Should Blasphemy Laws be banned?

[Flash_Ninja]

You yourself admit that authority is Allah but then openly reject Allah's clear verses ?? Allah tells us to tolerate, But you say that "We won't tolerate" ??


"When ye hear the signs of Allah held in defiance and ridicule, ye are not to sit with them unless they turn to a different theme." [Qur'an 4:140]

"And when they hear vain talk, they turn away therefrom and say: "to us our deeds and to you yours; peace be to you." [Qur'an 28: 55]

"Hold to forgiveness, command what is right; but turn away from the ignorant." [Qur'an 7:199]

"Have patience with what they say, and leaves them with noble (dignity)." [Qur'an 73:10]

"And the servants of Allah . . . are those who walked on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say 'Peace'" [Qur'an 25:63]

"Allah is with those who restrain themselves." [Qur'an 16: 128]

". . . But they uttered blasphemy . . . if they repent, it will be best for them, but if they turn back, Allah will punish them." [Qur'an 9:47]

There are fifty-seven more verses having a direct bearing on the subject and more than 250 others which emphasize forgiveness, forbearance and compassion.

http://muslimcanada.org/HamdardBlasphemy.html



Zia ul Haq didn't "enact" this law, he only made a few additions. We have inherited this law from the our colonial past. In 1927, the British colonial rulers of the sub-continent made it a criminal offence to commit “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religious belief”... The law was retained when Pakistan gained independence in 1947 ........... There is no evidence to suggest that any such laws existed before the British ...





Almost 50 % of those charged with blasphemy belong to "minority" who represent only 3% of the national population.

Before Zia, there were only 12 convictions under this law in all of Pakistan's history.

He strengthened the law and added the Quran an prophet provision, as well as specific anti-Ahmadi clauses which did not exist previously.

I know it is inherited from the British but it was rarely invoked.

 

[Salik]

Every ayat has a background so until person knows that he can wrongly understand ayats of Quran and also Hadith.

That is the point. Hold it there. Every ayat has a background. After one thousand years a lot has changed. How can you apply an ayat same to same when there isn't the same background.

That is why Islam says to follow the Quran, Sunnah and your rulers.

State has immense powers. It can make new rules as per concurrent circumstances.

Personally i recommend blasphemy should be brought under law and order section of the constitution and treated in same spirit.

 

[Zarvan]

That is the point. Hold it there. Every ayat has a background. After one thousand years a lot has changed. How can you apply an ayat same to same when there isn't the same background.

That is why Islam says to follow the Quran, Sunnah and your rulers.

State has immense powers. It can make new rules as per concurrent circumstances.

Personally i recommend blasphemy should be brought under law and order section of the constitution and treated in same spirit.

Rulers have to be followed only until they abide by Quran and Sunnah and the moment they go astray Muslims have to return to Quran and Sunnah. Once Hazrat UMAR RA when he was caliph stood on mimbar and said people if I stop following Quran and Sunnah what you would do. One man stood up took out his sword and said we would do this. Hazrat OMAR RA appreciated that man and than thanked ALLAH by saying that if I ever go astray my people will force me back on Quran and Sunnah. Although he never went astray this was to make people understand if ruler goes against Islalm what needs to be done.

Before Zia, there were only 12 convictions under this law in all of Pakistan's history.

He strengthened the law and added the Quran an prophet provision, as well as specific anti-Ahmadi clauses which did not exist previously.

I know it is inherited from the British but it was rarely invoked.

What you don't is there were more than 500 people who were murdered before that. Since 1947 to Zia time when death penalty was introduced there are more than 500 cases in which when accused was arrested said he or she killed the victim for Blasphemy. Also these are the cases in which accused were arrested just imagine the cases in which accused were never arrested

 

[Flash_Ninja]

What you don't is there were more than 500 people who were murdered before that. Since 1947 to Zia time when death penalty was introduced there are more than 500 cases in which when accused was arrested said he or she killed the victim for Blasphemy. Also these are the cases in which accused were arrested just imagine the cases in which accused were never arrested

Source?

Also ignoring the death sentences, 62 people have been murdered over blasphemy court cases since 1992.

 

[Salik]

Rulers have to be followed only until they abide by Quran and Sunnah and the moment they go astray Muslims have to return to Quran and Sunnah. Once Hazrat UMAR RA when he was caliph stood on mimbar and said people if I stop following Quran and Sunnah what you would do. One man stood up took out his sword and said we would do this. Hazrat OMAR RA appreciated that man and than thanked ALLAH by saying that if I ever go astray my people will force me back on Quran and Sunnah. Although he never went astray this was to make people understand if ruler goes against Islalm what needs to be done.

There is difference between 'The Quran with the same background' and 'The Quran with the same spirit'. Rulers will make laws with the same Quranic spirit because ther is no more 'Same Background'.

So 'Same Spirit' thing gives rulers enough room to make laws taking into consideration the majority. 100% people cannot be satisfied. Rest of the people will follow as commanded. Else they'll migrate but won't be allowed to make trouble.