Islam Watch

Blasphemy, Apostasy, and Zina: Crimes Defined by Doctrine, Not Justice

Introduction: A Legal System Rooted in Religious Dogma

In any civilized society, crimes are defined by actions that cause tangible harm to others — theft, assault, murder. But in Islamic law (Sharia), some of the most severe crimes are not defined by harm but by violations of religious doctrine. Blasphemy, apostasy, and zina (adultery) are considered grave offenses, not because they harm anyone, but because they defy religious teachings.

The punishments for these so-called crimes are severe — death for apostasy, flogging or stoning for zina, and execution for blasphemy in the most extreme cases. This post will take a deep dive into the origins, definitions, and real-world impact of these religious offenses, exposing how they transform faith into coercion, law into tyranny, and belief into a weapon.

1. Blasphemy: Insulting the Sacred, Defying the Divine

1.1. What Is Blasphemy?

Blasphemy is defined in Islamic law as any speech, action, or expression that shows disrespect or contempt for Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, the Quran, or any aspect of Islam.
Blasphemy can be committed in a variety of ways:
- Verbal Insults: Criticizing or mocking Allah, Muhammad, the Quran, or Islamic beliefs.
- Artistic Expression: Creating images of Muhammad, writing satirical works, or producing films that criticize Islam.
- Social Media Posts: Even a single tweet critical of Islam can be considered blasphemy in some Muslim-majority countries.

1.2. The Scriptural Basis: A System Built on Intolerance

The Quran condemns insults against Allah and Muhammad but does not explicitly prescribe a punishment for blasphemy:
- Quran 33:57:
  - "Indeed, those who abuse Allah and His Messenger, Allah has cursed them in this world and the Hereafter and prepared for them a humiliating punishment."
- Quran 5:33:
  - "The penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger... is that they be killed or crucified."
Islamic scholars have interpreted these verses as a divine command to punish blasphemers with death.

1.3. Blasphemy in Hadith: Muhammad’s Response to Critics

The Hadith (sayings of Muhammad) are even more explicit:
- Sunan Abu Dawood 4361:
  - A blind man killed his female slave because she insulted Muhammad. When Muhammad learned of it, he declared that no punishment was required.
- Sahih Bukhari 3053:
  - Muhammad ordered the execution of the poet Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf for mocking him.
These Hadith are used by Islamic scholars to justify the death penalty for blasphemy.

1.4. The Real-World Application: State-Sanctioned Murder

In many Muslim-majority countries, blasphemy is a capital offense:
- Pakistan: Dozens of people are imprisoned or executed for blasphemy each year.
- Saudi Arabia: Blasphemers are publicly beheaded or imprisoned.
- Iran: Blasphemers are hanged for "insulting the Prophet."
Even in countries where blasphemy is not a capital crime, accusations often lead to mob violence:
- In 2011, Pakistani Governor Salman Taseer was assassinated by his own bodyguard for criticizing blasphemy laws.
- In 2020, a Pakistani university professor was killed by a student who accused him of blasphemy.

2. Apostasy: The Crime of Changing Belief

2.1. What Is Apostasy?

Apostasy (Riddah) in Islam is the act of leaving the Islamic faith.
Apostasy can be committed in several ways:
- Conversion: Becoming a Christian, Hindu, atheist, or any other faith.
- Publicly Rejecting Islam: Denouncing Islamic beliefs, declaring disbelief in Allah or Muhammad.
- Mocking Islamic Practices: Criticizing or ridiculing Islamic rituals, such as prayer or fasting.

2.2. The Scriptural Basis: A Death Sentence for Dissent

The Quran mentions apostasy but does not explicitly prescribe a worldly punishment:
- Quran 2:217:
  - "Whoever among you renounces his religion and dies a disbeliever, his deeds will become worthless in this life and the Hereafter."
- Quran 4:137:
  - "Indeed, those who believed then disbelieved, then believed, then disbelieved, and then increased in disbelief — Allah will not forgive them."
Despite this, Islamic scholars rely on the Hadith to enforce the death penalty for apostasy.

2.3. Apostasy in Hadith: Death Without Mercy

The Hadith provide the clearest justification for the death penalty for apostasy:
- Sahih Bukhari 6922:
  - "Whoever changes his religion, kill him."
- Sahih Muslim 1676:
  - "It is not permissible to shed the blood of a Muslim except in three cases: the married adulterer, a life for a life, and the one who forsakes his religion and abandons the community."

2.4. The Real-World Application: A Life of Fear

In many Muslim-majority countries, apostasy is punishable by death:
- Saudi Arabia: Apostates are executed.
- Iran: Apostates are hanged.
- Afghanistan (under the Taliban): Apostates are executed in public.
Even in countries where apostasy is not a capital crime, apostates face:
- Social Ostracism: Disowned by families, fired from jobs.
- Violence: Mob attacks, forced "re-conversions," or even lynchings.
- Imprisonment: Detained under blasphemy or public order laws.

3. Zina (Adultery): The Crime of Forbidden Desire

3.1. What Is Zina?

Zina is defined as any form of unlawful sexual intercourse:
- Adultery: Sexual relations between a married person and someone who is not their spouse.
- Fornication: Sexual relations between two unmarried individuals.
- Homosexual Acts: Considered zina in many Muslim-majority countries.

3.2. The Scriptural Basis: Theocracy in the Bedroom

The Quran explicitly condemns zina and prescribes punishment:
- Quran 24:2:
  - "The woman and the man guilty of illegal sexual intercourse — flog each one of them with a hundred lashes."
- Quran 17:32:
  - "And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way."

3.3. Zina in Hadith: The Ultimate Punishment

The Hadith take zina even further:
- Sahih Bukhari 6829:
  - Muhammad ordered the stoning of a married woman who confessed to adultery.
- Sahih Muslim 1690:
  - The penalty for unmarried persons is 100 lashes.

3.4. The Real-World Application: Women as Victims

In many Muslim-majority countries, zina is still punishable by flogging or stoning:
- Saudi Arabia: Women are stoned to death for adultery.
- Pakistan: Women are imprisoned for zina, even if they were raped.
- Afghanistan (under the Taliban): Women are publicly stoned to death for zina.
Women suffer disproportionately:
- Rape victims are often accused of zina.
- Pregnancy outside of marriage is treated as proof of zina.
- Female testimony is considered half the value of a male’s, making it harder to defend against accusations.

4. Conclusion: Crimes of Faith, Not Justice

Blasphemy, apostasy, and zina are not crimes in any universal sense of justice — they are violations of religious doctrine, punished with brutality. They criminalize freedom of thought, freedom of belief, and personal relationships. For those who value human rights, these so-called crimes are a grotesque abuse of power.

Islamic law transforms faith into a weapon, punishing not harm but heresy. For those who value freedom, these laws are an affront to human dignity and a denial of basic human rights.