The Truth about the Alleged Punishment for Apostasy in Islam — Page 143
143 135 You can see that in the above verse only this much is stated that the works of such apostates shall be lost, and in the Hereafter they shall be punished and remain in the Fire. As far as the corporal punishment, the jurists present the following Hadith in its favour which is narrated by Ibni ‘Abb a s ra : The Holy Prophet sa said, "Whosoever changed his religion should be killed. " Scholars have discussed this Hadith and they hold different viewpoints… Opinion on this issue is changed when it becomes clear that the "Hadd u d" – (the prescribed punishments for various crimes in Sharia) cannot be based on H ad i thi Ah a d ; and that it is not right to kill anyone just for disbelief. Killing is allowed only when some one fights with Muslims and attacks them to make them change their religion by force. Many verses of the Holy Qur’an very clearly prohibit the use of force in matters of religion. Allah the Exalted says: 136 ; and. 137 135 And whoso from among you turns back from his faith and dies while he is a disbeliever, it is they whose works shall be vain in this world and the next. These are the inmates of the Fire and therein shall they abide. (The Holy Qur’an 2:218). [Publisher] 136 There should be no compulsion in religion. Surely, right has become distinct from wrong. (The Holy Qur’an 2:257). [Publisher]