The Issue of Apostasy-Research and Analytical Study of the Thoughts and Ideas of Imam Ibn Taymiyyah

Abstract

In social life, Islam does not allow any individual to renounce or abandon Islam and adopt another religion after converting to Islam. Or being a Muslim, obey and follow some rules and worships but deny some other apparent, consistent, or constantly proven rules and worships. Imam Ibn e Taymiyyah (1263-1328) was a most popular figure, a genius writer and a brave warrior in Islamic history who had a great Jihadi literature. In his literature, he has written in detail about the hot issue of Apostasy and mentioned some rules, principles, conditions, and manners regarding apostasy. In the name of Islamic Jihad in the recent past and present, some resistance and jihadist militant movements, declare apostates from Islam to all rulers of Islamic World, due to their imitation of prevailing political and democratic system, and to all public who is in support of these rulers. Instead of being content with a fatwa against them, they declare them as obligatory to be killed and their property and wealth are permissible. The violent conduct of these movements and the tendency of armed rebellion and exodus against Muslims by declaring them apostates and infidels is linked to the thoughts of Ibn Taymiyyah and he is found guilty. The fatwa of apostasy issued by the militant or jihadist groups, against Muslim public, rulers, officers, political system, and democratic government is, in fact, misinterpretation of Ibn Taymiyyah’s fatwas and the result of ignorance about the real spirit of his fatwas. In this situation, there is an urgent need to know and study the thoughts and ideas of Ibn e Taymiyyah to know his point of view regarding the issue of apostasy and present the spirit of his fatwa and its real respondent to the world to play its role in eradicating the current terrorism.