The death penalty for apostasy is part of Islamic law. It’s based on the Qur’an: “They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies until they emigrate for the cause of Allah. But if they turn away, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them and take not from among them any ally or helper.” (Qur’an 4:89)
A hadith depicts Muhammad saying: “Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him” (Bukhari 9.84.57). The death penalty for apostasy is part of Islamic law according to all the schools of Islamic jurisprudence.
This is still the position of all the schools of Islamic jurisprudence, both Sunni and Shi’ite. Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the most renowned and prominent Muslim cleric in the world, has stated: “The Muslim jurists are unanimous that apostates must be punished, yet they differ as to determining the kind of punishment to be inflicted upon them. The majority of them, including the four main schools of jurisprudence (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali) as well as the other four schools of jurisprudence (the four Shiite schools of Az-Zaidiyyah, Al-Ithna-‘ashriyyah, Al-Ja’fariyyah, and Az-Zaheriyyah) agree that apostates must be executed.”
Qaradawi also once famously said: “If they had gotten rid of the apostasy punishment, Islam wouldn’t exist today.”
“Christian Convert in Somalia Suffers Third Attack,” Morning Star News, October 21, 2024:
NAIROBI, Kenya (Morning Star News) – A convert from Islam in Somalia who was attacked in May and July was again assaulted on Oct. 5 after Muslim relatives suspected him of leading Christian prayer meetings, he said.
Mohammad Abdul was leading worship behind locked doors at his home in an undisclosed town in Lower Juba Region when four Muslim relatives arrived and waited outside for him to finish. When he went outside, he was surprised to see the relatives, who began questioning him without greeting him, Abdul said.
He said they asked him, “Why are you worshipping differently from the Muslim way? What is so unique about your worship? Why do you close yourself in the room when you are to praying?”
Abdul said he responded, “My praying is a secret between me and my Lord Isa [Jesus], and more so, why should I pray in public? This is just a way to please men, but in my time of worship I should please only God who is in the heavenly places.”
When they told him that he must join Muslims for Islamic worship, he said he replied that he had embraced the Christian faith and Christ was his Lord and Savior, adding, “Isa who saved me knows my heart, and I am happy in my heart, so leave me alone.”
One of the relatives jumped on him as another hit him with a blunt object, and a third relative slapped his face, he said. He suffered a fracture on his left hand, injured fingers of his right hand and cuts to his face.
“You are inviting terrible trouble to yourself and your family,” one of the relatives told him, to which Abdul said he replied, “You can beat me up more if you want, but I can tell you that Isa has saved me. Whether I die or not, I live to serve him.”
They left him bleeding as one uttered, to his surprise, “Since you love God, may He then lead you to the right path,” Abdul said….
somehistory says
This man is rich in faith, something devout mozlums will never understand. But, perhaps one of his relatives is on his way to faith ,also.
Only God and Christ know what is in the heart. Humans can observe the fruits of it.
Barb says
It would be wise to move somewhere he is not known. He can lead other to Jesus Christ only if he is alive. His death will scare others to not leave Islam.
GOD protect him and his family.
gravenimage says
Barb, sadly it is his family that is threatening and attacking him. Orthodox Islam.
somehistory says
g, perhaps he has a wife and children because…
““You are inviting terrible trouble to yourself and your family,” one of the relatives told him, ‘
gravenimage says
Somehistory, I hope that *some* of this good man’s family are standing by him–but certainly many are not.
somehistory says
g,
Where I come from “relatives” and “family” are not exactly the same. Family: father, mother, kids, sometimes grandparents.
Relatives; uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews.
If this is true for this man, he may be in danger from the “extended family,”….uncles, cousins, etc. That what it reads like to me.
Sally Hatzopoulos says
Praise God for his courage and pray for his faith in Jesus never fails. I am sure that the family will end up killing him because they fear the knife of the demonic Muslim executioner who will kill them for not carrying out their duty in killing him. If only they had eyes to see but as we know the god of this world had blinded them.
Bill says
If you want to know far more about Muslim persecution of Christians go to the Voice of the Martyrs site, it is maddening and heartbreaking but also very encouraging.
gravenimage says
Somalia: Muslim converts to Christianity, his relatives hit, slap, and cut him, warn him of ‘terrible trouble’
……………………………………..
I hope this brave man can flee to Kenya. He will never be safe in Somalia, including from his murderous Muslim family.
James Lincoln says
In cases like this, I always wonder if it would have been better to convert to Christianity covertly – with hopes of emigrating to a Western nation.
gravenimage says
James, I hope he and any decent family members he has can get out to Kenya.