Apostasy

Apostasy or renouncing Islam to convert to another religion is an extremely serious sin.

Islam does not force anyone to enter the Deen nor does it put any pressure on a person to accept it. A non-Muslim can live in an Islamic state and he can also practice his religion there. But as soon as a person embraces Islam, he must now continue to remain a Muslim. If ever he renounces Islam after accepting it, he becomes a Murtad. And a Murtad deserves execution and death penalty as punishment. Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"The one who changes his religion, then kill him."

What does it mean to change religion?

Changing religion means renouncing Islam to adopt another religion. Thus, according to this Hadith, a person, who changes his religion of Islam to join another religion, deserves the death penalty.

The seriousness of apostasy

Apostasy is more serious than Kufr. That is, a person, who rejects Islam after accepting it, becomes more detestable than a person who has never accepted Islam. This is because such a person is a traitor. And the punishment of a traitor is a bit more severe than the punishment of an open adversary. Moreover, this is a way of discouraging those who may be thinking of embrassing the Deen. Thus, according to the Shari’ah, renouncing Islam after accepting it is Haraam and very serious and detestable. If someone says that this is permissible, he is making up something that does not exist in Islam. This is an addition that he is making to Islam.

Authorising apostasy

A Muslim cannot authorise apostasy or Kufr. Only a Kafir can authorise such a thing. If a Muslim happens to commit such a mistake, he comes out of Islam. He becomes an apostate. Individuals, organisations or societies that help a person to propagate apostasy, all become Kuffaar and Murtad.

When a person renounces his Deen and enters another religion, then his Nikah breaks. His Hajj is annulled and all his Ibaadah are nullified.

[English version of "Apostasie" – Al Jamiat – Vol.4 No.9]