at has never been forced upon. The very idea that a conversion into Islam is one way street in which one can never turn from is a much dissipated myth. The Quran prohibits Muslims to force Islam onto an individual. Muslims past and present have largely converted into Islam out of their own free will.

A very clear example of this commandement is the following translated Quranic verse from Surah Al

An Afghan man is currently facing the death penalty for converting to Christianity from Islam. The former Muslim known as Abdul Brahman has been accused of apostasy and jailed, but is yet to be formally charged under Islamic laws.

In the United States this past week, talk shows and advocacy groups rallied their supporters, who flooded the White House and the Afghanistan Embassy with complaints against Islam. Expectedly, the incident has prompted a swift international outcry from world leaders. President Bush himself has expressed how "deeply troubled” he is over the looming death sentence.

And once again Islam is in the lime light for all the wrong reasons.

Anti-Muslim groups have been very quick to capitalise on the current sentiments. A plethora of hate literature against Islam is now rapidly circulating on the Internet, accusing Muslims of wrongfully holding back their peers who wish to opt out of the religion.

Islam is accused to be a chauvinistic and intolerant cult whose phenomenal growth is only happening because Muslims cannot leave the religion. Muslims are being portrayed as unwilling digits trapped into a religion whose clutches they have to endure silently for the rest of their life.

The more creative ones have even described Islam as “Hotel California”. You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave.

But are these accusations true? Is Islam really unforbearing towards followers of other religion, particularly apostates? Can one actually “check out”?

No Compulsion in Islam

The truth of the matter is, Islam is a religion that has never been forced upon. The very idea that a conversion into Islam is one way street in which one can never turn from is a much dissipated myth. The Quran prohibits Muslims to force Islam onto an individual. Muslims past and present have largely converted into Islam out of their own free will.

A very clear example of this commandement is the following translated Quranic verse from Surah Al

ainst Islam. Expectedly, the incident has prompted a swift international outcry from world leaders. President Bush himself has expressed how "deeply troubled” he is over the looming death sentence.

And once again Islam is in the lime light for all the wrong reasons.

Anti-Muslim groups have been very quick to capitalise on the current sentiments. A plethora of hate literature against Islam is now rapidly circulating on the Internet, accusing Muslims of wrongfully holding back their peers who wish to opt out of the religion.

Islam is accused to be a chauvinistic and intolerant cult whose phenomenal growth is only happening because Muslims cannot leave the religion. Muslims are being portrayed as unwilling digits trapped into a religion whose clutches they have to endure silently for the rest of their life.

The more creative ones have even described Islam as “Hotel California”. You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave.

But are these accusations true? Is Islam really unforbearing towards followers of other religion, particularly apostates? Can one actually “check out”?

No Compulsion in Islam

The truth of the matter is, Islam is a religion that has never been forced upon. The very idea that a conversion into Islam is one way street in which one can never turn from is a much dissipated myth. The Quran prohibits Muslims to force Islam onto an individual. Muslims past and present have largely converted into Islam out of their own free will.

A very clear example of this commandement is the following translated Quranic verse from Surah Al

s now rapidly circulating on the Internet, accusing Muslims of wrongfully holding back their peers who wish to opt out of the religion.

Islam is accused to be a chauvinistic and intolerant cult whose phenomenal growth is only happening because Muslims cannot leave the religion. Muslims are being portrayed as unwilling digits trapped into a religion whose clutches they have to endure silently for the rest of their life.

The more creative ones have even described Islam as “Hotel California”. You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave.

But are these accusations true? Is Islam really unforbearing towards followers of other religion, particularly apostates? Can one actually “check out”?

No Compulsion in Islam

The truth of the matter is, Islam is a religion that has never been forced upon. The very idea that a conversion into Islam is one way street in which one can never turn from is a much dissipated myth. The Quran prohibits Muslims to force Islam onto an individual. Muslims past and present have largely converted into Islam out of their own free will.

A very clear example of this commandement is the following translated Quranic verse from Surah Al

the rest of their life.

The more creative ones have even described Islam as “Hotel California”. You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave.

But are these accusations true? Is Islam really unforbearing towards followers of other religion, particularly apostates? Can one actually “check out”?

No Compulsion in Islam

The truth of the matter is, Islam is a religion that has never been forced upon. The very idea that a conversion into Islam is one way street in which one can never turn from is a much dissipated myth. The Quran prohibits Muslims to force Islam onto an individual. Muslims past and present have largely converted into Islam out of their own free will.

A very clear example of this commandement is the following translated Quranic verse from Surah Al

at has never been forced upon. The very idea that a conversion into Islam is one way street in which one can never turn from is a much dissipated myth. The Quran prohibits Muslims to force Islam onto an individual. Muslims past and present have largely converted into Islam out of their own free will.

A very clear example of this commandement is the following translated Quranic verse from Surah Al-Baqara:

2:256 - "Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy handhold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things."

Another Quranic verse that Muslim scholars have pointed to is the following from Surah Al-Hijr which says:

15:2-3 "Again and again will those who disbelieve, wish that they had bowed (to God's will) in Islam. Leave them alone, to enjoy (the good things of this life) and to please themselves: let (false) hope amuse them: soon will knowledge (undeceive them)."

Again, no authority has been granted to Muslims to specifically kill the apostates of Islam should they mean no harm. Apostates are to be treated fairly as non-Muslims.

Compulsion will not make sense in Islam. Islam is one of the fastest growing forces on earth today. One out of every five person in this world is a Muslim. A strong religion like Islam could not have prospered without sincere devotion and faith of its followers, especially during tumultuous times such as the numerous Muslim persecutions during the time of Muhammad and various crusades in the middle ages. At times like those, many could have just left Islam for the comfort of peace and prosperity.

But they did not. They stayed on and Islam is what it is today. The prosperity and growth of Islam in the future will still depend on that very same faith and sincerity – not compulsion.

So why are Muslims calling for the death of apostates?

The practise of granting death to apostates stems from a