Abu Dawud

Benefits and Issues:
➊
The punishment for one who apostatizes from Allah’s Messenger, His religion, and Islam is execution.

➋
Making a covert gesture with the eye is a form of treachery of the eye, which is not permissible for any person of religion, and it is a very serious flaw.

➌
There is no limit to Allah the Exalted’s grace and favor. Abdullah bin Sa’d bin Abi Sarh radi Allahu anhu was the foster brother of Sayyiduna Uthman radi Allahu anhu. After accepting Islam, he became an apostate for a period of time, and the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam initially ordered his execution. However, by Allah’s guidance and through the intercession of Sayyiduna Uthman radi Allahu anhu, his repentance was accepted on the day of the conquest of Makkah.
And his Islam thereafter was very excellent.
He served as the governor of Egypt during the era of Sayyiduna Uthman.
The campaigns of Africa, Dhat as-Sawari, and Asawad were among his significant expeditions.

Benefits and Issues:
➊
Since these people were war criminals,
and the very fame of Islam itself was an invitation to Islam for them,
therefore, the ruling regarding them was
that wherever they were found, they should be killed,
even if they were clinging to the curtains of the Ka‘bah.
And there were several individuals among them:
‘Ikrimah bin Abi Jahl,
‘Abdullah bin Khatal,
Miqyas bin Subabah,
‘Abdullah bin Sa‘d bin Abi Sarh,
(and besides these, there were several others as well), and among the women, the slave girls of Ibn Khatal
or Miqyas bin Subabah: Qaribah and Fartani.
(In addition, the names of other women are also mentioned.) ‘Abdullah bin Khatal was found clinging to the curtains of the Ka‘bah,
and he was killed right there.
Miqyas bin Subabah was caught by people in the marketplace,
and was killed.
‘Ikrimah fled and boarded a ship,
and thus escaped being killed.
Later, he presented himself and accepted Islam,
which was accepted,
and he proved to be a very sincere Muslim.
Regarding ‘Abdullah bin Abi Sarh, it is mentioned
that he was initially a scribe of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam),
but he became an apostate.
The reason for the severity and harshness towards him was this.
Later, he too accepted Islam again.
Among the women, these slave girls used to recite poetry satirizing (in condemnation of) the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
Qaribah was killed,
whereas Fartani escaped and later accepted Islam.

➋
To make a hidden gesture with the eye is a treacherous act of the eye,
which is especially not permissible for the Prophet,
and generally not permissible for a believer.
Also see: (Sunan Abi Dawud, Funerals, Hadith: 3194)