Shar‘i Ruling on the Rights of a Murtad’s (Apostate's) Family
If a person becomes a murtad (apostate), what is the Shar‘i ruling regarding his family and household?
Shaykh ʿAbd al-Wakeel Nāṣir (ḥafiẓahullāh)
✔ If a person leaves Islam and dies in a state of apostasy, or if he later returns to Islam,
in both cases, his apostasy does not affect the legal or religious status of his family.
"وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِّزۡرَ اُخۡرٰى"
“No bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another.”
(Surah Al-Isrā’: 15)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Be aware! No sinner bears the burden except for his own sin. A father is not held accountable for the sin of his child, nor is a child accountable for the sin of his father.”
(Sunan Ibn Mājah: 2669)
This legal maxim confirms that the sin of apostasy lies solely with the individual.
The family — whether wife, children, or parents — bear no legal or moral responsibility for his act.
❖ If a person becomes a murtad, the Shar‘i consequences do not extend to his family members.
❖ The rights, dignity, and religious status of his wife and children remain unaffected by his personal deviation.
❖ Each soul is accountable for its own actions — neither rewarded nor punished for the deeds of another.
Question:
If a person becomes a murtad (apostate), what is the Shar‘i ruling regarding his family and household?
Answer by:
Shaykh ʿAbd al-Wakeel Nāṣir (ḥafiẓahullāh)
Impact of Apostasy on the Family
✔ If a person leaves Islam and dies in a state of apostasy, or if he later returns to Islam,
in both cases, his apostasy does not affect the legal or religious status of his family.
Qur’anic Evidence:
"وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِّزۡرَ اُخۡرٰى"
“No bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another.”
(Surah Al-Isrā’: 15)
Prophetic Hadith:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Be aware! No sinner bears the burden except for his own sin. A father is not held accountable for the sin of his child, nor is a child accountable for the sin of his father.”
(Sunan Ibn Mājah: 2669)
Fiqh Principle:
This legal maxim confirms that the sin of apostasy lies solely with the individual.
The family — whether wife, children, or parents — bear no legal or moral responsibility for his act.
Summary:
❖ If a person becomes a murtad, the Shar‘i consequences do not extend to his family members.
❖ The rights, dignity, and religious status of his wife and children remain unaffected by his personal deviation.
❖ Each soul is accountable for its own actions — neither rewarded nor punished for the deeds of another.
