Islam Watch

Islamic Law: A System of Religious Tyranny Masquerading as Divine Justice

Introduction: The Mask of Divine Justice

Islam is often presented as a religion of peace, mercy, and justice. Yet beneath this carefully cultivated image lies a system of law — Sharia — that is defined not by universal principles of justice, but by religious doctrine. In this system, crimes are not defined by the harm they cause but by violations of Islamic beliefs. Blasphemy, apostasy, and zina (adultery) are treated as capital offenses, not because they hurt others, but because they defy religious teachings.

Built on unverifiable hearsay, enforced through moral policing, and maintained through fear, Islamic law is a system of oppression masquerading as divine justice. This article will expose the foundational flaws of Islamic law, the chaos created by conflicting fatwas, the irrationality of its sacred doctrines, and the brutal punishments it imposes on those who dare to think, speak, or live freely.

1. Crimes Defined by Doctrine, Not Justice

1.1. Blasphemy: A Crime Against Belief, Not Humanity

In Islamic law, blasphemy is defined as any speech, action, or expression that insults Allah, Muhammad, the Quran, or Islamic symbols.
The punishment for blasphemy is severe — from imprisonment to death — and is justified by Hadith:
- Sunan Abu Dawood 4361: Muhammad approved the killing of a woman who insulted him.
- Sahih Bukhari 3053: Muhammad ordered the execution of a poet who mocked him.
In countries like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, blasphemy is a capital offense. Even a tweet critical of Islam can lead to execution or lynching.

1.2. Apostasy: The Crime of Changing Belief

Apostasy (Riddah) is the act of leaving Islam — an offense punishable by death:
- Sahih Bukhari 6922: "Whoever changes his religion, kill him."
- Sahih Muslim 1676: Death is justified for those who abandon Islam.
Apostates are executed in Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Afghanistan. Even in countries where apostasy is not a capital crime, apostates face social ostracism, violence, and imprisonment.

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

Zina is defined as any sexual relationship outside of a legally recognized marriage, including adultery and fornication.
The punishment is brutal:
- Quran 24:2: 100 lashes for unmarried offenders.
- Sahih Bukhari 6829: Stoning to death for married adulterers.
Women are disproportionately targeted, with rape victims often accused of zina and imprisoned.

2. The Problem of Unverifiable Hearsay in Islamic Law

2.1. Hadith: Unverifiable Stories Become Sacred Law

Islamic law is built not just on the Quran but on the Hadith — collections of sayings and actions attributed to Muhammad.
These Hadith were compiled 200-300 years after Muhammad’s death, based on oral traditions passed down through unreliable chains of narrators.
Despite their dubious authenticity, they are treated as sacred law:
- Stoning for Adultery: Justified by Hadith, not the Quran.
- Camel Urine as Medicine: Justified by Hadith in Sahih Bukhari 5686.
- Satan Sleeps in the Nose: Hadith in Sahih Bukhari 3295.
Islamic scholars prioritize the chain of transmission (Isnad) over the credibility of the content, leading to the sacralization of absurdity.

2.2. The Chaos of Conflicting Fatwas

A fatwa is a religious ruling issued by an Islamic scholar, but these rulings are often contradictory:
- Women Driving: Forbidden in Saudi Arabia, allowed in Egypt.
- Music: Declared haram by Wahhabi scholars, permitted by Al-Azhar in Egypt.
- DNA as Evidence in Rape Cases: Rejected by Pakistani clerics, accepted by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
These conflicting fatwas create confusion, undermine the credibility of Islamic law, and expose the lack of a unified authority in Islam.

3. Surveillance, Coercion, and Forced Piety

3.1. The Policing of Morality

In many Islamic countries, religious police enforce moral codes:
- Saudi Arabia: The Mutawa (religious police) force women to wear the hijab, shut down businesses during prayer times, and punish "un-Islamic" behavior.
- Iran: The Morality Police (Gasht-e Ershad) monitor women’s dress and arrest those who refuse to wear the hijab.
- Afghanistan: The Taliban force women to wear the burqa and forbid men from trimming their beards.

3.2. Forced Worship: Prayer Compliance as Law

In Saudi Arabia and other Islamic countries, businesses are required to close during prayer times.
Citizens are pressured to attend prayers at the mosque, turning personal faith into a matter of public enforcement.

4. The Myth of the Islamic Golden Age

4.1. Knowledge Imported, Not Created

The so-called Islamic Golden Age was built on the preservation and translation of pre-Islamic knowledge:
- Greek, Persian, and Indian texts were translated into Arabic.
- Non-Muslim scholars (Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians) were the primary contributors to science and philosophy.
As Islamic orthodoxy hardened, scientific inquiry was suppressed:
- The rationalist Mu'tazila were declared heretics.
- Scholars like Ibn Rushd (Averroes) were persecuted for promoting reason.

5. The Culture of Death: Glorifying Martyrdom

5.1. Martyrdom as Sacred Death

Islamic texts glorify martyrdom (Shahada), promising paradise to those who die fighting for Allah:
- Quran 9:111: "They fight in the cause of Allah, so they kill and are killed..."
- Sahih Muslim 1915: Martyrs are forgiven all sins and promised seventy-two virgins.
This doctrine has inspired centuries of violence, from the early Islamic conquests to modern suicide bombings.

6. A Legacy of Slavery: No Abolition Movement

Unlike other civilizations, which experienced abolition movements, the Muslim world never produced an abolitionist movement from within:
- Slavery is explicitly permitted in the Quran (Quran 16:75, 4:3).
- Muhammad owned and traded slaves, making slavery part of his "perfect example" (Sunnah).
Slavery in the Muslim world ended only under Western pressure — not through Islamic reform.

7. The Verdict: A System of Tyranny, Not Justice

Islamic law is not a system of divine justice — it is a system of religious tyranny. Built on unverifiable hearsay, enforced through coercion, and maintained through fear, it suppresses personal freedom, rational thought, and human dignity. Blasphemy is punished because it challenges Islamic dogma, apostasy is punished because it defies religious authority, and zina is punished because it contradicts a medieval moral code.

For those who value freedom, reason, and human rights, this is not a system of morality — it is a system of oppression.