The Truth about the Alleged Punishment for Apostasy in Islam — Page 145
145 they had brought Medina under siege! These circumstances compelled Ab u Bakr to take up arms against them and break the siege. It proves that it was not merely a matter of few persons becoming apostates and being fought against for their apostasy. They were battled against to stop their armed attack against the Islamic government and to finish a mischievous revolt. It was to eliminate a threat to Islamic state’s security. Ab u Bakr ra took action in the light of the following command of God: 138 Similarly, the historical account of Tha‘labah * is a clear proof that apostasy is not a punishable act. It also refutes the argument that Ab u Bakr ra fought against the apostates only because they refused to pay the Zakat. Tha‘labah had refused paying Zakat in the time of the Messenger of Allah sa and he had openly treated the Holy Prophet’s functionary with 138 And fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight against you, but do not transgress. Surely, Allah loves not the transgressors. (The Holy Qur’an 2:191). [Publisher] * See Addurrul Manth u r by Siyu ti , Part 3, under Surah Al-Taubah, pp. 467- 468, published by Darul Kutubil ‘Ilmiya, Beirut, Labnan. [Publisher]