punishment for an apostate was un-Quranic. To date, the same issue has been revived. Recently, in Afghanistan, a Muslim named Abdul Rehman converted to Christianity, and his conversion has become the point of heated debate and discussion world over. The international press stated, "In recent days the example of a man Abdul Rehman in Afghanistan has come to the forefront. The Judge Mr. Zada, head of the Primary Court responsible for this case, said, "He was a Muslim for 25 years more than he has been a Christian. We will request him to become a Muslim again. In this country we have a perfect constitution. We have Islamic Law in Afghanistan. Rejection must be punished."

As it is a controversial matter between different jurists, I would like to briefly discuss this ticklish issue in the light of the Qur'an, the Hadith, and Muslim history. It should be very clear that there is no mention of the death penalty for an apostate in the Qur'an. The people who oppose the concept of penalty cite the following Qur'anic verse 256 from the Surah Heifer:

"Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error. Whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. And Allah hears and knows all things."

The jurists who recommend the death penalty for an apostate say that this verse does not apply to apostasy. It means that non-Muslims should not be forced to embrace or accept Islam. The people are free to accept or reject Islam, but, when once they freely accept it, then they are not permitted to abandon it, as by doing so they create "Fitna" (disturbance and chaos  in  Muslim  society).  Similarly , the

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