How the Apostasy Debate Played in the Islamic World

Catholic Exchange ^ | April 29, 2006 | Fr. Samir Khalil Samir, S.J.

[DManA]

I stand corrected.

[DManA]

I stand corrected.

[DManA]

Ok lets try this one more time:

Christ will emerge triumphant.

[Valin]

I just read the last chapter of Revelations the other day, and it looks like WE WIN! Well actually God wins. :-)

[rlmorel]

I think most people would be happy just to let Islamists be to observe their religion regardless of whether we think it is a real religion worthy of mutual respect or a cult by a pedophilic, bloodthirsty power-mad human being. Most of us don't really care one way or another.

The flying of planes into buildings and beheadings seem to have a way of focusing our attention, and not in the way moderate muslims might like.

[highlander_UW]

For at least one out of four of these, the essential reason for the death penalty for apostates is: if conversion to another religion is allowed, this would be fitnah (sedition), it would prompt others to follow this path, and thus all would become Christians.

So 25% of posting muslims realize that the only thing that is causing people to remain muslims and not become Christians is the threat of death. Now there's something to commend a religion.

[Patrick_k]

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?cid=1119503547222&pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaEAskTheScholar

tells about the official moslem position facing the apostasy (al-riddah).

whereas (in arabic):
http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A8_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A9

tells about the wars against apostates (Houroub al-riddah)and their causes, the first paragraph says:

"The 'riddah' wars took place immediatly after the death of Mohammed and were aimed at those arabs who retracted from the new faith of Islam. Remained faithful to the Caliph Abu-Bakr, only the tribes around Medinah, plus the inhabitants of Medinah, Mekkah and Ta'ef. The Caliph Abu-Bakr decided to fight all the retracted, and 'did not leave anyone' of them, despite the direct intercession of the fellows of the prophet to spare only those who did not abide by the 'zakat'...."

Apparently, were it not for this violent (sarcastically their "shock and awe")reaction in its first days, we would only read about Islam in specialized History books.

[NYer]

All would become Christians? Father Samir's interpretation, or Muslim thought?

Christianity began in the east and predates Islam. Fr. Samir is considered an authority on Muslim Christian relations. It makes sense that Arabs would be drawn back to christianity.

[NYer]

Apparently, were it not for this violent (sarcastically their "shock and awe")reaction in its first days, we would only read about Islam in specialized History books.

Perhaps, with time and much prayer, Islam will slip into history.

[Cronos]

if conversion to another religion is allowed, this would be fitnah (sedition), it would prompt others to follow this path, and thus all would become Christians

ah, all the trademarks of a cult....