Author: Dr. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rahman Al-Azmi رحمه الله
The severity of the punishment for apostasy is grounded in several important considerations, including both religious and social dimensions:
Thus, the death penalty acts as the strongest deterrent to prevent such destructive behavior.
Hence, the execution of an apostate becomes necessary to:
❖ Then, by far greater right, the true religion of Allah, which is:
deserves to preserve its sanctity and punish those who seek to:
[Al-Lajnah al-Dā’imah: Fatwa no. 21166]
❖ Reasons for the Severity in the Apostate’s Punishment
The severity of the punishment for apostasy is grounded in several important considerations, including both religious and social dimensions:
① A Warning Against Hypocrisy and Insincere Conversion
- The ruling serves as a serious warning and deterrent to those who may enter Islam with hypocrisy or worldly intentions.
- It encourages such individuals to investigate sincerely, to embrace Islam with insight, and to recognize the serious implications of accepting Islam for both this life and the Hereafter.
② Entering Islam Entails Full Commitment
- When someone publicly declares their Islam, they are accepting to adhere willingly to all its laws and teachings.
- Part of this acceptance includes acknowledgment that apostasy is a punishable offense, for which the prescribed penalty is death.
③ Maintaining Unity and Loyalty Among the Muslim Community
- Upon embracing Islam, a person joins the Muslim Ummah, gaining its love, support, and loyalty.
- They are now obliged to preserve its unity and avoid causing division.
- Apostasy is viewed as rebellion against the Muslim community and the divine system, with dangerous consequences for its unity and stability.
Thus, the death penalty acts as the strongest deterrent to prevent such destructive behavior.
④ Avoiding Misconceptions and Misguidance Among Weak Believers
- Weak-minded Muslims or critics of Islam might think that the apostate left Islam after fully understanding it, and thus Islam must be false.
- This opens the door for others to accept the apostate’s lies, doubts, and slanders, which could:
- Extinguish the light of Islam in their hearts,
- Instill hatred against the truth,
- Or spread false narratives about the religion.
Hence, the execution of an apostate becomes necessary to:
- Protect the integrity of Islam,
- Safeguard the faith of the Muslim community,
- And preserve the purity of the path for those sincerely seeking the truth.
⑤ Consistency with Established Principles in Modern Law
- Even in modern man-made legal systems, capital punishment is prescribed in certain cases, such as:
- Protecting national security,
- Preserving social order,
- Or preventing harmful crimes like drug trafficking.
❖ Then, by far greater right, the true religion of Allah, which is:
- Perfectly protected from falsehood,
- A source of eternal success and well-being,
- And the path to salvation in both worlds,
deserves to preserve its sanctity and punish those who seek to:
- Undermine its light,
- Distort its message, and
- Spread falsehood to justify their apostasy.
[Al-Lajnah al-Dā’imah: Fatwa no. 21166]
