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Egypt’s highest Islamic authority — a “moderate” — says apostasy punishable by death

Jun 27, 2016 9:09 pm By Raymond Ibrahim

Sheikh-Ahmed-al-Tayeb

The line between “moderate” and “radical” Muslim continues to fade. On the question of apostasy in Islam—whether a born or converted Muslim has the right to abandon Islam for another or no religion—the radical position is well known: unrepentant apostates are to be punished with death.

Yet one of the Muslim world’s greatest authorities, the Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar University in Egypt recently made the same pronouncement.

Last week on his daily televised show running throughout Ramadan, Dr. Ahmed al-Tayeb—who was recently invited to the Vatican and warmly embraced by Pope Francis and isdescribed in Western media as a “moderate”—said that “Contemporary apostasy presents itself in the guise of crimes, assaults, and grand treason, so we deal with it now as a crime that must be opposed and punished.”

While his main point was that those who do not follow Islam are prone to being criminals, he especially emphasized those whose apostasy is apparent as being a “great danger to Islamic society. And that’s because his apostasy is a result of his hatred for Islam and a reflection of his opposition to it. In my opinion, this is grand treason.”

Sheikh al-Tayeb added what all Muslims know: “Those learned in Islam [al-fuqaha] and the imams of the four schools of jurisprudence consider apostasy a crime and agree that the apostate must either renounce his apostasy or else be killed.”

Finally, for good measure, he cited a hadith, or tradition, of Islam’s prophet permitting the killing of fellow Muslims under three circumstances: adultery, murder, and apostasy.

Dr. Ahmed al-Tayeb holds a Ph. D in Islamic philosophy from the Paris-Sorbonne University, and has been president of Al-Azhar University since 2003. Between 2002 and 2003, al-Tayeb served as Grand Mufti of Egypt.

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Filed Under: Apostasy, Egypt, Moderate Muslims, Sharia Tagged With: Ahmed al-Tayeb, Al Azhar


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Comments

  1. Angemon says

    Jun 27, 2016 at 9:27 pm

    Egypt’s highest Islamic authority — a “moderate” — says apostasy punishable by death

    More evidence that “highest islamic authority” and “moderate” are contradictory terms – the more one studies islam the more one learns that there’s no such thing as a “moderate” islam, and no one ever got to the top of islamic hierarchy by not agreeing with islamic teachings…

    • Saleem Smith says

      Jun 28, 2016 at 12:51 am

      Most people think that Islam is the perfect religion of peace and justice. Yet Islam prescribes death to the apostates of Islam and homosexuals etc.

      We ex-Muslims living with Islam’s formal and informal death penalty for apostasy know that the cruel cult of Mohammedanism is a compete fraud.

      Islamic Apostasy>>

      Islam’s canonical texts record that the prophet of Islam instructed his followers to kill those Muslims attempting to leave the fold of Islam.

      Therefore each and every one of Muhammad’s followers are required to murder any friend or family member that attempts to leave the religion of Islam.

      Some Islamic apologists claim that Islam does not call for the death of Muslim apostates, while other Muslims acknowledge that the Islamic scriptures do indeed call for the death of ex-Muslims.

      As always, for the answer to whether or not Islamic theology prescribes death to the apostates of Islam we must turn to Islam’s foundational texts, the Qur’an, the Hadith and Sira.

      Regardless of whether or not Islam prescribes death for Muslim apostates, it is no doubt a very dangerous proposition to leave the religion. The sad fact is that Islamic theology and law both prescribe death to Muslim apostates.

      The sayings and doings of Muhammad, considered to be authentic by the majority of Muslims, are found in the Bukhari hadith collections among others.

      Hadith: Bukhari, Vol. 9, Book 84, No. 57:

      Narrated Ikrima: Some Zanadiqa (atheists) were brought to Ali and he burnt them. The news of this event, reached Ibn Abbas who said, “If I had been in his place, I would not have burnt them, as Allah’s Apostle forbade it, saying, ‘Do not punish anybody with Allah’s punishment (fire)’. I would have killed them according to the statement of Allah’s Apostle, ‘Whoever changes his Islamic religion, then kill him.’”

      Muhammad personally ordered the death of hundreds of innocent people. But then again, the word innocent means something entirely different in ‘Islam Speak’. And keep in mind that Muslims are taught to believe that Muhammad is the perfect man who is to be emulated in every instance.

      Here is a recent statement from a group of Bangladeshi apostates living in the UK explaining the reasons why they have abandoned Islam:

      “One who claims to be a messenger of God is expected to live a saintly life. He must not be given to lust, he must not be a sexual pervert, and he must not be a rapist, a highway robber, a war criminal, a mass murderer or an assassin. One who claims to be a messenger of God must have a superior character. He must stand above the vices of the people of his time. Yet Muhammad’s life is that of a gangster godfather. He raided merchant caravans, looted innocent people, massacred entire male populations and enslaved the women and children. He raped the women captured in war after killing their husbands and told his followers that it is okay to have sex with their captives (Qur’an 33:50). He assassinated those who criticized him and executed them when he came to power and became de facto despot of Arabia. Muhammad was bereft of human compassion. He was an obsessed man with his dreams of grandiosity and could not forgive those who stood in his way…

      The statement continues,

      Muhammad was a narcissist, like Hitler, Saddam or Stalin. He was astute and knew how to manipulate people, but his emotional intelligence was less evolved than that of a 6-year-old child. He simply could not feel the pain of others. He brutally massacred thousands of innocent people and pillaged their wealth. His ambitions were big and as a narcissist he honestly believed he is entitled to do as he pleased and commit all sorts of crimes and his evil deeds are justified.”

      http://www.faithfreedom.org/

      • mortimer says

        Jun 28, 2016 at 10:03 am

        Thank you, Angemon and Saleem Smith.

        Our Western elites have no understanding of the Islamic death sentence against apostates and Gay people, and yet, preposterously, demand we increase Islamic immigration uncritically, not realizing that this intolerance will have REAL EFFECTS on REAL PEOPLE in our Western societies.

        Moreover, Western elites are unaware that murdering of apostates and Gays may be done by ANYONE and there is no punishment prescribed under Sharia law. Thus, Sharia law authorizes VIGILANTE MURDER in several circumstances. Is VIGILANTE MURDER what we want to import? No, it is not.

        Muslim immigration should only be discussed if all the policy-makers have an awareness of the doctrine of VIGILANTE MURDER in Sharia law.

      • albert says

        Jun 29, 2016 at 4:10 pm

        Excellent dear. prophet mohammed claimed that angel Gabrial revealed messages of God. But angel never introduced himself that he is angel Gabrial. Then how islam can claimthat qural revealed by Allah?????

        • Trico says

          Jun 29, 2016 at 6:41 pm

          “Mohammedanism is a compete fraud”
          –
          “Islam is Constitutionally illegal”
          -Hungarian President Viktor Orban
          –

  2. Trico says

    Jun 27, 2016 at 9:57 pm

    “apostasy punishable by death”
    –
    I briefly watched a video on YouTube yesterday which showed how easy it is to convert to Islam. All the Infidel has to do is say in English:
    “There is only Allah and Mohammad is his homeboy”
    Then you say the same thing in Arabic by repeating the words you hear.
    That’s it. You’re in.
    NOWHERE was a Disclaimer included that “Once You’re In, You Ain’t Getting Out…Not In One Piece anyway”
    –
    This seems to me to be not only deceptive and deceitful but highly illegal.
    –
    By the withholding of such vital information, the Infidel is not truly making an “informed” decision to join the Islamic faith.
    –
    This should be challenged in Court, NOT a Sharia Court, as any reasonable Judge or Jury will agree that had the “Relevant Info”
    been presented the decision to join Islam would have resulted in a different outcome”
    –
    Apostates: start suing.
    –
    Allah surely is one sneaky demon, I mean dude.

  3. Sog says

    Jun 27, 2016 at 10:02 pm

    I wonder how it sounds after you perform the incantation to join when the Imam says in Arabic: ” Welcome to the Hotel California; You can check out any time you wish, but…. “

  4. Trico says

    Jun 27, 2016 at 10:53 pm

    Let’s Play Jeopardy:
    –
    Alex, I’ll take “this Ideology” for $100.
    A. This ideology posing as a religion is like a “Roach Motel, ‘once you go in, you can’t get out'”
    –
    Q. What is Islam?
    –

  5. Mark DeFord Eletion says

    Jun 27, 2016 at 11:11 pm

    Islam’s death penalty for apostasy makes islam a death trap unsuitable for human beings.

    There are many reasons why Islam must be eliminated, but that one is enough by itself.

    • MS Case says

      Jun 28, 2016 at 11:12 pm

      Yes Mark…Islam IS unsuitable for human consumption and if one does consume it
      One can’t even. vomit it up.

  6. RichardL says

    Jun 28, 2016 at 12:35 am

    old stuff. Wikipedia Germany has had this copy of a fatwa from Al Ahsa included in its piece about ridda:

    https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostasie_im_Islam#/media/File:Rechtsgutachten_betr_Apostasie_im_Islam_2.jpg

    Only Sheik Al Ahsa al Tantawi said that an apostate who converts to Christianity should not fear consequences. When he died, there were strong rumours he had converted shortly before his death. He was a strange one: he insisted of renting an apartment in his sons house (right next to his) to a Christian. He even had no problem when that Christian drank alcohol or ate pork.

    • mortimer says

      Jun 28, 2016 at 10:25 am

      Fr Zakari Botros claimed he had communicated with sheikhs who were secret Christians.

  7. eur says

    Jun 28, 2016 at 3:53 am

    Not even the Sufis. They say to be those who profess the mystical part of Islam without going into politics , violence…. the fact : this one is Sufi cleric and see what he says.

  8. No Fear says

    Jun 28, 2016 at 4:34 am

    If apostasy is “grand treason” then he is saying that Islam is not a religion but a nation. He is saying that Islam is political.

    • mortimer says

      Jun 28, 2016 at 10:17 am

      Islam is a nation. Islam is political.

      That’s the conclusion of textual quantification by subject. Most of the Islamic texts are about the politics of suppressing the kafir.

      • mortimer says

        Jun 28, 2016 at 10:17 am

        Islam is an empire.

  9. ICH says

    Jun 28, 2016 at 7:42 am

    Here are two different Muslims.
    Buddy to me is one step away from being unhinged.
    I wonder how super muslim feels about the big shots
    in the middle east. Will he challenge them?

    Because we know SHE CANT !!

    • ICH says

      Jun 28, 2016 at 7:43 am

      heres the link , apologies

      • mortimer says

        Jun 28, 2016 at 10:10 am

        What reform? ‘Reform’ in Islam means dissolution of the Death Cult of Mohammed.

        There is no mechanism of reform in Islam.

        Ibn Kathir wrote:

        – Kufrul-Istihaal: Disbelief out of trying to make HARAM into HALAL. This applies to someone who accepts as lawful (Halal) that which Allaah has made unlawful (Haram) like alcohol or adultery.Only Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala has the prerogative to make things Halal and Haram and those who seek to interfere with His right are like rivals to Him and therefore fall outside the boundries of faith.

        – Kufrul-Kurh: Disbelief out of detesting any of Allaah’s subhanahu wa ta’ala commands. Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: Perdition (destruction) has been consigned to those who disbelieve and He will render their actions void. This is because they are averse to that which Allaah has revealed so He has made their actions fruitless. [Soorah Muhammed (47), Ayah 8-9]

        Anyone who hates 1) jihad 2) murder of Gays or apostates is him/herself an apostate who should be executed.

  10. Simon says

    Jun 28, 2016 at 8:11 am

    Note that this is the same man who recently (March 2016) was honored with the opportunity to address the German parliament (Reichstag).
    http://egyptianstreets.com/2016/03/16/egypts-top-muslim-cleric-addresses-german-parliament/
    http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/191065/Egypt/Politics-/Ethiopias-Christian-king-protected-early-Muslims-A.aspx

  11. Florida Jim says

    Jun 28, 2016 at 9:48 am

    Any muslim believing in Sharia, Jihad, Taqiyya, Beheading, raping boys, girls and enemies is not fit to be in America. We need legal immigrants who want to become America citizens. A Obama has just written that out of the law anyone can come here and the taxpayers will support them, says Obama. This is why England bolted from the European Union they no longer has any say in England it was all bureaucrats in Brussels just as Obama wants here bureaucrats in Brussels to tell Americans what to do, think and say Stalin and Hitler are smiling.

    • mortimer says

      Jun 28, 2016 at 10:14 am

      65% of Muslims believe in what you listed. The other 35% are quiet, non-practicing drop-outs. The 35% will support jihad if they are forced to it. They will not defend democracy for fear of execution.

      Only by completely leaving Islam, can a Muslim be free to support freedom of speech and democracy.

  12. mortimer says

    Jun 28, 2016 at 9:54 am

    Quote: “Dr. Ahmed al-Tayeb holds a Ph. D in Islamic philosophy from the Paris-Sorbonne University”

    In epistemology, the ‘criteria of truth’ are standards and rules used to evaluate and test the accuracy of statements and claims.

    Islam, however, is completely obscurantist and uses ‘authoritarian thought’, rather than critical thought. So any version of ‘Islamic philosophy’ would necessarily fall beneath the standards of coherence, consistency and correspondence, thus making ‘Islamic philosophy’ an oxymoronic term.

    In Islam, any statement made by Allah is said to be true merely because Allah said so, even if the statement contradicts known scientific or historic facts or if it contradicts something else Allah said.

    Islam fails to be consistent, coherent or correspond to real objects. Therefore, Islam is false and ‘Islamic philosophy’ is not a part of real philosophy.

  13. David says

    Jun 28, 2016 at 10:26 am

    This wonderful “religion of peace” has the answer to how not to lose any members, kill anyone who dares leave and they will soon get the message !
    It’s amazing our politicians can’t see this.

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