Controversial Questions about Islam

Controversial Questions about Islam and Comments
a severe punishment for those who did that.
Religion was a major form of identity; it imposes duties and grants
privileges, which could be misused. The Islamic state, as any other state,
does not allow people to play with the law or to exploit the national
identity. As an example of exploitation of the Islamic identity the Holy
Quraan reads: {A section of the people of the Book say: “Believe in
the morning what is revealed to the Believers, But reject it at the end
of the day: perchance they may themselves turn back.} (1) It could also
be added that Islam is the latest version of the Divine religion, and for
a Muslim to turn back to Christianity, as an example, or Judaism is
reverting, but the other way around is a kind of advancement.
However, Muslim scholars have differed on the nature of this
ruling, whether it is for literal implementation or whether it was only
a threat, especially because of the following:
1. There is no agreement about applying that to females.
2. There is agreement about the necessity of the opportunity for
repentance, but there is disagreement about its duration. In fact, some
scholars are convinced that it is a life long opportunity because Allah
says: {And whoever of you reverts from his religion (to disbelief) and
dies while he is a disbeliever – for those, their deeds have become
worthless in this world and the Hereafter…} (2) Also because the
Prophet said that deeds are bound to their endings. (3) The prophet
said, too: “Allah accepts the repentance of his servant up to his last
breath.” (4) In another Prophetic tradition, capital punishment is tied up
with taking a hostile position against Islam along with apostasy. (5)
Above all, Islam did not come to hasten the death of people to
deprive them of the late chance of accepting Islam or repenting, but
to grant them the maximum chance to do that.
(1) Holy Quraan 3: 72.
(2) Holy Quraan, 2: 217. see Saheeh International translation.
(3) al-Bukhari: ar-Riqaq; see also Ismaeel pp. 54-55; and see Chapter 2: 217, Ahmad:
sanadul mukthreen minas sahabah.
(4) Ahmad: sanadul mukthreen minas sahabah.
(5) al-Nisaee: tahreem addum.
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