The Truth about the Alleged Punishment for Apostasy in Islam — Page 156
156 authentic history of the Prophets as covering long eras. It has preserved vast historical details from the time of Adam as till that of the Prophet Muhammad sa. It informs us about the beliefs and practices of all the Prophets as ; morals and lifestyle of their followers; and in contrast the beliefs and behaviour of their opponents. The Holy Qur’an has preserved all this in great detail, giving us a systematic and continuous historical record. Narrations covering Hadrat N uh as up to the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa , concerning their opponents and what discussions took place between them—all are preserved in the Holy Qur’an. THE BELIEFS OF THE ENEMIES OF THE PROPHETS AS It is evident from the Holy Qur’an that all who opposed the Prophets as held without exception the position that anyone who left his religion and became an apostate must be subjected to dreadful punishment. Hence if there is a consensus of opinion, it is a consensus among all the enemies of the Prophets as and not among the Prophets as nor among their true followers. The Holy Qur’an says that God was on the side of His Prophets as , and He cursed those who upheld this tenet and tried to execute it. The Holy Qur’an condemns them who believed in punishing converts by death, burning them alive, and throwing them out of homes or imprisoning them.