Under the heading Punishing apostasy not arbitrary interpretation, Abu Mubarak quoted a statement by Dr Amran Kasimin which Abu Mubarak translated as follows:
'It is the consensus among the ulama that the punishment for apostasy is death. This death sentence is a very clear ruling, which cannot be amended or modified. It is the command from Allah to be implemented'.
The rest of Abu Mubarak's rendition plainly evidences his support of this quoted statement. To fully understand the enormity of this statement, Abu Mubarak must first be asked to quote one verse from the Holy Qur'an that can support the second sentence's assertion that 'This death sentence is ... the command from Allah to be implemented'.
I trust he will not cite Surah 5 verse 33 as this is in relation to those who wage war with God and His messenger, and is not in relation to apostasy.
If Abu Mubarak cannot quote a verse to support his contention, I must ask whether by the statement 'It is the command from Allah to be implemented', Abu Mubarak is in fact alluding to the consensus of the ulama?
I would also ask Abu Mubarak to consider the following four verses and then explain how any punishment might be inflicted upon apostates in this temporal life without offending the Word of God.
- 'Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things'. - Surah 2 verse 256.
- 'If it had been thy Lord's will, they would all have believed,- all who are on earth! wilt thou then compel mankind, against their will, to believe!'- Surah 10 verse 99.
'Those who believe, then reject faith, then believe (again) and (again) reject faith, and go on increasing in unbelief,- Allah will not forgive them nor guide them nor guide them on the way'. - Surah 4 verse 137.
'Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say:'This is from Allah', to traffic with it for miserable price!- Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby'. Surah 2 verse 79.
