Apostasy in Islam (Irtidăd) is a Muslim's rejection of Islam by some means. Spoken or written renunciation is obviously apostasy, however, displayed disloyalty or blasphemous acts can also be deemed apostasy. The concept has parallels in other religious systems. There is no definition and consequent punishment that span all Islamic views but the concept of how to deal with apostasy is a matter of sharia law and varies greatly over the different schools of thought throughout the history of Islam.
Sunni
Traditionally apostasy is Sunni tradition was dealt with by the rulings of the four traditional madhhabs; Maliki, Hanafi, Shafi'i, Hanbali.
Shia
Muslim authorities cites as evidence of apostasy as any public declaration or conduct by a Muslim that denies Islam ,its beliefs, symbols or its principal actors such as statements as "I believe in other gods than Allah", or "Allah has a material form", or by any action that clearly resembles blasphemy, such as carelessly discarding a Qur´an, or parts of it, as well as burning the Qur´an out of contempt, and every manner of soiling it. The same applies to the Hadiths, the Sharia texts of Islamic law and theology, or when its codes are treated with disrespect or contempt, or even by the wearing of a belt as a symbol of unbelief. Evidence of Apostasy is also implied when a Muslim enters a church, worships an idol, or learns and practices magic as this implies predestination, knowledge and control of fate to someone other than Allah.
Muslims also believe that a Muslim has become an apostate when he espouses non-Islamic beliefs by saying the world has always existed from eternity, for this assumption denies the existence of Allah as a creator, or when he says that the world is everlasting and without end, since this would be interpreted as a denial of resurrection. A Muslim is also viewed as an apostate and blasphemer when he is observed denying the existence of Allah, or believing in reincarnation, since this is a denial of resurrection. He also becomes a blasphemer when he denies that which is allowed, based on what can be definitively concluded from the life and examplary conduct of the Prophet.
Muslims also believe that a Muslim becomes an apostate when he implies the possibility of prophethood being acquired through spiritual exercise, since that would imply the possible arising of a prophet after Muhammad. The same is held as true when a Muslim curses a prophet or contradicts the positions that are unanimously upheld by a consensus of the Muslim community Umma such as the obligatory necessity of prayer and fasting or the prohibition of adultery. Apostasy is also alleged to have occurred if a Muslim accuses the prophet of having a physical deficiency such as a limp or paralysis, or if he questions the perfection of his knowledge or defames the prophet's character, morals, virtues, or religion.
Included in the category of apostates are those who pose as Muslim but have secretly remained unbelievers.
In Islamic society apostasy must be determined by the testimony of two upright adult witnesses whose accounts agree.
The question of the penalties imposed in Islam for apostasy is a highly controversial topic that is passionately debated by various scholars. In a traditional Islamic society where the Islamic law of the Sharia prevails, when a Muslim is labeled an apostate, he is incarcerated and asked to return to Islam by the Sharia court. In such a society it is generally decreed in Islamic law that the apostate should be given a period for repentance consisting of three days allowing the apostate to reconsider his beliefs after which he is given a choice of returning to Islam or being put to death. If he accepts the offer, he is released; if not, he is put to death immediately. Fundamentalist Islamic societies refer to the Qu'ran where it is stated to "kill those who believe in many gods" (Sura al-Tawba 9:5). The Prophet is also quoted with "Kill him who changes his religion," because the apostate is a hostile unbeliever and no asylum seeker who has asked for protection; furthermore, he is no dhimmi (a non-Muslim under Islamic rule), for no poll tax is demanded of him.
In the period of Islamic empire, apostasy was considered treason, and was accordingly treated as a capital offense; death penalties were carried out under the authority of the Caliph. Although contemporary scholars may issue their own opinions in specific cases, there is today no central authority capable of identifying and carrying out legal proceedings against former Muslims who reject or speak out against Islam. The most prominent contemporary figure condemned of apostasy by individual scholars was probably Salman Rushdie.
External links
