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Title تبدیلی مذہب: اسلامی اور عصری قوانین کا تجزیاتی مطالعہ

Author(s) Anees Ur Rehman Siddiqui

Abstract Religious conversion remains a contentious and complex issue across historical and contemporary societies, influencing individual identities, communal relations, and legal frameworks. This study examines the phenomenon of religious conversion through the dual lenses of Islamic law and modern legal systems, aiming to elucidate their respective approaches, conflicts, and convergences. The research problem centers on the tension between religious freedom, as upheld by international human rights standards, and the restrictions imposed by Islamic jurisprudence on apostasy and proselytization. While Islam promotes interfaith harmony and intellectual inquiry, it strictly prohibits apostasy and regards non-Muslim missionary activities as antagonistic to its theological principles. Conversely, contemporary secular legal systems emphasize individual autonomy in matters of faith, often clashing with faith-based injunctions. The hypothesis of this study posits that Islamic law and modern legal systems adopt fundamentally divergent approaches to religious conversion, rooted in their distinct philosophical foundations divine sovereignty versus individual rights. To test this hypothesis, the research employs an analytical methodology with a qualitative approach, drawing from primary sources (Quran, hadith, and classical fiqh texts) and secondary materials (case law, legislative statutes, and scholarly critiques). The study also evaluates the socio-political implications of conversion laws in Muslim-majority contexts like Pakistan, where accusations of forced conversions exacerbate interreligious tensions. Furthermore, it explores how globalization and religious pluralism challenge traditional legal paradigms, necessitating a balance between communal cohesion and personal freedom. Islamic law conditions conversion on free will but penalizes apostasy as a capital offense, whereas contemporary secular laws prioritize unconditional religious liberty. Despite these differences, both systems grapple with regulating missionary activities to prevent coercion or social destabilization. The study concludes by advocating for nuanced legal reforms that reconcile Islamic ethical concerns with universal human rights norms, particularly in pluralistic societies. Keywords: Religious Conversion, Apostasy, Missionary Activities, Islamic Laws, Contemporary Laws

Type Thesis/Dissertation PhD

Faculty Social Sciences

Department Islamic thought & Culture

Language Urdu

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