Wednesday, August 29

Blasphemy law in Islam

It is one thing to follow a moderate, watered-down version of islam via cherry picking and reinterpretation, it is totally another thing to outright deny the existence of blasphemy laws in Islamic sharia. There are several examples of executions for blasphemy, both state ordered and vigilante, during the life of the Prophet Muhammad.

Imam Ibn Taymiyyah has written a whole book on the subject, called: "The Drawn Sword upon the one who Curses the Messenger."

I can suggest a lecture/pamphlet in English that gathers all the evidences, it was written by Sheikh Anwar al-Awlaqi, called, "The Dust will Never Settle Down" (pdf file)

Let me give you an authentic example from the aforementioned pamphlet:

A blind man had a slave-mother who used to abuse the Prophet (pbuh) and disparage him. He forbade her but she did not stop. He rebuked her but she did not give up her habit.

One night she began to slander the Prophet and abuse him. So he took a dagger, placed it on her belly, pressed it, and killed her. A child who came between her legs was smeared with the blood that was there.

When the morning came, the Prophet (pbuh) was informed about it. He assembled the people and said: I adjure by Allah the man who has done this action and I adjure him by my right to him that he should stand up. Jumping over the necks of the people and trembling the man stood up.

He sat before the Prophet (pbuh) and said: Apostle of Allah! I am her master; she used to abuse you and disparage you. I forbade her, but she did not stop, and I rebuked her, but she did not abandon her habit. I have two sons like pearls from her, and she was my companion. Last night she began to abuse and disparage you. So I took a dagger, put it on her belly and pressed it till I killed her.

There upon the Prophet (pbuh) said: Oh be witness, no retaliation is payable for her blood.


The Hadith was narrated by Abdullah Ibn Abbas and can be found in Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 38, Hadith Number 4348 which has been authenticated by the scholars.

Another book called "Healing by news of the choosen one", which was authored by Qadi Ayyad Ibn Musa details punishment for blasphemy in Part 4 : The Judgements concerning those who think the Prophet imperfect or curse him.

For the legal rulings (fatwa), see also:

* Ruling on the one who insults the Prophet Muhammad.

* Ruling on one who tells lies about the Prophet Muhammad.