Editor's Note: While 41-year-old Abdul Rahman has found asylum in Italy, Americans of all faiths are chiming in about what should have become of him. Beliefnet users offer their own interpretations of Allah’s word. Find out how people from many spiritual persuasions differ on their interpretation of the Qur’an when it comes to converts to other religions.

Share your opinion on what the Qur'an says about Apostates. Join the discussion.

‘Kill Him Who Changes His Religion’

As everyone knows, Islam is not based solely on the Qur’an. There are also hadiths [verified sayings of the Prophet Muhammad], which support the death penalty for apostasy.

Ibn Abbas, relates the Prophet said, "Kill him who changes his religion, or "behead him".

Narrated Anas: Some people from the tribe of Uki came to the Prophet and embraced Islam. The climate of Medina did not suit them, so the Prophet ordered them to go to the(heard of milch)camels of charity to drink their milk and urine(as medicine). They did so, and after they had reverted from their ailment they turned to renegades (they reverted from Islam)and killed the shepherd of the camels and took the camels away, The Prophet sent some people in pursuit and so they were caught and brought, and the Prophet ordered that their hands and legs should be cut off and their eyes should be branded with heated pieces of iron, and that their cut hands and legs should not be cauterized, till the die.

~IDBC

Reason For Concern

The Qur’an can be pretty scary all on its own.

But any culture that elevates belief, in the absence of evidence, to the highest place in the hierarchy of human virtues is a culture to be concerned about.

~kpax101

The Bible Is Equally Flawed

This is a similar situation to that which one finds in the Bible. I.E., for every verse one can find that speaks of God's love, there are ten that speak of his despotism.

While the Qur’an is more than sufficient to establish <certain themes>, the literature of the hadith elaborates. Muslim eschatology is something every one of us should be both familiar with and concerned about.

~steppen0410e

Can God Be Humiliated?

Although I am glad to know there are so many verses in the Qur’an that support free will in matters of religion, it seems, in practice, that more attention is paid to the verses that seem to say the opposite.

In the U.S., Muslims seem to talk about the moderate verses in the Qur’an a great deal, yet, it seems that Muslims in other countries are not consulting the same passages, or if they are, they are perhaps being taught that other verses do "abrogate" the more moderate verses.

I also take issue that God can be humiliated. Who are we to judge the mind or the emotions of God? That seems both anthropomorphic and arrogant.

~filmalicia

Are They So Sure?

" Don't they ever wonder for, one minute, that maybe their religion is not 100% right?"

There is none so certain as the insecure.

~Dovidl

‘No Crookedness in the Qur’an’

A book in which there is no crookedness (18:1) describes Christianity as a commendable (22:40) if imperfect (4:171) remembrance of Allah. Although every single Christian is invariably mistaken about what transpired on the cross (4:157-159) Christians who strive in righteousness can be assured of freedom from fear and grief (5:69, 2:62).

There is no crookedness in the Qur'an (18:1). No abrogated verses. No passages (such as 22:40) inserted by some mythical British spy who, according to his so-called confessions, managed to do so. There are merely those who knowingly or unknowingly propagate such misconceptions. Call it what you like. But when the security of the state is in question it seems that far lesser infractions tend to be labeled apostasy.

~YahyaBergum