❖ Question:
If the punishment for leaving Islam is death, why is there no such punishment for one who accepts Islam?
❖ Answer:
When a person accepts Islam, he does so by:
- Submitting himself sincerely to Allah ﷻ,
- Accepting His religion with full conviction, and
- Demonstrating obedience to what is obligatory upon every morally responsible human and jinn.
This acceptance is in accordance with the right of the Creator over His creation.
📖 Supporting Evidence from the Qur’an
① Purpose of Creation:
﴿وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ﴾
[Adh-Dhāriyāt: 56]
“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”
② Only Islam is Acceptable to Allah:
﴿إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الْإِسْلَامُ﴾
[Āl-ʿImrān: 19]
“Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam.”
﴿وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ﴾
[Āl-ʿImrān: 85]
“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam—it will never be accepted from him.”
✔ Reward for Accepting Islam
The one who embraces Islam and:
- Believes with his heart,
- Acts upon it with his limbs, and
- Lives a life of obedience to Allah,
is promised immense reward:
﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ الْفِرْدَوْسِ نُزُلًا • خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يَبْغُونَ عَنْهَا حِوَلًا﴾
[Al-Kahf: 107–108]
“Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds—for them will be Gardens of Paradise as hospitality, abiding therein forever.”
Additional promises from Allah ﷻ include:
- Guidance and security
- Relief from sorrow and fear
- A pure and fulfilling life
- Reward for good deeds in both worlds
As stated in:
﴿فَمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ وَأَصْلَحَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ﴾
[Al-Aʿrāf: 35]
﴿فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشْقَىٰ﴾
[Ṭāhā: 123]
﴿فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً﴾
[An-Naḥl: 97]
✘ Consequence of Abandoning Islam
But the one who abandons this truth, turns away from divine revelation, and rebels against Allah’s commands:
- Has committed a grave act of defiance,
- Becomes subject to the death penalty in this world, and
- Earns eternal punishment in the Hereafter.
As stated in:
﴿وَمَن يَرْتَدِدْ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِ فَيَمُتْ وَهُوَ كَافِرٌ فَأُولَٰئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ﴾
[Al-Baqarah: 217]
“And whoever among you turns back from his religion and dies while a disbeliever—then their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter. They are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein forever.”
[Al-Lajnah al-Dā’imah: Fatwa no. 21166]
