Definition, Conditions & Ruling

**1. Definition:** **Linguistically:** Returning from something - hence returning from Islam. **Legally:** Disbelief after Islam - voluntarily, through speech, belief, doubt, or action. --- **2. Conditions:** The conditions for apostasy to be established are: - **Reason** (sanity) - **Discernment** (tamyīz) - **Choice** (free will) Thus, no ruling of apostasy is made against: - The insane - Non-discerning child - One who is compelled --- **3. Ruling on the Apostate:** **A. In This World:** Execution - based on the Prophet's ﷺ statement: "Whoever changes his religion, kill him" [Bukhari]. **Before Execution:** - He should be asked to repent - Invited back to Islam - Pressured and imprisoned for **three days** - If he repents, [he is released]; otherwise, he is executed **Evidence for Three Days:** - The hadith of the Jew who became Muslim then apostatized. Mu'adh said to Abu Musa: "I will not dismount until he is killed" - and in one narration: "He had been asked to repent before that" [Bukhari] - Umar, when told that a man was executed for apostasy without being asked to repent, said: "Why didn't you imprison him for three days, feed him bread each day, and ask him to repent? Perhaps he would repent or return to his Lord. O Allah, I was not present and did not approve when it reached me." **Who Executes:** The Imam or his deputy, since it is Allah's right. **Discerning Child:** Even if his apostasy is considered valid, he is not executed until he reaches puberty. **B. In the Hereafter:** Allah clarified this: "And whoever among you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] 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" [Al-Baqarah: 217].