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Leaving Islam: Apostates Speak Out Hardcover – May 1, 2003

by Ibn Warraq (Editor)

63 customer reviews

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In the West abandoning one's religion (apostasy) can be a difficult, emotional decision, which sometimes has social repercussions. However, in culturally diverse societies where there is a mixture of ethnic groups and various philosophies of life, most people look upon such shifts in intellectual allegiance as a matter of personal choice and individual right. By contrast, in Islam apostasy is still viewed as an almost unthinkable act, and in orthodox circles it is considered a crime punishable by death. Renowned scholar of Islamic Studies Bernard Lewis described the seriousness of leaving the Islamic faith in the following dire terms: "Apostasy was a crime as well as a sin, and the apostate was damned both in this world and the next. His crime was treason ù desertion and betrayal of the community to which he belonged, and to which he owed loyalty; his life and property were forfeit. He was a dead limb to be excised."

Defying the death penalty applicable to all apostates in Islam, the ex-Muslims who are here represented feel it is their duty to speak up against their former faith, to tell the truth about the fastest growing religion in the world. These former Muslims, from all parts of the Islamic world, recount how they slowly came to realize that the religion into which they were born was in many respects unbelievable and sometimes even dangerous.

These memoirs of personal journeys to enlightenment and intellectual freedom make for moving reading and are a courageous signal to other ex-Muslims to come out of the closet.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"...probably the first book of its kind...testimonies from former Muslims about their estrangement from the Islamic faith." -- New York Review of Books, April 29, 2004

"Leaving Islam's stories make eye-opening reading." -- Boston Globe

From the Inside Flap

In the West, those who abandon their religion (apostates) find it to be a difficult, emotional decision that sometimes carries with it social repercussions, such as physical and psychological isolation from family, friends, and colleagues. However, in culturally diverse societies with a mixture of ethnic groups and various philosophies of life, most people look upon such intellectual shifts in allegiance as a matter of personal choice and the right of the individual. In stark contrast, the socially restricted Muslim world still views apostasy as an unthinkable act, and orthodox Muslims consider it a crime punishable by death. Renowned scholar of Islamic Studies Bernard Lewis has described the seriousness of leaving the Islamic faith in dire terms: "Apostasy was a crime as well as a sin, and the apostate was damned both in this world and the next. His crime was treason--desertion and betrayal of the community to which he belonged, and to which he owed loyalty; his life and property were forfeit. He was a dead limb to be excised."

Defying the death penalty that all apostates potentially face in the Islamic world, the ex-Muslims represented here feel it is their duty to speak up against their former faith, to tell the truth about the fastest-growing religion in the world. These former Muslims--some born into the faith; others, Western converts--from all parts of the Islamic world recount how they slowly came to realize that their religion was in many respects unbelievable and sometimes even dangerous.

These memoirs and journals of personal journeys to enlightenment and intellectual freedom make for moving reading and are a courageous signal to other ex-Muslims to openly express their views.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product details

Hardcover: 472 pages
Publisher: Prometheus Books; First Edition edition (May 1, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1591020689
ISBN-13: 978-1591020684
Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 1.2 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 63 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #713,315 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #173 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Islam > Rituals & Practice
- #462 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Atheism
- #978 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Sociology

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Ronald E. Parsons

To be Taken Primarily as Reference Material by the Reader Already Knowledgable In Islam.

August 9, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Having read other books by Warraq I decided to look into this one which is edited rather than written by him. First, it is not one to be read straight through. It has appx. 470 pp. and has been produced in small print. Appx. 250 pp. consist of "testimonies" by former Muslims who were (1) Born into Islam, and (2), those who were Western converts. Offhandedly I estimate the average length of the entries to be 6 pages.

The first 90 pp. cover the theory of apostasy in Islam, in 9 separate parts. The last 80 pp. are devoted to entries on Muhammad and the sunna, and other material such as IDs of organizations one could style as 'pro-apostate, plus a bibliography and a list of websites 'critical of Islam.'

A reader should keep in mind that this book was published in 2003. Therefore I can't say (in 2017) how much of the supplemental material in the last 80 pp. can be viewed as current.

This reviewer has read through Appx. 10 of the 'testimonies." To anyone familiar with Islam, the gist of those testimonies will not be news. They are sincere accounts by 'apostates' of why and how they left Islam behind. Some are moderately gruesome, though not to the extent that they would be off-putting to most readers. They are what students of Islam should expect. Therefore this reviewer sees them as of value primarily to anyone unfamiliar with the barbarism of fundamentalist Islam.

The rest of the book can be considered by students of Islam (to one extent or another), as reference material. That is how I will continue to use it. To neophytes in Islam, this part of the volume offers instruction.

Another thing: The ISIS found in this book is NOT the one many of us have become familiar with, i.e., the one forming the bloody 'Islamic State' of more recent times. The ISIS in <Leaving Islam> is the abbreviation for 'Institute for the Secularization of Islamic Society.'

The five stars I have awarded to <Leaving Islam> are NOT meant to elevate the presence of the small print, nor the modest difficulty of wading through it. They are given because of the scholarship and concentration of the editor in this work. I have already given him five stars for the excellent information and readability of some of his other works written by him.

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Lizabeth

The Truth Can be a Sad Thing

March 16, 2012

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Actually, I haven't quite finished the book yet. But I highly recommend it. There was quite a bit of history and explanation at the beginning of the book. It surprised me, but since I have read other books by this author, it should not have. He is a scholar in the old-line sense of the word. If you wish, you can check his sources for yourself but it would probably be a waste of time I doubt you would find anything different than what he is saying

Now I am at the modern part of the book. Present day people are talking about what they went thru to leave Islam, mostly from Islamic countries. It is hard for those of us in the West to really understand down in our souls that people can be killed just for wanting to leave their country and their religion. It makes no sense. Its as bad as the Berlin wall was. But the Berlin Wall was at least understandable as a reaction to the trauma of a recent war that had cost Russia Millions of their citizens. What's Islam's excuse---oh, Holy Books they have not changed their interpretation of in over a Millenia. Come on folks, join the 21st century with the rest of us.

Sooner or later, we will technologize our way out of dependence on Middle East Oil. Where will the inhabitants of the 7th century be then?

9 people found this helpful

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James E. Horn

I find this book to be an excellent source of information for anyone who wants to understand ...

October 4, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

An American from a Christian background who has lived in Islamic dominated countries for over a decade, I find this book to be an excellent source of information for anyone who wants to understand Islam better. Each of these apostates fled Islam for very valid and realistic reasons - they wanted something better in their lives away from all of the frightful negatives that Islam provides. Islam is oppressive and hide-bound and holds bright, talented people in bondage, a bondage so severe that it affects their psyche.

These apostates had the inane intellectual ability to understand and to grasp what Islam was about, and had the courage to break free. Good for them and all who read this book and find ways to also break free.

4 people found this helpful

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Geology Maven

If you need to be convinced.....

May 25, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

That the Islamic set of sects/religions is a menace to humanity, is destructive at a personal, familial, and societal level, and is obviously bent on destroying all people, countries, religions, creeds, who stand in its path, then read this collection of testimonials.
If the inordinate amount of death and destruction wrought by so-called Islamist fanatics (why should we call them 'fanatics' when they're simply doing what their 'holy' books say?) over the past 50-60 (or is it 1400) years is convincing enough for you, you might still find this book an interesting read. Some accounts are articulate and measured; otherwise emotional or stream-of-consciousness; all are brave personal testimonials of intellectual or spiritual journeys out of oppression by women and men from a large number of mostly Muslim countries.
To those who feel this is all some sort of islamophobic conspiracy, I would only say 'you can't make this stuff up'.

2 people found this helpful

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bob lewis

Pray for folk such as these

August 31, 2018

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This decision, far from being casual, if life threatening.

God, grant safety to every Muslim taking this step!

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