Punishment of Apostacy in Islam — Page 17
17 blessings. I have not been authorized to force you to do this. It is your business and you have to do it; I have not been appointed to supervise your conduct so that I may punish you. I am but a warner and I have left out nothing in warning you. To Allah pertains calling you to account. My function is only to convey the message and to warn you (Tafseer Ruhul Maani, Voll11 Part VII, p. 182). In the commentary Al-Manar of Muhammad Abduhu, published in 1928 by Muhammad Rasheed Raza, the verse is interpreted as meaning: Tell them, O Prophet; I have not been appointed a guardian (an authoritative officer) over you. I have been sent only as a Messenger. He observes: Vakil means one who is placed in charge of the affairs of another. Such appointment carries authority and force with it. Thus if a ruler appoints someone as his representative or as governor of a province, or as manager of an estate, he would have authority from the ruler to exercise compulsion over the people in respect of their mistakes and defaults, but a Messenger is not appointed by God to punish. God has reserved that for Himself. A Messenger is charged with conveying the message which God Almighty sends down to him for the people. He admonishes the people and teaches them and gives them glad tidings that if they would follow the guidance they would become the recipients of God’s bounty, and warns them that if they would turn away God would be wroth with them and they would be called to account by Him. He establishes the religion of Allah among the people through his admonitions and teachings and glad tidings and warnings. This is his function. He is not a