Punishment of Apostacy in Islam — Page 16
16 his own will and volition, and being surcharged by the love of God Almighty, should devote himself to, and offer himself as a sacrifice in, the cause of Allah. God has said: Thy people have rejected the message that We have sent through thee, though it is the Truth. Tell them: I am not appointed a guardian over you (6:67). The Arabic expression vakil, employed in this verse, means guardian, watchman, one with authority to restrain from vice forcibly. Thus this verse sets forth: I am not your guardian, in the sense that I have not been authorized to force you to accept the message that I have brought, and that you should proclaim your faith in it. I am only a warner. Having conveyed the message to you clearly I have discharged my responsibility. If you deny the message, God will be wroth with you and you would witness that of which I am warning you. God will call you to account for your denial (Tafseer Ruhul Bayan Vol. III p. 48). Another eminent commentator has said: The verse means: I have not been appointed a guardian over you so that I should punish you or call you to account for your rejection of the message I have brought you, and your turning away from the reasons that have been clearly expounded to you. It is not my function to punish you and to chastise you. I am but a warner. It is Allah Who will call you to account and punish you. That is not my function (Tafseer Kabir of Iman Razi, Vol. IV p. 65). In another commentary the verse has been interpreted as meaning: I have not been appointed that I should perform your duty in your place. It is your business to listen to the reasons, to reflect upon them and to accept them and to partake of their