Journal of Islamic Studies and Culture June 2015, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 48-57 ISSN: 2333-5904 (Print), 2333-5912 (Online) Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved. Published by American Research Institute for Policy Development DOI: 10.15640/jisc.v3n1a7 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.15640/jisc.v3n1a7 Blasphemy law of Islam-Misconceptions and Fallacy Iffatkhalid1 & Ms Shamana Munawar2 Abstract Right of respect is a prime need of every one but this can be fulfilled when each and every person will take this responsibility and take a step forward in demolishing the disharmony in the society. If the right of respect is violated, it leads to hatred and enmity among the people and the situation turns worse if this violation takes the form of blasphemy. This research study is related to the same issue, that is, “Blasphemy law of Islam- Misconceptions and fallacy. ”Themain reason of selecting this topic is to search out the laws regarding punishment of blasphemy in the light of Islam, to identify the misconceptions and fallacy in the society regarding its punishment and also to search for proper answers for their misconcepts so that the culprits can find out their answers in a proper way. Descriptive method of research has been applied in this study by providing sufficient literature according to Qru’an, Sunnah and saying of Jurists etc. Keywords: Blasphemy, Misconceptions, Fallacy, Blasphemy law Blasphemy refers to the act of uttering profane, insulting or abusive language for something divine related to religion. In the Islamic context, blasphemy refers to a wide range of acts ranging from apostasy to cursing or slandering Allah the Most High and Exalted, and the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). Blasphemy also includes disrespect toward other holy messengers or religious beliefs. It is often overlapped with infidelity, which is seen as the rejection of Allah the Most High and Exalted and His revelation and messengers. Expression of religious opinions that are at variance with normative Islamic views can also be construed as blasphemy. The Arabic terms commonly used to describe the vilification or blasphemy against Allah the Most High and Exalted and the Prophet Muhammad abuse, vilification). In addition to these, there also are words sometimes used to)ﺷﺘﻢabuse, insult) and)ﺳﺐ S.A.W) are) accusing, attacking). 3So, Blasphemy means behavior or)ﻃﻌﻦ cursing) and) ﻟﻌﻦdescribe acts of blasphemy such as language that shows disrespect for any prophet or any religion. Blasphemy not only hurts the religious sentiments of others, but it also disturbs the peace and harmony of any society and even causes law and order problems, that is why Islam does not allow even the idols of the polytheists reviled or maligned. Allah says: “And abuse not those whom they call upon beside Allah, lest they, out of spite, abuse Allah in their ignorance.”4 If even the false idols are not allowed to be slandered, how the founders and leaders of different religions, sects, and groups can be defiled? The holy Qur’an forbids Muslims to be blasphemous but if a blasphemy is committed, whether by a so called Muslim or non-Muslims, the blasphemer must punished so that nobody else does that. In a broader sense, blasphemy is irreverence towards something considered sacred or inviolable. Many cultures disapprove of speech or writing, which defames the deity or deities of their established religion and these restrictions have the force of law in their countries. 1 M.Phil in Islamic Thought and Civilization, Lecturer, Department of humanities and Social Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Lahore, Mobile No: 0092-334-4471213, Postal address: H#430/34 Ismael Nagar bazar, Chungi Amar sindhu, Ferozpur road Lahore. E-mail Address: [email protected] 2 Assistant Professor, Comsats Institute of Infomation and Technology. E-mail: [email protected] 3 www.itakim.com/articles/Blasphemy.pdf 4Al Qur’an 6:108 Iffatkhalid & Munawar 49 The Prophets are Allah’s emissaries in this world. They have certain duties regarding their religion. They follow the divine message and convey their religious injunction for mankind. The respect and honor of Prophets is in fact because they are chosen by the Creator for a great mission. We not only have to respect the prophets but also everything associated with them should also be respectable. The Qur’an says clearly: “Then those who believe in him, and honor him and help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him: they are the successful.”5 Allah mentions the personality of His beloved Prophet (S.A.W) in such a manner that the believers are not even allowed to speak loudly in front of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) like the way they talk to each other asthe Qur’an says in a very nice way: “O ye who believe! Lift not up your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor shout when speaking to him as ye shout one to another, lest your works be rendered vain while ye perceive not.”6 It is a clear evidence for all mankind that raising voices above the voice of prophet is forbidden. Therefore, how is it possible to tolerate foul remarks, cursing behavior and irrelevance language against Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W)? Allah Almighty’s saying “lest your works be rendered vain and you will be unaware of that”7 makes it clear that the act of insulting the Prophet (S.A.W) alone is sufficient to destroy all of the good deeds of a man and it can cause him eternal failure. So, the reason behind this order of Allah Almighty is to warn everyone about not using any kind of inappropriate language against the Prophet (SAWW). Thus, it is a universal message for the whole of mankind no matter to which religion or creed, they belong. An of sane intelligent person who knows about the personality of Prophet (S.A.W) and his religion, will not try to use any defamatory language against Muhammad (S.A.W). “But if they violate their oaths after their covenant, and taunt you for your Faith, - fight ye the chiefs of Unfaith: for their oaths are nothing to them: that thus they may be restrained. Will ye not fight people who violated their oaths, plotted to expel the Messenger, and took the aggressive by being the first (to assault) you? Do ye fear them? Nay, it is Allah Whome ye should more justly fear, if ye believe! Fight them, and Allah will punish them by your hands, cover them with shame, help you (to victory) over them, heal the breasts of Believers, And still the indignation of their hearts. For Allah will turn (in mercy) to whom He will; and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise”.8 Imam Abu Ibrahim bin Serizajaj (death 311 Hijri) said Regarding the above Mentioned Verse. “This verse allows the killing of Zimi (Jews and Christian) because they promised that they will not use any bad or ill-mannered language against Muslims or their religion. If they will try to breach the agreement, it will lead to nullification of the very agreement.”9 Iman ˈIbnKhathīr Writes Aboutthe above Mentioned Verses “When they criticize your religion” is describing the injunctions about the punishment of blasphemy.10 According to Imam Abu Abdullah Muhammad Bin ˈAḥmadQurṭubī “Most of the Muslim scholars believe that the person who commits such offence (abusing or insulting remarks) against the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) , whether he be a Christian or Jew, he should be hanged ”11 ˈImām, ˈAbū Muhammad al-Ḥusain ˈibn ˈMas'udBaghwī (death 526 Hijri) is also in favor of the above view and he discusses the issue in “Tafsīrmaʻālim al-tanzīl”12 Form the above verse and views of the interpreters, it is clear for all of us that the person who commits blasphemy, must be killed. This is because the person who does not believe in Qur’an and denies the greatness of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), he will be unable to understand the true meaning of the Qur’an and Sunnah. Therefore, such people always try to misguide others that, there is not even a single verse regarding the punishment of blasphemy. Although there are words of Allah referring to such situation and in these verses Allah (S.W.T) is directing the Muslims to fight and even kill those who break their agreements and also those who planned to kill the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) and even those who had decided to exile the Prophet from Mecca. ˈIbn Taimiyya has saying, when a protégé shows an impudent behavior against Prophet (S.A.W), or Allah, his agreement will be broken, because he is mocking and ridiculing Islam. 5Al Quran, 7:158 6Al Quran, 49:2 7 As mention above Al Qur’an, 49:2 8Al Qur’an, 9:12 9Mˈānī al-qurānwa ˈAˈrābuhū. Dār al-Hadīth, Cairo, Dāral-Shoˈūb, Cairo, Vol. 4/351. 10Khathīr, ˈIsmāˈīl Bin Umer, TāfsirQurān-ul-Azeem.DārṬayibah,.Vol. 4/116, 1999. 11Al-Qurṭubī, ˈAbū 'Abdullah ˈibn ˈAḥmad, ˈImāmal-Jāmi'li-ˈAḥkām-al-Qur'ān.Translated by: Dr. Hafiz ˈIkrām al-Haqq, Shariaḥ Academy, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan, Vol. 8/54, 2004. 12Al-Baghwī, ˈImām, ˈAbū Muhammad al-Ḥusain ˈibn ˈMas'ud, Tafsīrmaʻālim al-tanzīl, ˈIdarahTālifāt ˈAshrafiyyah, Multan.Vol. 4/474. 50 Journal of Islamic Studies and Culture, Vol. 3(1), June 2015 It is a consensus; such a person must be punished. 13 It is a clear example that if a person is not allowed to violate the agreement how can one be allowed to say profane remarks against the Prophet (S.A.W).