Abu Dawud

Benefits and Issues:
➊ If any apostate repents before the execution of the prescribed punishment (hadd), then his repentance is accepted.

➋ One should always seek refuge with Allah from tribulation (fitnah); the snares of Shaytan are innumerable.

(1) The conformity of the hadith of Sharaf with the chapter is absolutely clear: the repentance of an apostate is also accepted.

(2) The abrogation of verses and divine rulings is established by the Shari‘ah, and there is consensus among the people of Islam on this issue that in the religion, many rulings were given earlier and were later abrogated. Sometimes, rulings similar to the previous ones were granted, and sometimes even better ones. Allah the Exalted says: “Whatever verse We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring one better than it or similar to it.” ( al-Baqarah 2:106)

(3) In the explanation and abrogation of rulings, only the perfect wisdom of Allah ‘azza wa jall is at work. He knows everything well and has full power over everything. Whenever and for as long as He wills, He commands something to be carried out, and whenever He wills, He ends it. He is “Doer of whatever He wills.” ()

(4) This hadith indicates that if someone is forced to commit disbelief (kufr) while his heart is content with faith, then that person is not blameworthy.

(5) From this, it is also established that if there is no accountability for forced disbelief, then, a fortiori, there will be no accountability for actions of disbelief that are of a lesser degree. Divorce (talaq) that is forced at gunpoint or by any other means will also not be valid.

(6) In any matter, a permissible recommendation can be made to a ruler or non-ruler, just as ‘Uthman radi Allahu anhu made a recommendation to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam on behalf of ‘Abdullah ibn Sa‘d ibn Abi Sarh radi Allahu anhu.

(7) The ruler has the authority to accept a permissible recommendation if he wishes, or to reject it if he wishes.

(8) From this noble hadith, it is also known the great status and rank of ‘Uthman radi Allahu anhu in the presence of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, as he accepted his recommendation regarding a very great criminal, even though previously the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had ordered him to be killed, and even within the Sacred Sanctuary (Haram), his blood had become lawful and permissible. And to Allah belongs all praise.

(9) This hadith indicates that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was a person of the highest degree of kindness and compassion. To forgive an apostate who had caused extreme harm is a remarkable manifestation of his being “Mercy to the worlds.” Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam—may my father, mother, and honor be sacrificed for him.

(10) There is consensus that if a male or female apostate repents and accepts Islam again, they will not be killed. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam stated this when sending Mu‘adh ibn Jabal radi Allahu anhu to Yemen. If they do not repent, they will be killed without hesitation, whether male or female. The Hanafis do not hold that a woman should be killed for apostasy, but they have no evidence for this.