Blasphemy and Apostasy in Islam

Mohsen Kadivar is Research Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Duke University. One of the most original and prolific figures of the Iranian reform movement, he is a versatile theologian, philosopher and intellectual historian who has written ground-breaking books on human rights and Islam, Islamic political thought, and Islamic philosophy and theology. His forthcoming 'Islamic Theocracy in the Secular Age' will be published by the University of North Carolina Press in 2021. Kadivar has been a vocal critic of Iran's doctrine of clerical rule and a strong advocate of democratic and liberal reforms in Iran as well as constructional reform in shari'a and Shi'a theology. He has served time in prison in Iran for his political activism and beliefs; his writings have been banned in Iran since 2009.

A front-row seat to the debate on blasphemy and apostasy in Islam Is it lawful to shed the blood of a man or a woman who insults the Prophet Muhammad? Does the Qu'ran stipulate a worldly punishment for apostates? Beginning with a genealogy of religious freedom in contemporary Islam, this book tells the gripping story of Rāfiq Taqī, an Azerbaijani journalist and writer, who was condemned to death by an Iranian cleric for a blasphemous news article in 2006. Delving into the most sacred sources for all Muslims - the Qu'ran and Hadith - Mohsen Kadivar explores the subject of blasphemy and apostasy from the perspective of Shi'a jurisprudence to articulate a polarisation between secularism and extremist religious orthodoxy. In a series of online exchanges, he debates the case with Muhammad Jawad Fazel, the son of Grand Ayatollah Fazel Lankarānī who issued the fatwa pronouncing death penalty on Taqī. While disapproving of the journalist's writings, Kadivar takes a defensive stance against vigilante murders and asks whether death for apostasy reflects the true spirit of Islam. Key Features  Presents a back-and-forth debate between two modern Shi'a jurists (one conservative, one reformist) that locates the exact points of controversy surrounding apostasy and blasphemy  Engages with the broader subjects of religious freedom and human rights, addressing both secular and religious interests  Articulates the secular-religious divide and proposes a comprehensive pluralistic solution, making a case that apostasy and blasphemy are non-existent in the Qu'ran  Packed with translations of primary sources, including fatwas and interviews, that allow English-speaking readers to understand the arguments advanced by both parties in the debate Mohsen Kadivar is Research Professor of Islamic Studies in the Department of Religious Studies, Duke University. Hamid Mavani is a Persian-English translator and Associate Professor at Claremont School of Theology, Bayan Claremont.