Murder in the Name of Allah — Page 63
Recantation under Islam. This principle of no compulsion was reiterated after the victory of. Badr (3. 21) and again in Al-Ma'idah, which is the last revealed surah. . Now that Muhammad'ssa authority was fully established, not only in. Medina but also in Mecca, it was vital to emphasise that the Prophet'ssa only role was to convey the word of Allah. 'Obey Allah and obey the. Messenger, and be on your guard, but if you turn away, then remember that the duty of our Messenger is only to convey the message clearly. ' (5. 93) And finally: 'The Messenger's duty is only to convey the message. . And Allah knows what you reveal and what you hide. ' (5. 100) Religious belief is a personal matter. It is God alone - not the state or the religious authorities who knows what one reveals to God or what one hides. . This verse leads to the subject of munafiqun - the hypocrites. The term munafiqun describes those inhabitants of Medina who had outwardly accepted Islam, but whose belief was suspect for various reasons. There are many references to them in the Quran, but in four passages they are defined as murtadd (recanters). The first reference is in Surah Muhammad. This is a Medinite surah which briefly describes the aims of war according to Islam. It says that while believers welcome a revelation calling on them to fight for Allah, munafiqun feel as if they are being led to their slaughter. In this way, true believers are separated from those whose faith is shallow or false. It goes on to say:. Surely those who turn their backs [artaddu] after guidance has become manifest to them, Satan has seduced them, and holds out false hopes to them. That is because they said to those who hate what Allah has revealed, ‘We will obey you in some matters' and Allah knows their secrets. (47:26-27). The verses quoted above mention no punishment for these people. . The next reference to the munafiqun is in the Surah Al-Munafiqun, which was revealed towards the end of 6AH/AD628. The surah exposes the infidelity and dishonesty of the munafiqun and condemns their open profession of faith as false and treacherous. This was a public reprimand:. Allah bears witness that the munafiqun are liars. Their faith is a pretext so that they may turn people away from the way of Allah. Evil is that which they practice. That is because they believed and thereafter disbelieved; so a seal was set upon their hearts and they have no understanding. . They are the enemy, so beware!. . . it is the same for them whether thou ask for forgiveness for them or not. Allah will never forgive them, surely Allah guides not a rebellious people. (63. 2-7). The last two references to the munafiqun are in one of the last revealed surahs, Al-Taubah: ‘Offer no excuse. You have certainly disbelieved 63