blasphemy laws

[gnostic]

Due to recent international and media attention in the Middle East over the issues of blasphemy (including the most recent with the Christian girl being arrested in Pakistan), I was hoping that someone could clear the air over the blasphemy law (if it exist). However, this thread is not about the girl, and just deal with blasphemy law.

How do Islam define blasphemy?

What do the Qur'an say about blasphemy?

What do the Hadiths say about blasphemy?

What do the Sharia law say about blasphemy?

What constitutes blasphemy?

(eg. Does insulting Muhammad's name constitutes as blasphemy? Is blasphemy committed if a person burn the Qur'an?)

Are some people exempt from the law? (eg. non-Muslims, children, etc.)

And lastly...what punishment to those who are found guilty of blasphemy?

 

[Pastek]

Pakistan is not in the Middle east.

Qu'ran say this about blasphemy :

6.108 And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah , lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge.

9.64 They hypocrites are apprehensive lest a surah be revealed about them, informing them of what is in their hearts. Say, "Mock [as you wish]; indeed, Allah will expose that which you fear."

9.65 And if you ask them, they will surely say, "We were only conversing and playing." Say, "Is it Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?"

4.140 And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them. Indeed Allah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell all together -


I can't answer to the others questions because i don't know what happen in case of blasphemy.
So, i will see what other muslims will say about it

 

[gnostic]

Thank you, pastek.

I was hoping for than just quoting some verses. Some explanations of what each verse say, would go a long way in clearing any misunderstanding to the verse's context.

For example, the 1st verse you had quoted:

6.108 And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah , lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge.

Who are "...those they invoke..."?

And what does "...invoke other than Allah..." mean?

Simply quoting from scriptures is not discussion nor a debate. And quoting without clarification of what the verse say is not always helpful.

Pakistan is not in the Middle east.

You're right. Geography in these regions of Asia, was never my strong point. And the word Middle East is rather blurring, when you consider cultural, political or geographical profile.

And some do put Pakistan and Libya into the "Middle East" category. But you're right, it is not in the Middle East.

 

[Pastek]

Thank you, pastek.

I was hoping for than just quoting some verses. Some explanations of what each verse say, would go a long way in clearing any misunderstanding to the verse's context.

For example, the 1st verse you had quoted:

Who are "...those they invoke..."?

And what does "...invoke other than Allah..." mean?

Simply quoting from scriptures is not discussion nor a debate. And quoting without clarification of what the verse say is not always helpful.

You're welcome.

"Those they invoke" in the verse are the deities other than God.

As you know, at that time the majority of arabs were polytheists.

 

[Shuddhasattva]

Pakistani Islam is modified by Pashtunwali. Still, even in Shariah - considerably less harsh than Pashtun law - apostasy is punishable by death, and blasphemy can certainly be construed as such.

 

[gnostic]

"Those they invoke" in the verse are the deities other than God.

As you know, at that time the majority of arabs were polytheists.

I see.

There is however a problem with this type of thinking.

The polytheistic Arabs (at that time) were not really considered to blasphemous, since they worshippped their pantheon of deities (including that of Allah) centuries before Islam and Muhammad came in the early 7th century CE.

From their perspectives (pagan Arabs), I think Muhammad and his followers were the ones being blasphemous, since they reject all deities except Allah. Muhammad's version was quite new and foreign to them.

So there are 2 ways to look at this blasphemy: the pre-Islamic way and the Islamic way.

Also, I think blasphemy can only be applied to someone who has converted to Islam, but still accept and worship other deities and not just Allah. For someone, who has not converted, then technically they are not being blasphemous.

 

[Pastek]

You're right.

They believed in fact in God (Allah) and many other gods.
We have some verses which confirm it.

23. 84 Say, [O Muhammad], "To whom belongs the earth and whoever is in it, if you should know?"

23.85 They will say, "To Allah ." Say, "Then will you not remember?"

23.86 Say, "Who is Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the Great Throne?"

23.87 They will say, "[They belong] to Allah ." Say, "Then will you not fear Him?"

That's because they associate others gods to God. As they think they can be close to God by other gods.

They don't believe in fact at the God described by Muhammad.
The God of Abraham, Who say this and that, and they don't believe in the Qu'ran, saying it's not real stories.

So, they can believe in one God higher than others, but for them it's not the one described by Muhammad. They think he invented this God.

We don't know what they exactly said about God.
About Muhammad we know, that he's a liar, a magician, that people helped him etc
But the point is that in the Qur'an, it says nothing about killing/punishing someone for blasphemy

Maybe in some hadiths, i don't know.

 

[Pink Top Hat]

The Quran contains no punishment for insulting Muslims or Islam.

The Quran has many verses about the prophet being insulted where he smiled and walked away and prayed for the person.




Blasphemy is found in the bible though.

Blasphemers to be stoned to death.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying ... he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him. Leviticus 24:13-16


If you cause others to blaspheme, God might kill your child, like he did to David and Bathsheba's baby boy.

Because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die ... And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick ... And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. 2 Samuel 12:14-18



If a person blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, God will never forgive you.

All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men ... whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Matthew 12:31-32


But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness Mark 3:29


And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. Luke 12:10


If you blaspheme, you will be delivered to Satan who will teach you not to blaspheme.

Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. 1 Timothy 1:20


To avoid blasphemy, wives must obey their husbands.

Teach the young women to be ... obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Titus 2:4-5


Jews are blaspheming members of the synagogue of Satan.

I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Revelation 2:9


Someday there will be a beast that comes out of the sea that has seven heads with a blasphemous name written on each head.

I stood ... saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. Revelation 13:1

 

[TashaN]

Due to recent international and media attention in the Middle East over the issues of blasphemy (including the most recent with the Christian girl being arrested in Pakistan), I was hoping that someone could clear the air over the blasphemy law (if it exist). However, this thread is not about the girl, and just deal with blasphemy law.

How do Islam define blasphemy?

What do the Qur'an say about blasphemy?

What do the Hadiths say about blasphemy?

What do the Sharia law say about blasphemy?

What constitutes blasphemy?

(eg. Does insulting Muhammad's name constitutes as blasphemy? Is blasphemy committed if a person burn the Qur'an?)

Are some people exempt from the law? (eg. non-Muslims, children, etc.)

And lastly...what punishment to those who are found guilty of blasphemy?

Hmmmmm, this is an area which i didn't research before. I think i'm going to do my own research about this issue then come back later on.

Interesting and straight forward questions.

 

[gnostic]

Hmmmmm, this is an area which i didn't research before. I think i'm going to do my own research about this issue then come back later on.

Well, when you have done your research, I will welcome any insight you may have.