WRT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/30481


Mr Raihan wrote:

[4.89: " ... if they turn back (to enmity) then take them and kill them ..."

I don't think this verse is talking about the punishment of "apostasy" in
general. Its talking about enmity or something else. However this verse can
be taken as a serious consideration.]


My comment:

This verse clearly says to kill the renegades of Islam, that is the
apostates:

Here is what this verse is all about:

Seize and slay the renegades (i.e., apostates) wherever you find them (death
for the apostates as per Baydawi; Ref. Leaving Islam, p17, as per the
translator of Noble Qur’an kill those who reject Islam after accepting
it)...4:89


To be fair, I am quoting here three verses, one before verse 89 and one
after verse 89.

4:88. Then what is the matter with you that you are divided into two parties
about the hypocrites? Allâh has cast them back (to disbelief) because of
what they have earned. Do you want to guide him whom Allâh has made to go
astray? And he whom Allâh has made to go astray, you will never find for him
any way (of guidance).

4:89. They wish that you reject Faith, as they have rejected (Faith), and
thus that you all become equal (like one another). So take not Auliyâ'
(protectors or friends) from them, till they emigrate in the Way of Allâh
(to Muhammad ). But if they turn back (from Islâm), take (hold) of them and
kill them wherever you find them, and take neither Auliyâ' (protectors or
friends) nor helpers from them.

4:90. Except those who join a group, between you and whom there is a treaty
(of peace), or those who approach you with their breasts restraining from
fighting you as well as fighting their own people. Had Allâh willed, indeed
He would have given them power over you, and they would have fought you. So
if they withdraw from you, and fight not against you, and offer you peace,
then Allâh has opened no way for you against them.



In verse 4:88 Muhammad is asking his diehard jihadists not to waste their
time with hypocrite Muslims, it is Allah's wish that they had become
apostates.

In verse 4:89 Muhammad is asking his followers to mercilessly kill the
apostates if they they could be caught.

In verse 4:90 Muhammad is making some exceptions; if the apostate rejoins
the Muslim group or if the desreter joins the party with which Muhammad had
signed some kind of peace treaty.


These verses are applicable whether Muslims are at war or not, Muhammad did
not spedify any time limit or condition. So this verse is applicable to all
Muslims for eternity.


The above scholars of Islam have just confirmed what I have written.


In all the Islamic Paradises, the punishment for apostasy from Islam is
death. This provision is backed by the Qur'an and further supported by
Hadis, which Avijit had quoted in his post. There are other ahadith which
clearly demonstrates that death was the penalty the apostates paid during
and after Muhammad's time. We know that the Qur'an only Muslims (QOM) will
not accept Hadis on the issue of apsotasy. This is fine. Let them refute the
Qur'an.



Here are few more verses from the Qur'an which call for the slaughter of the
apostates.

If the enemies violate their oaths (i.e., if they apostatize? or do not
accept Islam) and taunts the faith then fight them (i.e., death for the
apostates as per Maudoodi; ref. Leaving Islam, p18)...9:12

Covenant with God must be honored; deserters (apostates) cannot escape death
or being killed (death for the apostates)...33:15-16

God curses the hypocrites, diseased hearts; they are not able to stay as
Muhammad's neighbor; wherever they are found they will be seized and slain
mercilessly (i.e., kill the apostates and the hypocrites) …33:60-61



At the beginning, when Muhammad started out, and when he did not have the
military might, he left the punishment of his deserters to Allah. After he
migrated to Medina and founded his terrorist gang, he instituted the death
penalty for those who dared to leave him.



Please note that suras 4, 9 and 33 are Medina suras.

Other suras which left the punishment of the apostates to Allah were
decisively Meccan suras.

I would like Raihan to prove that those scholars (I mentioned in connection
with verse 4:89) of Islam are wrong. This proof must be done using authentic
and universally acceptable impeccable Islamic sources, not from Gandhi,
Michael Hart, Bertrand Russel, John Esposito......etc.


Sincerely,



AK