by his acknowledgement of it (10), so it does not lapse with his denial, just as what he has committed himself to before the judge does not lapse with his denial. The correct view is that whatever the apostate strikes after joining the Abode of War, or being in a rebellious group, he is not liable for; due to what we mentioned at the end of the chapter preceding this one (11). As for what he did before this, he is held accountable for it, if it relates to a right of a human being, such as an offense against life or property; because he was in the Abode of Islam, so the ruling of his offense became incumbent upon him, like the dhimmi (protected non-Muslim) and the musta'man (one granted temporary protection). But if he committed a hadd offense exclusively for Allah the Almighty, such as adultery, drinking wine, or theft, then if he is killed for apostasy, the punishments other than killing lapse; because whenever a hadd punishment coincides with the killing, the killing is considered sufficient. If he returns to Islam, he is held accountable for the hadd of adultery and theft, because he is [then] one of the people of the Abode of Islam, so he is held accountable for both, like the dhimmi and the musta'man. As for the hadd for drinking wine, it is possible that it is not incumbent upon him, because he is a disbeliever, so the hadd for drinking wine is not carried out upon him, like other disbelievers. It is also possible that it is incumbent, because he acknowledged the ruling of Islam before his apostasy, and this is one of its rulings, so it does not lapse with his denial after it. And Allah knows best.
Section: Whoever claims prophethood, or confirms one who claims it, has apostatized; because when Musaylimah claimed prophethood and his people confirmed him, they became apostates by that, and likewise Tulayha al-Asadi and those who confirmed him. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "The Hour will not be established until thirty liars appear, all of them claiming that he is the Messenger of Allah" (12).
Section: Whoever reviles Allah the Almighty commits kufr (disbelief), whether he is joking (13) or serious. Likewise, whoever
(10) Omitted from M. (11) Pages 262, 263. (12) Narrated by al-Bukhari, in: Chapter: Signs of Prophethood in Islam, from The Book of Virtues, Sahih al-Bukhari 4/243; and Muslim, in: Chapter: The Hour will not be established until a man passes..., from The Book of Tribulations and Portents of the Hour, Sahih Muslim 4/2240; and Abu Dawud, in: Chapter: Concerning the news of Ibn al-Sayyad, from The Book of Great Battles, Sunan Abi Dawud 2/435; and al-Tirmidhi, in: Chapter: What has been said regarding 'The Hour will not be established until liars appear', from The Chapters on Tribulations, 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 9/63; and Imam Ahmad in: Al-Musnad 2/45, 528, 5/16. (13) In B: "muzahan".
