[Dhaka Tribune] A fairly common demand of conservative Moslem political parties is that the death penalty be implemented as punishment for blasphemy (by which is meant insulting Islam or its Prophet) in accordance with Shariah or Islamic law. It is therefore worth looking at the textual sources which are used to justify blasphemy law.
Interestingly, investigation reveals that there is no Quranic basis for any blasphemy law at all. Further investigation reveals that blasphemy law arises from the secondary legal source of Sunnah (or Prophetic practice).
However,
the hip bone's connected to the leg bone...
the Prophetic practice as described in the Sirah (Prophetic biographies) does not establish any death penalty for blasphemy. The Sirah passages which might have provided a basis for blasphemy law actually seem to be dealing with secular nationalist issues, namely treason during wartime.
Finally, the relevant Hadith (Prophetic sayings) which advocate blasphemy law may be the product of political tampering by the early Caliphate during the post-Prophetic wars of apostasy (ridda).
| An interesting test of faith, when it is long known that the foundational sacred documents were definitely tampered with. No wonder they believe the same of Christians and Jews. |
Even if the relevant Hadith is reliable, justification of any blasphemy law in Shariah through these religious sources may still be questioned. |