From: minhaszt@ucbeh.san.uc.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.iranian
Subject: Re: PROMINENT IRANIAN BAHA'I EXECUTED
Date: 15 Apr 92 14:23:56 EST
Distribution: world
Organization: Univ. of Cincinnati

**This is and my next post is in response to Mr. Rafsanjani's post about why 
the Baha'is are persecuted. I would like to reiterate that what the regime in 
Iran is not a reflection of the ideals of over 90% of the Muslim world. This
post was made some time ago, so I am going to put it up again for the benefit
of everyone.**


Start:
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Islam does _not_ allow killing of people who leave Islam.
I've seen hadith after hadith, both in Sahih al-Bukhari, and Sahih Muslim, that
claim apostates can be killed. Each gives no Qur'anic justification, only one 
(in Sahih al-Bukhari) quotes a Qur'anic verse and that verse doesn't say "Kill 
an apostate!"
 
To wit: Except in the case of a war in progress the Qur'an does not
justify killing, even in cases of apostacy.
 
Here are some verses from the Qur'an.
 
73:9-14
 
(9) The Sustainer of the east and the west [is He]: there is no deity save
Him: hence, ascribe to Him alone the power to determine thy fat, (10) and
endure with patience whatever people may say [against thee], and avoid them
with a comely avoidance.
(11) And leave Me alone [to deal] with those who give the lie to the truth -
those who enjoy the blessings of life [without any thought of God] - and bear
thou with them for a little while: (12) for, behold, heavy fetters [await
them] with Us, and a blazing fire, (13) and food that chokes, and grievous
suffering (14) on the Day when the earth and the mountains will be convulsed,
and the mountains will [crumble and] become like a sand dune on the move!
 
74:11-17
 
(11) Leave Me alone [to deal] with him whom I alone have created, (12) and to
whom I have granted resources vast, (13) and children as witnesses, (14) and
to whose life I gave so wide a scope: (15) and yet, he greedily desired that I
give yet more!
(16) Nay, verily, it is against Our messages that he knowingly, stubbornly
sets himself - (17) and so I shall constrain him to endure a painful uphill
climb!
 
46:35
 
(35) Remain, then, [O believer,] patient in adversity, just as all of the
apostles, endowed with firmness of heart, bore themselves with patience. And
do not ask for a speedy doom of those [who still deny the truth]: on the Day
when they see [the fulfillment of] what they were promised, [it will seem to
them] as though they had dwelt [on earth] no longer than one hour of [an
earthly] day!
[This is Our] message. Will, then, any be [really] destroyed save iniquitous
folk?
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Repentance of Apostates (They can't repent if they're dead!)
 
3:86-89
 
(86) How would God bestow His guidance upon people who have resolved to deny
the truth after having attained to faith, and having borne witness that his
Apostle is true, and [after] all evidence of the truth has come unto them?
For, God does not guide such evildoing folk. (87) Their requital shall be
rejection by God, and by the angels, and by all [righteous] men. (88) In this
state shall they abide; [and] neither will their suffering be lightened, nor
will they be granted respite.
(89) But excepted shall be they that afterwards repent and put themselves to
rights: for, behold, God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.
 
5:33-34
 
(33) It is but just recompense for those who make war on God and His apostle,
and endeavor to spread corruption on earth, that they are being slain in great
numbers, or have, in result of their perverseness, their hands and feet cut
off in great numbers, or are being [entirely] banished from [the face of] the
earth: such is their ignominy in this world. But in the life to come [yet
more] awesome suffering awaits them - (34) save for such [of them] as repent
ere you [O believers] become more powerful then they: for you must know that
God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.
 
9:5 and 9:11 (During the campaign to Tabuk and the battle)
 
(5) And so, when the sacred months are over, slay those who ascribe divinity
to aught beside God wherever you may come upon them, and take them captive,
and besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every conceivable place. Yet, if
they repent, and take to prayer, and render the purifying dues, let them go
their way: for, behold, God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.
 
(11) Yet if they repent, and take to prayer, and render the purifying dues,
they become our brethren in faith: and clearly do We spell out these messages
unto people of [innate] knowledge!
--------
What should the response be to someone who writes something that is considered
insulting?
 
16:126
 
(126) Hence, if you have to respond to an attack [in argument], respond only
to the extent of the attack levelled against you; but to bear yourselves with
patience is indeed far better for [you, since God is with] those who are
patient in adversity.
 
41:34
 
(34) But [since] good and evil cannot be equal, repel thou [evil] with
something that is better - and lo! he between whom and thyself was enmity [may
then become] as though he had [always] been close [unto thee], a true friend!
---------
 
For those who would like further references:
 
Apostacy 3:72, 3:86-88, 3:90-91, 3:167, 4:137, 5:54, 9:74, 9:107, 16:106, 33:14
  - do not ask for speedy doom for apostates 46:35
    - God alone will punish them 73:11, 74:11
  - punishment in the hereafter 2:217, 9:74
  - rejection by others 3:87
  - repentance 3:89, 5:34, 9:5, 9:11
    - on Judgement Day is too late 40:85
  - under duress 16:106
Arguments/Attacks
  - respond in kind 8:58, 16:126
    - being patient is far better 16:126
    - leave, wishing peace 25:63, 28:55
  - respond with something better 41:34
 
Behavior
  - argue in a kindly manner with those given earlier revelation 16:125, 29:46
  - be just in your opinions 6:152
  - forgive non-believers 31:15, 45:14
  - forgive readily 42:37
  - treat non-belligerent non-believers with equity 60:8
 
Killing
  - don't 6:151, 17:33, 25:68
  - don't harm those offering peace 4:90
  - only during hostilities in progress 2:191, 4:89, 4:91, 5:33, 8:39, 8:57,
    9:5, 9:12
  - punishment for murder and spreading corruption on Earth 5:32
 
Judgement
  - be just 5:8, 5:42
    - don't let hate lead judgement astray 5:8
 
Mockery
  - leave company of those in the act of mocking God's law 4:140, 6:68
 
 
One of the things that Muslims in general don't know is how Muhammad lived his
life. If anyone can draw the conclusion that Muhammad used violence when he 
otherwise didn't have to is offbase. What kind of Prophet do you think he is
if it is true that he ordered a measly poet to be killed unless he recanted what
he said, is this the character of Rahmatun-lil-Alameen (Mercy to the World)?
On another note, the whole city of Taif was ready to kill him because they did
not want to give up their business of exporting alcohol, he was in a position 
to destroy the whole city, but he did not. His character of forgiveness and
patience was one of the reasons why many people were attracted to the religion
of God.
 
zafar
Newsgroups: soc.culture.iranian