Islam and Human Rights — Page 165
Articles 18-19 165 as a capital offence, as has been alleged, no such device as is mentioned in the verse could even have been contemplated, since the party having recourse to it, having proclaimed themselves believers in the morning, would on announcing their disbelief in the afternoon have been liable to be ex ecuted. According to their poor opinion of the quality of the faith of the Muslims, this would have struck terror into the hearts of the weaker and wavering Muslims, rather than served to induce them to follow the Jewish example. On freedom of teaching, practice, worship and observ ance of religion, the following may be instructive and of interest: “Surely, We sent down the Torah wherein was guid ance and light. By it did the Prophets, who were obedient to Us, judge for the Jews, as did the godly persons and those learned in the Law; for they were required to preserve the Book of Allah, and because they were guardians over it. Therefore fear not men but fear Me; and barter not My signs for a paltry price. Whoso judges not by that which Allah has sent down, these it is who are the dis believers. Therein We prescribed for them: A life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for other injuries equitable retaliation; and whoso waives