To Hannah Shah, author of 'The Imam's Daughter'

Dear Hannah.

It has come to my attention that you have repeated a number of misconceptions regarding Islam in your book.  You must know that the Quran says very clearly لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ 'There is no compulsion in matters of faith' that is: everybody should be free to believe what they want:

There is no compulsion in religion.  Surely guidance and error have been clearly distinguished; so whoever refuses to be led by those who transgress and believes in Allah has surely grasped a strong handle which knows no breaking.  For Allah is All-Hearing and All-Knowing.

The Holy Quran.  al-Baqarah [The Heifer].  257.

Then it states:

Say 'It is the truth from your Lord; wherefore let him who will believe and let him who will disbelieve.'  Verily We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire already covering them like a canopy.  If they cry for relief it will be with water like molten lead which will scald their faces.  How dreadful the drink and how evil the resting place!

The Holy Quran.  al-Kahf [The Cave].  30.

Yet another verse runs thus:

Those who believe, then disbelieve, then again believe, then disbelieve and become increasingly defiant, Allah will never forgive them nor guide them to any way of deliverance.

The Holy Quran.  al-Nisa [The Women].  138.

If according to your understanding an apostate were to be put to death then there arises no question of having the opportunity to join Islam again. This verse mentions apostates who repeatedly accept and recant their Islam as the group of Munafiqin [Hypocrites] did at the time of the Prophet so as to intentionally make a mockery of faith.

Moreover The Holy Quran states: 'Verily, this is a Reminder; so whoever wishes may take the way that leads to his Lord.'  [al-Dahr {The Time}: 30].

Please see the following links for further information and clarification:

Punishment of Apostacy in Islam.  By Hazrat Sir Chaudhry Muhammad Zafrullah Khan.
'Freedom of Conscience in Islam.'  By Imam Bashir Ahmad Rafiq.
The Truth about The Alleged Punishment for Apostasy in Islam.  By Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad - Khalifatul Masih IV.  Video.

Several of the chapters in Murder in the Name of Allah by Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad - Khalifatul Masih IV also deal with this issue from an historical perspective.  In short The Holy Quran takes up the issue of apostasy 11 times and nowhere does it prescribe that an apostate should be killed (or for that matter, punished by any individual).

The verse that you refer to in the book about beating of wives is mistranslated. This is the verse: 

Men are guardians over women because Allah has made some of them excel others and because the men spend of their wealth. Thus are virtuous women obedient and safeguard the secrets with Allah's help. So admonish those of them on whose part you apprehend negligence. Leaving  them alone in their beds so as to chastise them. Then if they incline towards you seek no pretext against them. Surely Allah is the High the Great.

            The Holy Quran. al-Nisa [The Women]. 35.

Your website states that you have a degree in Theology and Religious Studies so I find it hard to believe however much I want to that you have innocently and unknowingly repeated these false allegations against Islam. I can only pray that Allah may remove the hatred of Islam you have in your heart because having studied religion you carry on attributing false things to the Quran.

Yours Sincerely,
Rehan Qayoom.