Apostate does not deserve death in Islamic Sharia: Ex-mufti

CAIRO – 8 October 2017: Former Grand Mufti of Egypt Ali Gomaa stated that an apostate must not be killed and that what is meant by the boundary of apostasy is the aim of undermining the society, not leaving Islam for another religion.

Gomaa said during his program on "CBC" that, for 1,200 years ago, Egyptians did not apply the penalty of apostasy, because the law was surrounded by large judicial proceedings, and it is not right for anyone to apply this penalty, which undermines the society.

He continued, there are many incidents in Islamic history that proves there were cases of people converted from Islam to other religions without any punishment, like Obeidullah ibn Jahsh, who converted from Islam to Christianity and the companions of Prophet Muhammad did nothing to him.

"There are two types of apostates: one still believes, so those of this type are left for God to judge. The other type is a ‘spoiler apostate,’ who calls to undermine the community and publishes articles and videos, promotes his ideas and demands people to stay away from religion.”

Gomaa stressed that the religion of Islam allows freedom of thought and religion to all humans, adding that “now, conversion lies either upon the state or upon the social order, and therefore it is up to the judge.”

“Sayyid Qutb was not ‘killed’ per se. He was sentenced to death because of his intention of ruining society with his dark ideas,” added Gomaa.

"The penalty of apostasy is found in the Holy Quran: {Truly, if the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, and those who stir up sedition in the city, desist not, we shall certainly stir thee up against them. Then they will be unable to stay in it as thy neighbors for any length of time. They shall have a curse on them; whenever they are found, they shall be seized and slain (without mercy)},” he explained, showing that those who are to be slain are those causing mischief.