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Capital punishment in Saudi

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 326 ✭✭confusedquark


    But if the majority opinion agrees with one interpretation, doesn't that make that interpretation the default (for lack of a better word)?

    It does make it the default, but it doesn't necessarily make it the correct interpretation, as you mention yourself.
    It is supported by the majority of the teaching in Islam. Why do you think this is?

    The relevant Koranic verses and Hadiths go back to the early days of Islam, when early Muslims were under attack from neighbouring tribes. Back in those times, apostasy was often associated with treason - people changing their allegiances and turning on their community, and capital punishment is applicable in those cases. The problem lies in differentiating simple apostasy from apostasy associated with treason.

    The longstanding problem of the traditional position, as held by Classical jurists or scholars, can be explained and excused as not being able to see apostasy, an issue of pure freedom of faith and conscience, separate from treason against the community or the state. This distinction was not made by early scholars, and once it became the status quo, there has been resistance to even consider an alternative - with some modern day scholars dismissing such suggestions as "The West telling us what to do", but that's no excuse to not even look at the issue.
    And given that the majority opinion is clearly wrong (and quite damaging, not just to the image of Islam but also to people at the receiving end of that opinion), why is more not done to combat it?

    People are vocal about it, but the status quo, once it's been in place for centuries, is not easy to change, especially with those at the top being as stubborn. Hopefully in time as more and more scholars speak up about it, things will change.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,790 ✭✭✭Mark Hamill


    How big of an issue do you think this is for Islam in general?
    Its very easy for the claims that Islam is a religion of peace and freedom to be shot down when its pointed out that the majority of Muslims, and therefore most of teaching, doesn't actually afford peaceful freedom to its own people. It seems to me that this is an especially damaging situation for both Islam and its followers.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 326 ✭✭confusedquark


    Of course it's a major issue. If people are being threatened with capital punishment over something which they should be left well alone, then that's not good for anyone. You can't force beliefs on people. The Koran says repeatedly that Allah guides whom He wills and sends astray whom He wills, without any mention of punishments except for in the afterlife.

    http://quran.com/search?q=Allah%20guides%20whom%20He%20wills


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