Muslims say leaving Islam OK, but is it really?
British team suggests Shariah only 'frowns' on apostasy cases
A new report from a team of Muslim leaders in Britain contends that Shariah law allows Muslims to leave Islam – despite the multitude of apostasy laws throughout the Islamic world that prescribe the death penalty.
The report, "Contextualizing Islam in Britain: Exploratory Perspectives," was assembled by a team led by Yasir Suleiman, director of the HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center of Islamic Studies at Cambridge.
Addressing what it means to "live faithfully" as a Muslim in Britain, it is the result of the work of "a group of scholars, social scientists, religious and community leaders and educationists" in a project sponsored by the British government.
In a section addressing pluralism and human rights, the report states:
Islam frowns on the act of apostasy, but prohibits discrimination against apostates. Much classical Islamic law on apostasy emerged in a historical context where apostasy represented a betrayal of the state. It is important to say quite simply that people have the freedom to enter the Islamic faith and the freedom to leave it.
Officials with Barnabas Aid, which works with persecuted Christians worldwide, including those in repressive, Shariah-controlled nations, said if it's true it's a good sign.
"In other words, in the early Muslim community (which was at war with its neighbors) apostasy amounted to treason. So those who left Islam were put to death for treachery to the Islamic 'nation,' not for apostasy as such," the organization said in a commentary.
"As these conditions do not apply today, no-one should now be coerced into remaining a Muslim," the Christian organization said.
"This affirmation, by a number of senior and respected leaders of the British Muslim community, is truly remarkable, especially because it implies that the Shariah law of apostasy, which demands the death sentence for converts from Islam, is no longer valid," the m However, an expert on Islam says the report appears to be little more than posturing by Muslim leaders who are "giving highly apologetic and tendentious explanations" that are "designed to reassure Westerners." inistry continued.
"Stealth Jihad: How Radical Islam is Subverting America without Guns or Bombs" by Robert Spencer
His book, "Stealth Jihad," exposes how jihadists are advancing their agenda in the West today by means other than terrorist attacks.
He told WND the sayings of Muhammad – called the hadith – clearly instruct Muslims "if anyone changes his religion, kill him."
Every contemporary school of Islamic jurisprudence also teaches the use of the death penalty for apostasy, and in fact, such cases do come to light even in today's world, he said.
"The application of this law in Islamic nations gives the lie to this idea" in the report, he said.
British team suggests Shariah only 'frowns' on apostasy cases
A new report from a team of Muslim leaders in Britain contends that Shariah law allows Muslims to leave Islam – despite the multitude of apostasy laws throughout the Islamic world that prescribe the death penalty.
The report, "Contextualizing Islam in Britain: Exploratory Perspectives," was assembled by a team led by Yasir Suleiman, director of the HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center of Islamic Studies at Cambridge.
Addressing what it means to "live faithfully" as a Muslim in Britain, it is the result of the work of "a group of scholars, social scientists, religious and community leaders and educationists" in a project sponsored by the British government.
In a section addressing pluralism and human rights, the report states:
Islam frowns on the act of apostasy, but prohibits discrimination against apostates. Much classical Islamic law on apostasy emerged in a historical context where apostasy represented a betrayal of the state. It is important to say quite simply that people have the freedom to enter the Islamic faith and the freedom to leave it.
Officials with Barnabas Aid, which works with persecuted Christians worldwide, including those in repressive, Shariah-controlled nations, said if it's true it's a good sign.
"In other words, in the early Muslim community (which was at war with its neighbors) apostasy amounted to treason. So those who left Islam were put to death for treachery to the Islamic 'nation,' not for apostasy as such," the organization said in a commentary.
"As these conditions do not apply today, no-one should now be coerced into remaining a Muslim," the Christian organization said.
"This affirmation, by a number of senior and respected leaders of the British Muslim community, is truly remarkable, especially because it implies that the Shariah law of apostasy, which demands the death sentence for converts from Islam, is no longer valid," the m However, an expert on Islam says the report appears to be little more than posturing by Muslim leaders who are "giving highly apologetic and tendentious explanations" that are "designed to reassure Westerners." inistry continued.
"Stealth Jihad: How Radical Islam is Subverting America without Guns or Bombs" by Robert Spencer
His book, "Stealth Jihad," exposes how jihadists are advancing their agenda in the West today by means other than terrorist attacks.
He told WND the sayings of Muhammad – called the hadith – clearly instruct Muslims "if anyone changes his religion, kill him."
Every contemporary school of Islamic jurisprudence also teaches the use of the death penalty for apostasy, and in fact, such cases do come to light even in today's world, he said.
"The application of this law in Islamic nations gives the lie to this idea" in the report, he said.
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