Lately, there has been this big hoohah about Islam and its views on apostasy. A lot has been said about this topic that I cant help butting in - with my considerable bum and girth - and air my thoughts.I had a great little conversation about this with dear friend of mine who's teaching in Medan, Indonesia. Yeap, the very same one affected by the tusnami back in Dec 26 2004.
Despite what I said about the superpowers putting their noses where it don't belong, I do think it is a basic human right for any human to choose his/her religion. So why the uproar over apostasy in Islam? This is because all the schools of jurispudence in Islam are unanimous that the punishment for apostasy in Islam is death. This law punishment was laid out by out great prophet Muhammad PBUH when he said that if a Muslim were to foresake his religion, he is to be killed. However, at the same time, many scholars also agree that there is nothing in the holy book, the Al-Quran, that prescribes worldly punishments for apostasy.
I am not an Islamic scholar, and not about to pretend or act like one. Fact is, we treat our prophet and the Al-Quran with utmost respect and reveration. Deep inside every Muslim is that strong desire to be a martyr, to be guaranteed a place in paradise. With such deep-rooted emotions, anything - any words, actions or even insinuations - against our prophet and the holy book is taken as direct slap in the face of each and every Muslim, thus the outpouring of anger everytime it happens. Admittedly, some take it abit too far resulting in unnecessary deaths in riots and demonstrations.
Back to the furore regarding apostasy, we have to understand the complex nature of Islam. Islam is an inifite religion, always relevant, flexible and always accomodating. Islam believes that there is no compulsion in religion (written in Al-Quran) there is no coercion whatsoever. Some people have called apostasy as akin to high treason. Personally, I do not believe so. While the prophet said that any Muslim who apostates must be killed, we have to understand the reasons for that ruling. For, while it is stated in the Hadith or traditions of the prophet, it was not stated anywhere in Al-Quran.
In its infancy, Muslims numbered less than a few hundred. In fact, the spreading of Islam was, initially, done discreetly, for fear of persecution from the local Meccan authorities. When Muhammad PBUH emigrated to Madinah, he was embraced by the locals and they embraced Islam. The Meccans harassed the fledgling Muslim city-state, fighting several vicious wars and many other skirmishes. While the Muslims accepted new Muslim converts into their fold with open arms, there were cases whereby their supposed allies and supposed Muslim brethren became turncoats and forsaked Islam causing deaths of many Muslims. It was in this state of war that it was declared by Muhammad PBUH that any apostate be killed.
Now, the same laws are being invoked but it bears no relavance anymore, in the sense that the context has changed. While Islam remains relevant, some of its laws have eveolved to adapt to the changing times and mindsets. While it was acceptable to kill for revenge then, it is no longer true now. Islam is no longer at war and fighting for its survival. Take for example, the banning of headscarves in many secular schools around the world - not only in France. While Islam dictates that girls who have reached puberty must cover themselves when in the presence of ther men, it becomes faux pas to insist on wearing the headscarf if wearing it means forsaking racial harmony and stability.
Many a time, Islamic words, symbols and laws of years gone by have been taken out of context. The greatest example would be jihad. Jihad literally means struggle, the struggle of one person against his demons is his own perconal jihad, but some have chosen to use the meaning as armed struggle and holy war. It's just that meaning of jihad has been twisted to suit the needs of those with an agenda, one which suits their twisted minds. What's so holy about killing oneself in order to kill many innocent civilians?
I'm not rejecting the fatwa of the scholars and the Syariah Laws that govern us as Muslims, what I reject is the actions of the discerning few who have an agenda and invoking laws, putting their agenda gains ahead of social stability and racial harmony.
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