Islam vs. Christianity: Who Demands Apostates be Killed?

A prominent Christian asserts that Islam is the only religion which requires the execution of those who convert to other religions. Is this true? Paliban Daily investigates!

In a December 23, 2009 statement, Reverend Julian Dobbs of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) comments that mixing and matching the beliefs of Christianity and Islam simply doesn’t work. As one example of the incompatibility between Christianity and Islam, Dobbs states:

The Koran reveals…that if a man leaves the Islamic faith and refuses to return after three opportunities, he is to be killed. Islam is the only religion that sanctions that sort of inappropriate, hostile behavior to those who want to leave the faith.

Is this true? Does the Koran say that those who leave Islam should be killed? And does the Bible take a more tolerant stance?

Let’s find out!

Well, it’s certainly the law in a number of Islamic countries, though rarely enforced. Iran, Sudan, Mauritania, and others do sentence apostates to death, but typically only those who are targeted for political reasons. It’s pretty rare.

If you’re so inclined, review a summary of the legal opinions of the four major Sunni schools of Islamic law. In short,

All four major schools of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence state that the apostate is to be put to death.

But what do Muslim texts say?

Some claim the Quran says nothing:

# Execution for apostasy is not Qur’anic:

The only reference I could find is in (47:25-28). “When the angels take their souls at death and smite their faces and backs”. However Prophet Muhammad did kill a number of people who deserted Islam and so the punishment is Sunnah (actions and sayings of Muhammad) and hence Shariah, Islamic Law. One whose name has been left to posterity was Abdullah ibn Saud, one of Muhammad’s scribes (Muhammad was illiterate). Abdullah had come to the conclusion that Muhammad himself, and not Allah, was the author of the Qur’an and left Islam.

The same source references the Hadith, a collection of Muhammed’s sayings and deeds (on near-equal standing with the Quran, since Mohammed is believed infallible):

# The Hadith —Sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad

Abu Dawud 38:4357 When the Apostle of Allah cut off the hands and feet of those who had stolen his camels and apostacised and had their eyes put out by fire, Allah reprimanded him and revealed: “The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Apostle and strive with might and main for rnischief through the land is execution or crucifixion.” (38A359).. or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides or exile from the land” This was “revealed about polytheists and if any of them repent before they are arrested it does not prevent from inflicting on him the prescribed punishment which he deserves”

Muslim 623 The Prophet said: “It is not permissible to take the life of a Muslim except in one of the three cases: the married adulterer, a life for a life (if the person is Muslim), and the deserter of Islam.”

Bukhari 9:89:271 A man embraced Islam and then reverted back to Judaism Mu’adh said: “I will not sit down unless you kill him as it is the verdict of Allah and His Apostle”

Bukhari 4:52:260 Ali burnt some people (Zanadiqa, atheists 9:84:57) although the Prophet had said, “Don’t punish anybody with Allah’s punishment (Fire)” if a Muslim discards his religion, kill him”

The thing is, the Quran does have certain things to say about apostates:

Sura 5:33-34

(33) The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His apostle and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement,

(34) Except those who repent before you have them in your power; so know that Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Also:

Sura 4:88-89

(88) What is the matter with you, then, that you have become two parties about the hypocrites, while Allah has made them return (to unbelief) for what they have earned? Do you wish to guide him whom Allah has caused to err? And whomsoever Allah causes to err, you shall by no means find a way for him.

(89) They desire that you should disbelieve as they have disbelieved, so that you might be (all) alike; therefore take not from among them friends until they fly (their homes) in Allah’s way; but if they turn back, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them, and take not from among them a friend or a helper.

It seems fairly clear that it’s OK to kill apostates under Islam. However, we couldn’t find evidence of “expert” Dobbs’ assertion that apostates have three opportunities to change their minds. We’d like a citation.

Now, for the other part of our question: How does Christianity deal with apostates?

First, unlike Islam — which will give you the opportunity to repent and return if you want to keep your head — the Bible clearly states that repentance is impossible:

Hebrews 6:4-8 (KJV)

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

Does this further suggest that apostates should be burned at the stake, or is it merely a reference to the unbeliever’s eternal fate of suffering in the Lake of Fire?

(For you “New Testament Christians” out there, Paul’s letter to the Hebrews is in which testament? Right.)

Deuteronomy 13 tells us what to do with those who try to convert us from the worship of God to gods which do not share the clever name of “God”:

Deuteronomy 13:1-10 (KJV)

1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,

2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;

3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

6 If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;

7 Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth;

8 Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:

9 But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.

10 And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

This is called “tolerance”.

But what about those who want to leave and go off by themselves, and don’t try to convert others? Are they safe to do what they want, and let their punishment — if any — come from one deity or another?

Deuteronomy 13 continues with the answer:

Deuteronomy 13:12-16

12 If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying,

13 Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;

14 Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;

15 Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.

16 And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again.

So, if some people choose another religion, and quietly practice it, you must completely destroy their city and their cattle. And their babies and houses. Etc.

No other religion, Reverend Dobbs? No other religion except your own.

Yes, Islam demands apostates be killed. So does Christianity.

Remove the beam from thine own eye, Reverend.

Related articles:

1. Fischer Demands "Jeffrey Dahmers Of The Animal Kingdom" Be Killed On Sight
2. In Brief: Ad campaign launched in London to improve the image of Islam
3. Tea Party Nation: Obama Only Killed Bin Laden To Help His Reelection
4. TN Governor candidate on defensive after suggesting Islam a cult
5. Fischer calls on U.S. to pursue a”mass conversion” of Muslims to Christianity

Jenny Donati is webmistress and co-editor of Secular News Daily. Jenny is an outspoken secularist who believes firmly in the separation of church and state. She demands evidence to support arguments, and holds herself to the same standard. She doesn't write about herself in the third person . . . but there's a first time for everything.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry.