Hadith Text & Context

"The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'Whoman changes his religion, kill him.'" (Sunan an-Nasa'i 4063)

This narration appears in "The Book of Fighting [The Prohibition of Bloodshed]" of Sunan an-Nasa'i, addressing the capital punishment for apostasy in Islamic jurisprudence.

Classical Scholarly Commentary

This hadith establishes that apostasy from Islam is a capital offense according to Islamic law. The classical scholars from all four Sunni schools of jurisprudence have consensus (ijma') on this ruling.

Imam Nawawi explains in his commentary: "The meaning is whoever apostatizes from Islam to disbelief, and this is after his Islam has been established with certainty." The punishment applies only to mature, sane Muslims who willingly renounce Islam.

Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi states in al-Mughni: "The apostate is given an opportunity to repent for three days. If he repents, he is spared; if not, he is executed." This reflects the Islamic legal principle of offering repentance before implementing the hadd punishment.

Legal Conditions & Restrictions

Scholars specify numerous conditions for implementing this ruling: the apostate must be mentally competent, have reached puberty, and act voluntarily without coercion.

The punishment does not apply to those who apostatize due to ignorance, misunderstanding, or under duress. Women apostates, according to most scholars, are not executed but imprisoned until they return to Islam.

This ruling applies only in an Islamic state with proper judicial procedures, not to individuals taking law into their own hands. The Islamic court must establish the apostasy through clear evidence and confession.

Wisdom & Objectives

Classical scholars explain the wisdom behind this ruling includes protecting the religious integrity of the Muslim community, maintaining social order, and preventing religious confusion.

Imam al-Shafi'i notes this punishment serves as a deterrent against frivolous conversion that undermines religious commitment and social stability in Muslim society.

The ruling emphasizes the seriousness of religious commitment in Islam and the protection of the faith community from internal subversion and ideological attacks.