Born into Islam?

Question

I understand that punishment for leaving Islam is death. What happens if you are born into Islam, and truly do not believe in it? What happens if you choose to leave, say as a teenager or something, knowing you had no choice to enter it in the beginning?

I am not talking about one being a Muslim at birth "because everyone is Muslim at birth," I'm talking about being born into Islam as an organized religion.

Also, is there a period or age in which one can 'confirm' themselves as Muslim? In the Catholic religion, you can be born and baptised into it, but you solidify yourself as a Catholic at around teen age by going through 'confirmation.'

One more, if you had children born into Islam, would you also force/urge them to learn about the religions of the world so they could see/choose Islam for themselves rather than you just pushing them into it?

Answer 1

if your born into islam with a Muslim father i think you just follow his belief by default, and if you choose to leave this is considered to be Kuffr, especially if your a teenager, and for Muslims, there is no specific age you should declare your Islam except that starting changing to be an adult.

if i have children born into Islam they actually given the free will at the age of being adults, otherwise they should follow my belief if they re still kids.

may Allah expand you mind to accept Islam.

Salam sister.

Answer 2

I was born into Islam. My parents have never "forced" anything onto me--they've tried to raise me as a good Muslim, istilling Islamic values into me since birth. To be honest, I think they've succeeded, because I could never imagine converting out of Islam now. I truly believe the Shahadah.

I have learnt about other religions, though. I've discussed atheism (and the stupidity of it) with my father and my friends. I have a very good friend who is atheist and we're always getting into debates about it. We learn about different religions in school. I've researched myself into Atheism and Christianity (Hinduism too, though very breifly).

When I have children, Insha Allah, I will raise them to believe that Islam is the right path, as my parents have done with me. When they begin to get curious about other religions (as I am), I will answer their questions as best I can. Of course I'd be horrified if my children converted out of Islam--I know my parents would be, too.

I think "encouraging" your children to see other faiths is good, in theory. But what if they get too impressed and decide to leave Islam? I guess it's a risk you have to take.

Answer 3

to sum up all your Q... Islam is what it is, and the same rules apply to all who embrace it, join it, or are born into it...no matter what age you are. and as far as the children, it's only natural that if the parents are one religion then they will raise the child in the same religion...no Q asked...it when that child becomes of age and independent will they then make there own choose...then from there it's between them and Allah...if we know the rules there not going to change just because we don't like them.

Answer 4

It is the way of the nature. When a child is borned into a family. The mother and father will teach them whatever they knew about life. Example eating by using your right hand, how to speak, walk, behave, and others. The rest is up to the individual. Through times, the person will learn more than one language, and speak different languages, learn to eat by using fork and spoon or chopsticks or just using hand. So is a person minds, it will developed and have ideas on his own. Finally it is up to the person to choose what life styles he wanted to be.

Answer 5

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YUSUFALI: 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 hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.

PICKTHAL: There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error. And he who rejecteth false deities and believeth in Allah hath grasped a firm handhold which will never break. Allah is Hearer, Knower.

SHAKIR: There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has become clearly distinct from error; therefore, whoever disbelieves in the Shaitan and believes in Allah he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle, which shall not break off, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing.

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YUSUFALI: If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah), never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter He will be in the ranks of those who have lost (All spiritual good).

PICKTHAL: And whoso seeketh as religion other than the Surrender (to Allah) it will not be accepted from him, and he will be a loser in the Hereafter.

SHAKIR: And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers.

003.086

YUSUFALI: How shall Allah Guide those who reject Faith after they accepted it and bore witness that the Messenger was true and that Clear Signs had come unto them? but Allah guides not a people unjust.

PICKTHAL: How shall Allah guide a people who disbelieved after their belief and (after) they bore witness that the messenger is true and after clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty) had come unto them. And Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.

SHAKIR: How shall Allah guide a people who disbelieved after their believing and (after) they had borne witness that the Messenger was true and clear arguments had come to them; and Allah does not guide the unjust people.

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YUSUFALI: Of such the reward is that on them (rests) the curse of Allah, of His angels, and of all mankind;-

PICKTHAL: As for such, their guerdon is that on them rests the curse of Allah and of angels and of men combined.

SHAKIR: (As for) these, their reward is that upon them is the curse of Allah and the angels and of men, all together.

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YUSUFALI: In that will they dwell; nor will their penalty be lightened, nor respite be (their lot);-

PICKTHAL: They will abide therein. Their doom will not be lightened, neither will they be reprieved;

SHAKIR: Abiding in it; their chastisement shall not be lightened nor shall they be respited.

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YUSUFALI: Except for those that repent (Even) after that, and make amends; for verily Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

PICKTHAL: Save those who afterward repent and do right. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

SHAKIR: Except those who repent after that and amend, then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

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YUSUFALI: But those who reject Faith after they accepted it, and then go on adding to their defiance of Faith,- never will their repentance be accepted; for they are those who have (of set purpose) gone astray.

PICKTHAL: Lo! those who disbelieve after their (profession of) belief, and afterward grow violent in disbelief: their repentance will not be accepted. And such are those who are astray.

SHAKIR: Surely, those who disbelieve a,fter their believing, then increase in unbelief, their repentance shall not be accepted, and these are they that go astray.

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YUSUFALI: As to those who reject Faith, and die rejecting,- never would be accepted from any such as much gold as the earth contains, though they should offer it for ransom. For such is (in store) a penalty grievous, and they will find no helpers.

PICKTHAL: Lo! those who disbelieve, and die in disbelief, the (whole) earth full of gold would not be accepted from such an one if it were offered as a ransom (for his soul). Theirs will be a painful doom and they will have no helpers.

SHAKIR: Surely, those who disbelieve and die while they are unbelievers, the earth full of gold shall not be accepted from one of them, though he should offer to ransom himself with it, these it is who shall have a painful chastisement, and they shall have no helpers.

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YUSUFALI: Those who believe, then reject faith, then believe (again) and (again) reject faith, and go on increasing in unbelief,- Allah will not forgive them nor guide them nor guide them on the way.

PICKTHAL: Lo! those who believe, then disbelieve and then (again) believe, then disbelieve, and then increase in disbelief, Allah will never pardon them, nor will He guide them unto a way.

SHAKIR: Surely (as for) those who believe then disbelieve, again believe and again disbelieve, then increase in disbelief, Allah will not forgive them nor guide them in the (right) path.

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YUSUFALI: They swear by Allah that they said nothing (evil), but indeed they uttered blasphemy, and they did it after accepting Islam; and they meditated a plot which they were unable to carry out: this revenge of theirs was (their) only return for the bounty with which Allah and His Messenger had enriched them! If they repent, it will be best for them; but if they turn back (to their evil ways), Allah will punish them with a grievous penalty in this life and in the Hereafter: They shall have none on earth to protect or help them.

PICKTHAL: They swear by Allah that they said nothing (wrong), yet they did say the word of disbelief, and did disbelieve after their Surrender (to Allah). And they purposed that which they could not attain, and they sought revenge only that Allah by His messenger should enrich them of His bounty. If they repent it will be better for them; and if they turn away, Allah will afflict them with a painful doom in the world and the Hereafter, and they have no protecting friend nor helper in the earth.

SHAKIR: They swear by Allah that they did not speak, and certainly they did speak, the word of unbelief, and disbelieved after their Islam, and they had determined upon what they have not been able to effect, and they did not find fault except because Allah and His Messenger enriched them out of His grace; therefore if they repent, it will be good for them; and if they turn back, Allah will chastise them with a painful chastisement in this world and the hereafter, and they shall not have in the land any guardian or a helper.

Answer 6

Muslim scholars are divided on this. Some madhabs say it's ok to leave as you're not a murtad because you're not a muslim until you say the shahada; others say they're an apostate as they already grew up knowing Allah is god and thus deserve the shariah punishment of apostasy which is death.

Answer 7

Theres no way if you're born into Islam, you'll leave it one day. At least the Shia sect of Islam (Followers of Ali ibn Abi Talib a.s) can guarantee u that no shia will EVER convert to any other religion and that's because the love of Ahlebait (as) attaches u to Islam, however u do see sunnis leaving islam or other sects....and i have to be honest here.

Answer 8

You understand wrong then. And anyone who thinks that is the punishment for leaving Islam really understands nothing about Islam at all. Let there be no compulsion in religion is what Islam teaches. There are plenty of people who have left Islam and are even some here on Yahoo so its pretty hard to post questions from six feet under no?

I reverted to Islam 4 years ago and my children are raised within the Islamic faith and Insha Allah when they are adults they will continue. But if they choose something else they are free and will be loved by myself and my husband not one atom less.

I was raised Protestant and my parents where more than happy for me to become a Muslim. I raise my children Muslims and Insha Allah as adults they find there true path also. Love for God cannot be forced no matter what faith your raised in. No one can be forced to become a Muslims its a submission of the heart.

Peace to you...

EDIT

My children learn about all faiths. There are no questions in my home that are taboo. There grandparents are Protestant and christian, there aunts catholic, an uncle a sikh and 2 atheist uncles. They are exposed to all these and many others besides. Don't assume people of faith have blinkers on to the rest of the world we don't.