Punishment of Apostacy in Islam — Page 27
27 should become obedient to Him. This is followed up with: Yet, if they turn away, thy duty is only to convey the message clearly (16:83). If having ears and eyes and heart, and enjoying numberless bounties, people should yet turn away, there would be no blame upon the Holy Prophet, for his responsibility is only to convey the message clearly. Again it is said: Tell them: Obey Allah and obey the Messenger. If you turn away, then he is responsible for that with which he is charged, and you are responsible for that with which you are charged. If you obey him, you will be rightly guided. The Messenger is responsible only for conveying the message clearly (24:55). In this verse the weak Muslims and the hypocrites are addressed and turning-away comprehends both disobedience and apostacy. The responsibility of the Messenger is only to convey the message clearly. The responsibility of those addressed is to believe, to declare their faith by word, to confirm it by the heart and to illustrate it by their actions and conduct. If they obey and become true Muslims they would be rightly guided and would prosper both in this world and in the hereafter. The duty of the Messenger is only to convey the message clearly. Again it is said: If you reject that which the Messenger urges upon you, that is nothing new, for people before you also rejected the truth. The Messenger’s responsibility is only to convey the message clearly (29:19). It is not his duty to compel you to believe. At another place it is said: Hearken to the truth which the Prophet has brought to you in the form of God’s Words and God’s Law, for it is God’s design that you should believe and make progress and achieve the purpose of life. Then if they should turn