Faith and freedom: The Qur’anic notion of freedom of religion vs. the act of changing religion and thoughts on the implications for Malaysia

The issue of freedom of religion has always been situated at the intersection between human rights, personal freedom of choice, religious belief and apostasy. While freedom supporters argue that one is free to choose his or her religion, including changing religion, the Qur’an has made it clear that...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors:	Ismail, Siti Zubaidah, Awang Mat, Muhamad Zahiri
Format:	Article
Language:	English English English
Published:	MDPI AG 2016
Subjects:	BL Religion
Online Access:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/56448/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/56448/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/56448/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/56448/1/56448_Faith%20and%20freedom_Scopus.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/56448/2/56448_Faith%20and%20freedom_WoS.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/56448/3/56448_Faith%20and%20freedom.pdf

id	iium-56448
recordtype	eprints
spelling	iium-564482017-10-21T00:27:08Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/56448/ Faith and freedom: The Qur’anic notion of freedom of religion vs. the act of changing religion and thoughts on the implications for Malaysia Ismail, Siti Zubaidah Awang Mat, Muhamad Zahiri BL Religion The issue of freedom of religion has always been situated at the intersection between human rights, personal freedom of choice, religious belief and apostasy. While freedom supporters argue that one is free to choose his or her religion, including changing religion, the Qur’an has made it clear that Islam allows changing of religion so long as it is from any religion to Islam and not from Islam to another religion. Apostatizing from Islam is one of the gravest enormities cautioned with eternal punishment. In interpreting the meaning of freedom of religion and restricting it from the “freedom” to change religion, Muslim scholars have been careful to draw a line distinguishing between the two. This article examines the different interpretations given by scholars on the issue of freedom of religion according to the Qur’an. By using historical and thematic analysis, the writers evaluate the mufassirins’ (scholars of exegesis) views on the related Qur’anic verses. Interpretations of the classical Islamic legal sources are also examined to identify their opinions on the consequences of leaving Islam, followed by contemporary opinions. The objective is to show the development and changes, if any, in the approaches taken regarding the limitations of freedom of religion. This will enlighten the ways to handle the issue of apostasy, as it is seen as a highly divisive and controversial issue, and to highlight an ideal approach for Malaysia. MDPI AG 2016-07 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/56448/1/56448_Faith%20and%20freedom_Scopus.pdf application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/56448/2/56448_Faith%20and%20freedom_WoS.pdf application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/56448/3/56448_Faith%20and%20freedom.pdf Ismail, Siti Zubaidah and Awang Mat, Muhamad Zahiri (2016) Faith and freedom: The Qur’anic notion of freedom of religion vs. the act of changing religion and thoughts on the implications for Malaysia. Religions, 7 (7). 88-1-88-18. ISSN 2077-1444 http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/7/7/88 10.3390/rel7070088
repository_type	Digital Repository
institution_category	Local University
institution	International Islamic University Malaysia
building	IIUM Repository
collection	Online Access
language	English English English
topic	BL Religion
spellingShingle	BL Religion Ismail, Siti Zubaidah Awang Mat, Muhamad Zahiri Faith and freedom: The Qur’anic notion of freedom of religion vs. the act of changing religion and thoughts on the implications for Malaysia
description	The issue of freedom of religion has always been situated at the intersection between human rights, personal freedom of choice, religious belief and apostasy. While freedom supporters argue that one is free to choose his or her religion, including changing religion, the Qur’an has made it clear that Islam allows changing of religion so long as it is from any religion to Islam and not from Islam to another religion. Apostatizing from Islam is one of the gravest enormities cautioned with eternal punishment. In interpreting the meaning of freedom of religion and restricting it from the “freedom” to change religion, Muslim scholars have been careful to draw a line distinguishing between the two. This article examines the different interpretations given by scholars on the issue of freedom of religion according to the Qur’an. By using historical and thematic analysis, the writers evaluate the mufassirins’ (scholars of exegesis) views on the related Qur’anic verses. Interpretations of the classical Islamic legal sources are also examined to identify their opinions on the consequences of leaving Islam, followed by contemporary opinions. The objective is to show the development and changes, if any, in the approaches taken regarding the limitations of freedom of religion. This will enlighten the ways to handle the issue of apostasy, as it is seen as a highly divisive and controversial issue, and to highlight an ideal approach for Malaysia.
format	Article
author	Ismail, Siti Zubaidah Awang Mat, Muhamad Zahiri
author_facet	Ismail, Siti Zubaidah Awang Mat, Muhamad Zahiri
author_sort	Ismail, Siti Zubaidah
title	Faith and freedom: The Qur’anic notion of freedom of religion vs. the act of changing religion and thoughts on the implications for Malaysia
title_short	Faith and freedom: The Qur’anic notion of freedom of religion vs. the act of changing religion and thoughts on the implications for Malaysia
title_full	Faith and freedom: The Qur’anic notion of freedom of religion vs. the act of changing religion and thoughts on the implications for Malaysia
title_fullStr	Faith and freedom: The Qur’anic notion of freedom of religion vs. the act of changing religion and thoughts on the implications for Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed	Faith and freedom: The Qur’anic notion of freedom of religion vs. the act of changing religion and thoughts on the implications for Malaysia
title_sort	faith and freedom: the qur’anic notion of freedom of religion vs. the act of changing religion and thoughts on the implications for malaysia
publisher	MDPI AG
publishDate	2016
url	http://irep.iium.edu.my/56448/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/56448/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/56448/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/56448/1/56448_Faith%20and%20freedom_Scopus.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/56448/2/56448_Faith%20and%20freedom_WoS.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/56448/3/56448_Faith%20and%20freedom.pdf
first_indexed	2023-09-18T21:19:39Z
last_indexed	2023-09-18T21:19:39Z
_version_	1777411795569344512

Faith and freedom: The Qur’anic notion of freedom of religion vs. the act of changing religion and thoughts on the implications for Malaysia

Similar Items