Surely, when religion forces, it turns into a tyranny (Tagore)

I cannot understand why Muslims - whether converts or people born into the Islamic religion, cannot be allowed to leave Islam. You can leave Umno, leave PAS, leave DAP, you can leave home, and you can even leave Malaysia to live abroad...but you cannot renounce Islam? Why does Islam want to hold on to people who no longer want to be Muslim?

Surely in the times that we are now living in, telling people to do things against their will, holding people against their will, and depriving people of their right to do the things that they want to do is not right.

What will it do to Islam if somebody renounces the religion? Does it make Islam weaker? Does it mean that Islam is wrong? Does it drive other people away from Islam? The Muslims should have enough faith and believe in the righteousness of their religion to allow those who are non-believers to leave Islam, for surely their continued presence in Islam will not have any benefit to Islam.

The only punishment described in the Quran for denouncing Islam is that which rests with God Almighty: “Those who believe, then disbelieve, then again believe, then disbelieve and then increase in disbelief, Allah will never forgive them nor will He guide them to the right way. (4:138)”. Nothing else is needed.

Are Muslims not satisfied with just being Muslims? Are they also determined to destroy all other religions? And the only way the "others" who are not Muslims can live in peace with Muslims is to embrace Islam?

Let us use common sense in these religious matters, and let us have tolerance and understand that there are people who are different from us. They have beliefs and customs different from us. And, when you live in Malaysia, religious tolerance is needed for all of us to be able to live in harmony and peace. Enough said.

Comment: dr kamsiah

Islam serves as a comprehensive way of life, providing moral, ethical, and legal guidelines for its followers. However, some individuals convert to Islam, often to marry a Muslim partner, believing they will embrace these principles. Unfortunately, there are instances where even those born into the religion fail to uphold these values in their relationships. Using Islam as a symbol for political parties or associations can be problematic, as human errors, akin to those in marriages, can cast a shadow on the faith. Islam, in such cases, may be perceived as weak due to human flaws rather than its inherent values. A clear message emerges: apostasy, particularly when it follows negative experiences with individuals who claim to practice Islam, holds significant consequences as outlined in the Quranic verse 4:138. Therefore, those contemplating conversion in Malaysia must exercise caution. The environment may not universally reflect the genuine Islamic values of empathy, honesty, cleanliness, and universal goodness. Daily challenges, including lies and deceit, can lead converts astray, especially if they lack a deep understanding of the religion. In these situations, new converts often find themselves unsupported by their partners and their families, exacerbated by the influence of political parties that claim to represent Islam but may not truly embody its teachings. It highlights the importance of a genuine understanding of the faith to navigate such challenges successfully.