Today, this is one of the most common questions that people who consider to adopt the Islamic faith ask:
-What if I decide to revert to my old faith?
-Am I to be killed?
NARRATIONS ABOUT APOSTATES
Unfortunately, most of the sectarian views are that apostasy is punishable by death based on a single narration that says, “Whoever changes his religion, kill him” (Bukhari, Jihad 149), although it is against the rulings in the Quran. Extensive information about this and similar narrations can be found on the link at the end of this article.
QURANIC VERSES ABOUT INDIVIDUALS OF APOSTATES
Killing of apostates just because of changing their religion diametrically opposes several verses in the Quran. One of them is God’s assurance of freedom in matters regarding religion:
“There can not be any type of coercion in religion…” (al-Baqarah, 2:256)
For further details on this issue, please refer to: https://www.islamandquran.org/fatwas/community-life/freedom-of-thought-belief-and-expression-in-the-quran.html
The other verses directly addressing the situation of apostates are below. They do not mention any worldly punishment but only explain the situation of apostates in this world and warn about the punishment in the afterlife:
“Whoever exchanges faith for disbelief has strayed from the right way.” (al-Baqarah, 2:108)
“Whoever among you turns back from his religion and dies as a disbeliever, their deeds will come to nothing in this world and the Hereafter. These are the dwellers of the Fire, where they will remain forever.” (al-Baqarah, 2:217)
“Anyone who rejects God after having faith—except for one who is coerced while his heart remains firm in faith—but anyone who willingly adopts disbelief, upon them descends God’s wrath, and a grave punishment (in the Hereafter) awaits them.” (an-Nahl, 16:106)
“Those who turn their backs (on this message) after guidance has been evident to them, (do it because) Satan has embellished their fancies and filled them with false hopes.” (Muhammad, 47:25)
As we can see, none of these verses about an apostate mention a punishment to be inflicted by humans.
QURANIC VERSES ABOUT COMMUNITIES OF APOSTATES
There are also other verses about communities of disbelievers rather than individuals:
“How should God guide the group of people who have denied God’s verses after they have witnessed that the Messenger/the message he brought is surely true, and the clear proofs have come to them and they have believed (in those proofs)! God does not guide the wrongdoers. Their punishment is ostracism of God, the Angels, and all the mankind. Thus they shall abide. Their torment will not be lightened, nor will they be cared about. Except for those who turn around (from their mistakes) and reform themselves after all of this. God is the One Who welcomes the turnarounds (repentances) and He is the Beneficent.” (Al-e Imran, 3:86-89)”
The worldly punishment of apostates is the ostracism of God, angels, and all humans. Yet, this is not an imperative sentence in Arabic. It lets us know that God, angels, and other communities will eventually ostracise the groups or communities of apostates. They have the opportunity to repent, but if they do not, their deeds will be in vain; God will bring better people to rule over them or replace them; and will punish them in the Hereafter:
“Oh you who believe! Whoso among you turns back from his religion, God will soon bring a community (instead of them) whom He loves and who loves Him. They will be humble towards believers and firm against concealers. They will strive in the cause of Allah and will not fear the reproach of any faultfinder. That is Allah’s grace. He bestows it upon whosoever deserves it. Allah is Bountiful, All-Knowing.” (al-Maidah, 5:54)
GOD-GIVEN OPPORTUNITY FOR REPENTANCE
The Quran does not sanction the killing of individuals based on disbelief or apostasy. Rather, it emphasizes tolerance and patience because every human being is a potential believer. Even if they disregard God’s verses, God gives every human being the chance to repent until death approaches:
“God accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and then repent shortly after that. To them, God will grant forgiveness. God is All-Knowing, All-Wise. However, repentance is not accepted from those who persist in wrongdoing, only to say, “Now I repent” when death is imminent, nor from those who die disbelieving. For them, We’ve prepared a severe punishment.” (an-Nisa, 4:17-18).
THE ATTITUDE TOWARD APOSTATES IN PROPHET MUHAMMAD’S (PBUH) ERA
The verse below quotes the words of a group of people who lived in Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) era, and God tells us about their situation:
“A group of the Experts in the Book says: ‘At the beginning of the day (say that you) believe in what has been sent down to those who believe, and at the end of the day deny it (become kafir). Perhaps they also return (from their belief). Believe in no one except those who follow your own faith.’ Say (O Muhammad): ‘God’s guidance is the guidance. (Are you doing this) because an equivalent of what was granted to you has also been granted to someone else, or because they may use it to argue against you in the presence of your Master?’ Say, ‘All blessings are in God’s hand; He grants them to whom He wills. God’s bounty is infinite, and He is All-Knowing.’” (Al-e Imran, 3:72-73)
These people put a plan into operation to perturb the believers and lead them away from God’s path. During this plan, they can openly announce that they deny God’s verses. This verse is proof that apostasy is not a crime punishable by death. Had it been, nobody could dare say the words of denial publicly knowing that they could live only for a day. God would have also prescribed a punishment for such people who not only denounced the Islamic faith but also pursued leading others astray.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE QURAN
Indeed, the only crimes that are punishable by death according to the Quran are when a person kills another human being for no rightful reason or commits an act of anarchy or terror during which he kills a soul (al-Baqarah 2:178-19, al-Maidah 5:33). Fighting against the believers at war is another case when a person can be killed. Yet, it is not a punishment but one of the natural consequences of war. Apostasy is not one of these situations.
CONCLUSION
The Quran does not prescribe killing as a punishment for abandoning the Islamic faith. God informs people in the Quran about the consequences they will face in this world and the Hereafter if they leave this faith, but He does not mandate any punishment to be carried out by humans.
For details on the topic of apostasy in the Bible, Torah, and Hadith resources, please refer to:
https://www.islamandquran.org/common-mistakes/punishment-for-apostasy-in-islam.html
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