Punishment of Apostacy in Islam — Page 24
24 the remembrance of A1lah and from Prayer. Will you, then desist? Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and be ever on your guard; but if you turn away then remember the duty of Our Messenger is only to convey Our message clearly (5:91-93). These verses are obviously addressed to the Muslims. In this context turning away has two connotations. One turning away is to adopt the ways of hypocrisy, disobedience and misconduct instead of the ways of faith and sincerity; and another turning away to declare unwillingness and refusal to carry out these injunctions and to repudiate Islam, as a great part of the Arabs of the desert after the death of the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, repudiated Islam on account of their unwillingness to pay the Zakat. In the verse turning away comprises both hypocrisy and disobedience and an open declaration of departure from Islam. The verse affirms that in both cases the Holy Prophet has no authority to compel anyone to continue within the fold of Islam or to conform to its injunctions and to act righteously. His only responsibility to expound God’s message clearly, and that responsibility he was carrying out. Imam Razi has commented on this verse that it contains great warning and a severe admonition from God Almighty. It is out that if you turn away, then remember that the Messenger has fulfilled his responsibility by conveying the message to you plainly and clearly. To act according to it or to ignore it is your responsibility and not his. The Messenger has carried out the responsibility laid upon him that he should warn you, and should convey glad tidings to you, and should expound divine verities you, and he has thereby discharged the duty laid upon him and