A Death Sentence

[POBook]

Volume 9, Book 84, Number 57:
Narrated 'Ikrima:

Some Zanadiqa (atheists) were brought to 'Ali and he burnt them. The news of this event, reached Ibn 'Abbas who said, "If I had been in his place, I would not have burnt them, as Allah's Apostle forbade it, saying, 'Do not punish anybody with Allah's punishment (fire).' I would have killed them according to the statement of Allah's Apostle, 'Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.'"

What is the meaning of this?

[POBook]

Sura 8:12

Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): "I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instil terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them."

What is the meaning of this?

[Ansar Al-'Adl]

Hello POBook,
As for the second quote, it is a favorite for anti-islamists to quote out of context. It has been explained here:
http://www.load-islam.com/C/rebuttals/Misquoted/#16

As for the first quote, it is discussed in great detail in the following thread:
http://www.islamicboard.com/refutati...-apostasy.html

Regards