AL-AZHAR, UNIVERSITY OF

The largest and premier Islamic university, located in Egypt.

- teaching on apostasy,

  > "A person guilty of apostasy (man or woman) shall be put to death if repentance is not made within the period allowed which shall not exceed sixty days. Repentance of a person who commits apostasy more than twice shall not be accepted.

  > "An apostate is that Muslim who has renounced the faith of Islam irrespective of his adoption of another creed.

  > "The crime of apostasy is committed in the following ways:

  > 1. making an explicit statement or committing an act definitely indicating renunciation of Islam,
  > 2. denial of essential tenets of the faith,
  > 3. bringing into ridicule through word or action, the Gracious Koran."
  > (Bill of Legal Punishments, p. 12, quoted in Behind The Veil, Chapter 1)

  > "The ordained penalty for apostasy is based on the Sunnah. The prophet, peace be on him, said, ‘One whochanges his faith is to be killed’ (a-Bukhari). It is also narrated by Al Dar Qutni that when a woman called Umm-Marwan had renounced Islam, the Prophet ordered that if she failed to repent she should be put to death. he rightly guided Caliphs continued this practice. It is fully known that Abu-Bakr the truthful fought against those who had deserted from the religion of Islam and killed many. The Gracious Companions were of the same view, and a consensus emerged on this issue." (ibid. p. 30, quoted in Behind The Veil, Chapter 1)

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