UI – Part 418 – Sans Apostasy Punishment, No Islam

The glue that holds Islam together is the fear of being killed for leaving the ideology. If born a Muslim or having converted to then throw off the cloak of this religion you are subject to Sharia Law for being an apostate.  That is either death or just severe punishment (the more modern form, if you can accept that).

From an article on the punishment of Muslim converts to Christianity for taking communion with wine, violating the alcohol prohibition for Muslims, Robert Spencer also discusses apostasy in Islam. He writes, “The death penalty for apostasy is part of Islamic law. It’s based on the Qur’an: ‘They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies until they emigrate for the cause of Allah. But if they turn away, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them and take not from among them any ally or helper.” (Qur’an 4:89).  A hadith depicts Muhammad saying: ‘Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him’ (Bukhari 9.84.57). The death penalty for apostasy is part of Islamic law according to all the schools of Islamic jurisprudence.'” (Read Article)  Note: it is legal for a Christian to drink alcohol in Iran. But the converts are not considered Christian. They are seen as still Muslim. Thus there is no tolerance or acceptance of an independent choice in Iran’s Islam.

There are clerics that have said and realize that without severe punishment for apostasy masses of Muslims over history would no longer be associated with Islam. In fact Islam may not even exist today.

To be a Christian is contingent on acceptance of the resurrection of Christ. Without the resurrection there would be no Christianity. Quite a contrast from Islam. One entails believing in God, the saving grace of the Lord. The other on being killed for turning from Islam. As I react to this contrast I sense faith versus fear. If once a Christian and the individual leaves the faith, becomes an atheist or a spiritualist or finds another path, the leaders of churches, the Vatican, or even political leaders (as Christianity does not insist on a theocracy) the call for death to the apostate is never heard. If anything what is said is prayer, an invitation to return, an open opportunity to further understand the grace of the Lord, Jesus dying on the cross to erase the stain of sin from those who accept his sacrifice and divinity. 

Certainly the objective moral and ethical values set forth in the Bible, as divine law, are difficult and troubling for many to meet. It is sin. It has never been stated that being a Christian would be easy or without persecution.  As a sinner aware of the act, the feeling of guilt or shame is uncomfortable. Denying the faith, ignoring the constraints, becomes an avenue of escape. The thinking is if not a Christian then divine law need not apply. If it feels good it must be OK. But will you be happy? Obedience to God is not a requirement for which there will be temporal punishment, unless it effects all of society (such as murder or rape). Living with Christ as your example is to line your life path with beautiful reminders of an eternal life extending heaven on earth.

Islam contains laws similar to those in the Bible as to murder, rape, treatment of others, respect for authority, respect for Allah, and honoring Scripture. But it is not by faith, it is a matter of control. Society becomes the watchdog.  What a Muslim believes is framed in texts to be memorized and accepted without doubt. It also has as the example to follow a mortal, vengeful, militaristic and dictatorial ego-centric individual for which freedom is anathema. There is no freedom in Islam. Loyalty is demanded. With no freedom how can there be even the thought of freedom of religion other than in the one ideological system referred to as Submission, as Islam.

To maintain the membership in Islam a virtual border is erected around every devout, cultural or converted Muslim that spells death if the bubble that surrounds is broken by the will of the individual.  It may be better described as a cage, the cage of Islam, a prison in which any escapee is subject to the most severe chastisement and punishment permissible. Leave – you die!

We can only pray for those chained to a will that is not their own, the Will of Allah, whose mind, body and spirit is dampened by the restraints imposed 5 times each day as a Pillar, a reminder of the imposition on freedom that to say they enjoy is in itself a fabrication.

Grace and Peace.