Punishment of Apostacy in Islam — Page 26
26 and that He is Most-Forgiving and Ever-Merciful. The Messenger’s duty is only to convey the Message; and Allah knows your overt actions, as well as your secret designs (5:99-100). Thus the duty of the Messenger is only to convey the message. Allah knows well that which you do and that which you design but which you have not yet done; so far as recompense or chastisement is concerned He will deal with you Himself. The Messenger has no responsibility beyond conveying the truth plainly and expounding it clearly. Imam Razi interprets these verses as follows: Allah begins by warning that He is Severe in punishment, and by cheering that He is also Most-Forgiving, Ever-Merciful, and then follows up with setting out the responsibility of the Messenger, namely, that his duty is only to convey the message plainly. When he expounds the truth plainly to everyone, he thereby fulfils his responsibility and is not open to any blame. The rest is your responsibility. God says: I am well aware of all your overt acts and covert designs. If you oppose the truth in your heart or by your tongue or your conduct, then remember that though you are free to do so God’s seizure is severe, but if you follow the truth that is expounded to you and tread along the paths of winning the love of God which have been pointed out to you and obey Him, then know that He is Most-Forgiving, Ever-Merciful. In the Holy Quran it is expounded that God Almighty created man, bestowed upon him ears with which to hear, eyes with which to observe miracles and signs, mind with which to reflect and ponder, and sent down numberless bounties upon him from heaven and thus demonstrated His greatness so that man