Qur'anic verses on freedom of conscience and religion : shedding light on why there is no unanimity on death as a prescribed penalty for apostasy in Islam

Section 1: Is belief a matter of compulsion?

(Q. 2:256) {لا إكراه في الدين قد تبين الرشد من الغي فمن يكفر بالطاغوت ويؤمن بالله فقد استمسك بالعروة الوثقى لا انفصام لها والله سميع عليم}

{There is no compulsion in religion. Right thinking has become distinct from error. So whoever rejects false objects of worship and believes in God, he has grasps a sturdy handle which will not split. And God is Hearing, Knowing.}

(Q. 10:108) {قل يا أيها الناس قد جاءكم الحق من ربكم فمن اهتدى فإنما يهتدي لنفسه ومن ضل فإنما يضل عليها وما أنا عليكم بوكيل}

{Say, "O people, the truth has come to you from your Lord. So whoever is guided, he is only guided for his own benefit; and whoever goes astray, he only goes astray to his own detriment: and I am not a guardian over you."}

(Q. 17:15) {من اهتدى فإنما يهتدي لنفسه ومن ضل فإنما يضل عليها ولا تزر وازرة وزر أخرى وما كنا معذِّبين حتى نبعث رسولًا}

{Whoever is guided, he is only guided for his own benefit; and whoever goes astray, he only harms himself thereby. No soul shall bear another's burden. We have never turned Tormentor until We have sent a messenger.}

(Q. 18:29) {وقل الحق من ربكم فمن شاء فليؤمن ومن شاء فليكفر إنا أعتدنا للظالمين نارًا أحاط بهم سرادقها وإن يستغيثوا يُغاثوا بماء كالمهل يشوي الوجوه بئس الشراب وساءت مرتفقًا}

{And say, "The truth is from your Lord. So whoever wishes, let him believe; and whoever wishes, let him disbelieve. We have prepared for wrongdoers a fire whose canopy will encompass them. If they ask for rain, they will be rained on with water like crude oil which scalds the face. What a foul drink! And an evil place of rest.}

(Q. 27:91-93) {إنما أُمرت أن أعبد رب هذه البلدة الذي حرّمها وله كل شيء وأُمرت أن أكون من المسلمين * وأن أتلو القرآن فمن من اهتدى فإنما يهتدي لنفسه ومن ضل فقل إنما أنا من المنذرين * وقل الحمد لله سيُريكم آياته فتعرفونها وما ربك بغافل عمّا تعملون}

{I have only been commanded to worship the Lord of this city, Who sanctifying it and to Whom all belongs; and I have been commanded to be among those who submit, * and that I recite the Qur'an. So whoever is guided, he is only guided for his own benefit; and whoever goes astray, say, "I am only one of the warners." * And say, "Praise be to God. He will show you His signs, so that you will know them. And your Lord is not unaware of what you do.}

(Q. 30:44) {من كفر فعليه كفره ومن عمل صالحًا فلأنفسهم يمهدون}

{Whoever disbelieves, his disbelief rests on him; and whoever performs good deeds, then they are smoothing a way for themselves.}

(Q. 35:39) {هو الذي جعلكم خلائف في الأرض فمن كفر فعليه كفره ولا يزيد الكافرين كفرهم عند ربهم إلا مقتًا ولا يزيد الكافرين كفرهم إلا خسارًا}

{It is He who placed you as successors on Earth. So whoever disbelieves, his disbelief rests on him; and their disbelief will not provide the disbelievers anything from their Lord except anger; nor will their disbelief provide the disbelievers anything except utter loss.}

(Q. 39:41) {إنا أنزلنا عليك الكتاب للناس بالحق فمن اهتدى فلنفسه ومن ضل فإنما يضل عليها وما أنت عليهم بوكيل}

{We have sent down through you the Book for people, containing the truth. So whoever is guided, it is for his own benefit; and whoever goes astray, he only harms himself thereby. And you are not a guardian over them.}

Section 2: What authority does the Prophet (PBUH) over those who reject belief?

(Q. 5:99) {ما على الرسول إلا البلاغ والله يعلم ما تبدون وما تكتمون}

{The Messenger is responsible only for communicating [the message]; and God knows what you make apparent and what you conceal.}

(Q. 7:188) {قل لا أملك لنفسي نفعًا ولا ضرًّا إلا ما شاء الله ولو كنت أعلم الغيب لاستكثرت من الخير وما مسّني السوء إن أنا إلا نذير وبشير لقوم يؤمنون}

{Say, [O Muhammad,] "I possess for myself neither help nor harm, except what God wills; and if I knew the Unseen, I would definitely have increased [my worldly] goods, and evil would not have touched me. I am nothing but a warner and bearer of glad tidings for a believing people.}

(Q. 10:41) {وإن كذّبوك فقل لي عملي ولكم عملكم أنتم بريئون مما أعمل وأنا بريء مما تعملون}

{And if they treat you as a liar, say, "To me my deeds and to you yours. You are innocent of what I do, and I am innocent of what you do."}

(Q. 11:12) {فلعلّك تارك بعض ما يوحى إليك وضائق به صدرك أن يقولوا لو لا أُنزل عليه كنز أو جاء معه مَلَك إنما أنت نذير والله على كل شيء وكيل}

{So might you leave out some of what is revealed to you, or does your breast feel tight because they say, "If only some treasure came down to him, or an angel accompanied him." You are only a warner, and God is the guardian of all things.}

(Q. 13:40) {وإن ما نُرينّك بعض الذي نَعِدُهم أو نتوفّينّك فإنما عليك البلاغ وعلينا الحساب}

{And whether We show you some of what We have prepared for them or We cause you to die, your duty is only to communicate, and Ours is the  reckoning.}

(Q. 15:94) {فاصدع بما تؤمر وأعرض عن المشركين}

{So, declare what you have been commanded, and turn away from the idol-worshippers.}

(Q. 16:82) {فإن تولّوا فإنما عليك البلاغ المبين}

{Then, if they turn away, your duty is only to communicate clearly.}

(Q. 25:55-58) {ويعبدون من دون الله ما لا ينفعهم ولا يضرّهم وكان الكافر على ربه ظهيرًا * وما أرسلناك إلا مبشّرًا ونذيرًا * قل ما أسألكم عليه من أجر إلا من شاء أن يتخذ إلى ربه سبيلًا * وتوكّل على الحي الذي لا يموت وسبّح بحمده وكفى به بذنوب عباده خبيرًا}

{And they worship apart from God what neither benefits nor harms them; and the disbeliever is ever a helper against his Lord. * We only sent you as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner. * Say, "I do not ask you for a reward for it, except the one who wishes to adopt a path to his Lord." * And put your trust in the Living Who does not die; and glorify Him with praise. He is sufficiently aware of His servants' sins.}

(Q. 42:6) {والذين اتخذوا من دونه أولياء اللّه حفيظ عليهم وما أنت عليهم بوكيل}

{And those who have adopted protectors other than Him, God is a Custodian over them; nor are you [Muhammad] their guardian.}

(Q. 50:45) {نحن أعلم بما يقولون وما أنت عليهم بجبّار فذكّر بالقرآن من يخاف وعيدِ}

{We know best what they say; nor do you have power over them. So remind with the Qur'an those who fear My threat.}

(Q. 51:52-55) {كذلك ما أتى الذين من قبلهم من رسول إلا قالوا ساحر أو مجنون * أتواصوا به بل هم قوم طاغون * فتولّ عنهم فما أنت بملوم * وذكّر فإن الذكرى تنفع المؤمنين}

{Thus no messenger came to those before them except that they said, "A magician or a madman." * Did they take it from them? Rather they are a people who transgress the bounds. * So turn away from them, you are not to be blamed; * and remind, for reminding benefits the believers.}

(Q. 80:5-7) {أما من استغنى * فأنت له تصدّى * وما عليك ألا يزّكّى}

{As for the one who considers himself self-sufficient, * you pay him heed; * and it is not your responsibility if he does not choose to purify himself.}

(Q. 88:21-22) {فذكّر إنما أنت مذكّر * لست عليهم بمصيطر}

{So remind. You are only a reminder. * You have no control over them.}

Section 3: Guidance is from God alone, according to His will.

(Q. 2:272) {ليس عليك هداهم ولكن اللّه يهدي من يشاء وما تنفقوا من خير فلأنفسكم وما تنفقون إلا ابتغاء وجه اللّه وما تنفقوا من خير يوفّ إليكم وأنتم لا تظلمون}

{You are not responsible for guiding them, but God guides whomever He wills. And whatever you spend out of goodness, it is for yourselves; and you only spend seeking God's pleasure. And whatever you spend out of goodness, it will be repayed to you, and you will not be wronged.}

(Q. 4:88) {فما لكم في المنافقين فئتين واللّه أركسهم بما كسبوا أتريدون أن تهدوا من أضلّ اللّه ومن يضلل اللّه فلن تجد له سبيلًا}

{So what is it with you [that you form] two groups concerning the hypocrites, while God has overturned them because of what they have earned? Do you want to guide those whom God has allowed go astray? And whomever God has allowed to go astray, you will never find a way for him.}

(Q. 10:99-100) {ولو شاء ربك لآمن من في الأرض كلهم جميعًا أفأنت تكره الناس حتى يكونوا مؤمنين * وما كان لنفس أن تؤمن إلا بإذن اللّه ويجعل الرجس على الذين لا يعقلون}

{And if your Lord had so willed, everyone on Earth would surely have believed. Will you compel people to be believers? * And it is not for a soul to believe except with God's permission, and He will impose punishment on those who do not use their powers of reason.}

(Q. 28:56) {إنك لا تهدي من أحببت ولكن الله يهدي من يشاء وهو أعلم بالمهتدين}

{You do not guide whom you desire, but God guides whom He wills; and He knows best about the guided.}

(Q. 35:8) {أفمن زيّن له سوء عمله فرآه حسنًا فإن الله يضل من يشاء ويهدي من يشاء فلا تذهب نفسك عليهم حسرات إن الله عليم بما يصنعون}

{What of the one, the evil of whose deeds appears attractive to him, so that he sees it as good? God allows who He wills to go astray, and He guides whom He wills. So do not let yourself be consumed with anguish for them. God is All-knowing of what they do.}

Section 4: Diversity of belief is part of God's plan, which will be decided on the Day of Resurrection.

(Q. 2:62) {إن الذين آمنوا والذين هادوا والنصارى والصابئين من آمن بالله واليوم الآخر وعمل صالحًا فلهم أجرهم عند ربهم ولا خوف عليهم ولا هم يحزنون}

{Those who believe, those who are Jews, the Christians and the Sabeans, whoever believes in God and the Last Day and does good deeds, they have their reward with their Lord; no fear shall be upon them, nor shall they grieve.}

(Q. 2:113) {وقالت اليهود ليست النصارى على شيء وقالت النصارى ليست اليهود على شيء وهم يتلون الكتاب كذلك قال الذين لا يعلمون مثل قولهم فالله يحكم بينهم يوم القيامة فيما كانوا فيه يختلفون}

{And the Jews say, "The Christians have nothing [in terms of doctrine]"; and the Christians say, "The Jews have nothing"; and they [both] recite the Book. Thus speak those who do not know, like their words. God will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they differed.}

(Q. 2:136-137) {قولوا آمنّا باللّه وما أنزل إلينا وما أنزل إلى إبراهيم وإسماعيل وإسحاق ويعقوب والأسباط وما أوتي موسى وعيسى وما أوتي النبيون من ربهم لا نفرّق بين أحد منهم ونحن له مسلمون * فإن آمنوا بمثل ما آمنتم به فقد اهتدوا وإن تولّوا فإنما هم في شقاق فسيكفيكهم الله وهو السميع العليم}

{Say, "We believe in God and what was sent down to us; and what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the tribes; and what was given to Moses, Jesus and the prophets from their Lord. We do not differentiate between any of them, and we submit to Him." Then, if they believe in the same as that in which you believe, they will have been guided; and if they turn away, they are only in dissent. God will satisfy you regarding them; and He is Hearing, Knowing.}

(Q. 2:147-148) {الحق من ربك فلا تكوننّ من الممترين * ولكلّ وجهة هو مولّيها فاستبقوا الخيرات أين ما تكونوا يأت بكم اللّه جميعًا إن الله على كل شيء قدير}

{The truth is from your Lord, so do not be from amongst argumentative. * Everyone has a direction towards which he turns. So compete in good deeds. Wherever you are, God will bring you forth, all of you. Indeed, God is Powerful over all things.}

(Q. 3:84) {قل آمنّا باللّه وما أنزل علينا وما أنزل على إبراهيم وإسماعيل وإسحاق ويعقوب والأسباط وما أوتي موسى وعيسى والنبيون من ربهم لا نفرّق بين أحد منهم ونحن له مسلمون}

{Say, "We believe in God and what was sent down to us; and what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the tribes; and what was given to Moses, Jesus and the prophets from their Lord. We do not differentiate between any of them, and we submit to Him."}

(Q. 11:118-119) {ولو شاء ربك لجعل الناس أمة واحدة ولا يزالون مختلفين * إلا من رحم ربك ولذلك خلقهم وتمّت كلمة ربك لأملأنّ جهنم من الجنة والناس أجمعين}

{And if your Lord had so willed, He would have made people a single nation; but they will continue to differ, * except those on whom your Lord shows mercy; and for that reason He created them. And the word of your Lord shall be fulfilled: "I will surely fill Hell with jinns and people together."}

(Q. 29:46) {ولا تجادلوا أهل الكتاب إلا بالتي هي أحسن إلا الذين ظلموا منهم وقولوا آمنّا بالذي أنزل إلينا وأنزل إليكم وإلهنا وإلهكم واحد ونحن له مسلمون}

{And do not argue with the People of the Book unless it is with what is best, except those of them who have done wrong; and say, "We believe in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to you. Our God and your God is One; and we submit to him."}

(Q. 39:46) {قل اللهم فاطر السماوات والأرض عالم الغيب والشهادة أنت تحكم بين عبادك في ما كانوا فيه يختلفون}

{Say, "O God, Creator of the heavens and Earth, Knower of what is visible and invisible, You judge between your servants concerning that over which they differed."}

(Q. 42:10) {وما اختلفتم فيه من شيء فحكمه إلى الله ذلكم الله ربي عليه توكّلت وإليه أنيب}

{And whatever you differ over in anything, then its ruling is with God, my Lord, in Whom I put my trust and to Whom I turn in repentance.}

(Q. 109:1-6) {قل يا أيها الكافرون * لا أعبد ما تعبدون * ولا أنتم عابدون ما أعبد * ولا أنا عابد ما عبدتم * ولا أنتم عابدون ما أعبد * لكم دينكم ولي دين}

{Say, "O you disbelievers, * I do not worship what you worship; * and you do not worship what I worship; * and I do not worship what you used to worship; * and you do not worship what I worship. * You have your religion, and I have mine."}

Section 5: Does the Sharia prescribe a punishment for apostasy?

(Q. 2:108) {أم تريدون أن تسألوا رسولكم كما سئل موسى من قبل ومن يتبدل الكفر بالإيمان فقد ضل سواء السبيل}

{Or do you wish to question your messenger as Moses was questioned previously? And whoever exchanges disbelief in place of faith, then he has strayed from the Right Path.}

(Q. 2:217) {... ومن يرتدِد منكم عن دينه فيمُت وهو كافر فأولئك حبطت أعمالهم في الدنيا والآخرة وأولئك أصحاب النار هم فيها خالدون}

{... and whoever amongst you goes back on his religion then dies while he is a disbeliever; those are they whose deeds in this world and the hereafter have plummeted, and they shall be the companions of the fire, in it for all eternity.}

(Q. 3:90) {إن الذين كفروا بعد إيمانهم ثم ازدادوا كفرًا لن تُقبل توبتهم وأولئك هم الضالون}

{Those who disbelieve after having believed, then increase in disbelief; their repentance shall not be accepted, and they are those who are truly lost.}

(Q. 4:137) {إن الذين آمنوا ثم كفروا ثم آمنوا ثم كفروا ثم ازدادوا كفرًا لم يكن الله ليغفر لهم ولا ليهديهم سبيلًا}

{Those who believe, then disbelieve, then believe, then disbelieve, then increase in disbelief; God is not one to forgive them, nor will He show them a way out.}

(Q. 5:54) {يا أيها الذين آمنوا من يرتد منكم عن دينه فسوف يأتي الله بقوم يحبهم ويحبونه أذلّة على المؤمنين أعزّة على الكافرين يجاهدون في سبيل الله ولا يخافون لومة لائم ذلك فضل الله يؤتيه من يشاء والله واسع عليم}

{O you who believe, whoever amongst you goes back on his religion, God will bring forth a people whom He loves and who love Him, humble towards the believers, mighty against the disbelievers, striving in the way of God and not fearing the blame of blamers. That is God's favour that He gives to whom He wishes. And God is Omnipresent, Knowing.}

(Q. 9:74) {يحلفون بالله ما قالوا ولقد قالوا كلمة الكفر وكفروا بعد إسلامهم وهمّوا بما لم ينالوا وما نقموا إلا أن أغناهم الله ورسوله من فضله فإن يتوبوا يكُ خيرًا لهم وإن يتولّوا يعذّبهم الله عذابًا أليمًا في الدنيا والآخرة وما لهم في الأرض من ولي ولا نصير}

{The swear by God they did not say so, yet they spoke the utterance of disbelief, and they disbelieved after their submission [to God]. And they plotted what they did not attain; and they withheld only because God and His Messenger bestowed on them of His favour. So if they repent it will be better for them; and if they turn away, God will impose on them a painful torment in this world and the hereafter. And they shall have no guardian or helper on Earth.}

(Q. 16:106) {من كفر بالله من بعد إيمانه إلا من أكره وقلبه مطمئن بالإيمان ولكن من شرح بالكفر صدرًا فعليهم غضب الله ولهم عذاب عظيم}

{Whoever rejects God after having believed, except the one who is forced while his heart remains constant in faith, but who opens his breast to disbelief; God's anger is upon them, and a mighty torment shall be theirs.)

(Q. 47:25) {إن الذين ارتدوا على أدبارهم من بعد ما تبين لهم الهدى الشيطان سوّل لهم وأملى لهم}

{Indeed, those who turn their backs after guidance has been made clear for them, Satan has fooled them and given them false hopes.}

Above are the verses of the Qur'an quoted by Jamal al-Banna (جمال البنا) to refute the claim that a prescribed penalty for apostasy exists in the Sharia. A separate article examines the main hadiths relating to the issue of apostasy used by him. For a full exposition, see Jamal al-Banna's تفنيد دعوى حد الردة (lit. A refutation of the claim of a prescribed penalty for apostasy).
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