Punishment of Apostacy in Islam — Page 59
59 situation with which Hazrat Abu Bakr was confronted at the time makes it clear that the Arab tribes had not only repudiated Islam, but they had all rebelled against the Islamic state and they were determined to wipe out the Muslims altogether. Their design was frustrated only by the timely and courageous action of Hazrat Abu Bakr. Had he not moved quickly against the first batch of rebels, who were advancing upon Medina, the position of the apostate tribes would have grown stronger, they would have slaughtered all the Muslims in their respective localities and would then have attacked Medina. It was, therefore, necessary that the Muslims should have acted quickly to break up their ranks and to put out the fire that was spreading in all directions and spelt danger to the very existence of the Muslims. Had Hazrat Abu Bakr not used force against the apostate tribes, there would have survived no Muslim and no Islam. As Aini has observed: Hazrat Abu Bakr fought those who had refused to pay the zakat because they had taken up the sword and had started hostilities against the Muslims (Aini, Vol. XI, p. 236). This shows clearly that the apostates were the aggressors. They not only refused to pay the zakat, but took up the sward against the Muslims and thus commenced hostilities. Rebellion against Authority of State The apostacy of the tribes was not confined to a difference of doctrine. They had taken up the sword in rebellion against the Islamic state, they slaughtered the Muslims among them, they burnt some alive and mutilated those they killed and then