Quranic attitude towards Blasphemy & difference b/w tolerating & avoiding it

[Tausif Ahmed]

SalamuAlikum - Peace be upon you

Questions regarding blasphemy have been discussed before on this forum however I want to ask from a slightly different perspective.

It is absolutely clear that Quran does not permit any violence or death penalty in response to blasphemy & mocking of religion.

And Quran states to say peace to the mockers.

And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say peace. (25:63)

However, some Muslims who have Quran centric approach claim on basis of following verses, that Quran states to tolerate mockery :-

And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them. Indeed, Allah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell all together. (4:140)

And when you see those who engage in [offensive] discourse concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they enter into another conversation. And if Satan should cause you to forget, then do not remain after the reminder with the wrongdoing people. (6:68)

These verses show Muslims must tolerate by avoiding being in such company temporarily.

Now of course this tolerance is not tolerance by happiness, however what if some sort of legal action is taken against blasphemers? Would that be a correct idea? or doing so would be wrong?

4:140 the context is regarding Hypocrites and God says in the verse that we would be like the hypocrites & disbelievers if we tolerate such community by being part of them when they are mocking our faith.

For example a group hostile to Islam, insults the Quran & has intentions to continue to do so, what should our reaction be?
Avoid & ignore, or take help from Law & judiciary?

Regards

[Wakas]

peace,

I would imagine if it crosses into harassment/threatening or advocates harming a group then action could be taken. I believe most countries have laws against that, e.g. "hate speech", "incitement to violence".

More verses here:
https://www.misconceptions-about-islam.com/misconception.php?id=44

[Tausif Ahmed]

Thanks. A very nice website by the way.

[Wakas]

Thanks. Spread the word about the website, share on social media etc. The accompanying site AreYouMuslim.com is also very good.

[Mubashir]

Salam Friends

Many moons ago, I made a note of Br Joseph's comment on Blasphemy which I would like to share:

The Quran informs the reader that the Prophet was mocked, ridiculed (37:12) like the messengers before him (13:32; 15:11; 21:41). He was called an inventor, forger, a liar (16:101; 25:4), a man who was bewitched (17:47; 25:, that he was a possessed poet (37:36). Insults were even hurled at the Quran, in that it was called 'muddled dreams' (21:5), 'foreign, outlandish' (16:103), an invention, a forgery (38:7) and tales of the men of the past (25:5).

However, the single most grave blasphemy was undoubtedly the blasphemy against God Himself.

7.180 “The most beautiful names belong to God: so call on him by them; but shun such men as use profanity (Arabic: Yul'hiduna) in His names: for what they do, they will soon be requited”

Arabic: Yul'hiduna - Blaspheme, deviate, violate, distort, pervert.

At no point did any of these insults attract the death penalty.

Rather, the advice was:

38.017 "Be patient over what they say and remember our servant David, the man of strength for he was repeatedly turning (to God)"

20.130 “Therefore be patient with what they say, and celebrate (constantly) the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun and before its setting, yea, celebrate them for part of the hours of the night, and at the sides of the day: that you may have (spiritual) joy”

Whether repeated insults and evil transgression which incite hatred, terrorism and evil in the land can be classed as 'fasaad' remains a matter for the state to decide. However, this is very different from the general 'blasphemy' understood by many Muslims today who believe it correct to murder anyone for uttering anything against the Prophet.

Joseph Islam

[Tausif Ahmed]

Thanks a lot for sharing brother.