The Book of the Apostate
The apostate (murtad) is one who turns back from the religion of Islam to disbelief (kufr). Allah the Almighty says: "And whoever of you reverts from his religion and dies while he is a disbeliever - for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire, they will abide therein eternally" (1). The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "Whoever changes his religion, kill him" (2). The scholars are in consensus regarding the necessity of killing apostates (3). This has been narrated from Abu Bakr, 'Uthman, 'Ali, Mu'adh, Abu Musa, Ibn 'Abbas, Khalid, and others, and it was not contested; thus, it constitutes a consensus.
1538 - Issue: He said: "And whoever apostatizes from Islam, whether male or female, provided they are adult and sane, they are to be summoned to return for three days, and life shall be made difficult for them; if they return, then [they are spared], otherwise they are to be killed."
In this issue, there are five points of discussion:
The first: That there is no difference between men and women regarding the obligation of execution. This is narrated from Abu Bakr and 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with them both). This is also the position of al-Hasan, al-Zuhri, al-Nakha'i, Makhul, Hammad, Malik, al-Layth, al-Awza'i, al-Shafi'i, and Ishaq. It is narrated from 'Ali, al-Hasan, and Qatada that she is to be enslaved and not killed, because Abu Bakr enslaved the women of Banu Hanifa and their offspring,
(1) Surah al-Baqarah, 217. (2) Its takhrij (authentication/sourcing) has been previously provided in 9/550. (3) In [copies] b and m: "al-murtad" (the apostate). (1) The letter "wa" (and) is missing from b and m. (2) In [copies] b and m: "wa-li-anna" (and because).
