What does Islam say about apostasy? Is leaving Islam punishable by death?

The short answer

The Quran condemns leaving Islam and warns of punishment in the Hereafter, but it does not state a worldly penalty. Authentic hadith do, and the four classical Sunni schools held that an adult male apostate (and, for all but the Hanafis, a female one) could be sentenced to death by a court after being asked to repent. Contemporary scholars differ on how that ruling applies today, and mainstream scholars agree it is never a matter for individuals to carry out.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Explanation

This is one of the hardest topics for modern readers, and it deserves a straight answer.

In the Quran, leaving Islam is a grave sin. Whoever turns back from his religion and dies a disbeliever loses his deeds "in this world and the Hereafter" 1. It excuses anyone forced to say words of disbelief "while his heart is secure in faith" 2. The punishments it names for apostasy are in the Hereafter; it sets no legal penalty to be carried out in this world.

The hadith are more specific. When Ali burned some heretics, Ibn Abbas objected to the burning and cited the Prophet ﷺ: "Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him" 3. In another hadith, the Prophet ﷺ named three cases in which a Muslim's life may be taken, one of which is "the one who reverts from Islam (apostate) and leaves the Muslims" 4. When Mu'adh ibn Jabal found a man held prisoner in Yemen who had become Muslim and then returned to Judaism, he refused to sit down until the man was executed, calling it "the judgment of Allah and His Apostle", and the governor Abu Musa ordered it 5. These hadith are authentic, and they are the basis of the classical law.

There are also reports where no penalty followed. A Bedouin who had pledged allegiance to the Prophet ﷺ asked three times to cancel his pledge, was refused, and then simply left Madinah; no action against him is reported 6. Scholars differ on whether he was renouncing Islam or only his pledge to stay in Madinah.

Scholars reconcile the verse "There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion" 7 with the apostasy law by saying that no one is forced to enter Islam, while leaving it after entering was treated as a crime against the community, not simply a private change of belief. Whatever position one takes, classical law gave the ruling only to a court under legitimate authority. No private person may harm someone for leaving Islam, and the door of repentance stays open: Allah forgives those who "repent after that and correct themselves" 8.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Quran Al-Baqara · 2:217

    Whoever reverts from his religion and dies a disbeliever loses his deeds in this world and the Hereafter.

    يَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلشَّهۡرِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ قِتَالࣲ فِيهِۖ قُلۡ قِتَالࣱ فِيهِ كَبِيرࣱۚ وَصَدٌّ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَكُفۡرُۢ بِهِۦ وَٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ وَإِخۡرَاجُ أَهۡلِهِۦ مِنۡهُ أَكۡبَرُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِۚ وَٱلۡفِتۡنَةُ أَكۡبَرُ مِنَ ٱلۡقَتۡلِۗ وَلَا يَزَالُونَ يُقَٰتِلُونَكُمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَرُدُّوكُمۡ عَن دِينِكُمۡ إِنِ ٱسۡتَطَٰعُواْۚ وَمَن يَرۡتَدِدۡ مِنكُمۡ عَن دِينِهِۦ فَيَمُتۡ وَهُوَ كَافِرࣱ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتۡ أَعۡمَٰلُهُمۡ فِي ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱلۡأٓخِرَةِۖ وَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِۖ هُمۡ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ ۝٢١٧

    They ask you about the sacred month - about fighting therein. Say, "Fighting therein is great [sin], but averting [people] from the way of Allah and disbelief in Him and [preventing access to] al-Masjid al-Haram and the expulsion of its people therefrom are greater [evil] in the sight of Allah. And fitnah is greater than killing." And they will continue to fight you until they turn you back from your religion if they are able. And whoever of you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever - for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire, they will abide therein eternally

  2. 2
    Quran An-Nahl · 16:106

    One forced to renounce faith while his heart is secure in it is excused.

    مَن كَفَرَ بِٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ إِيمَٰنِهِۦٓ إِلَّا مَنۡ أُكۡرِهَ وَقَلۡبُهُۥ مُطۡمَئِنُّۢ بِٱلۡإِيمَٰنِ وَلَٰكِن مَّن شَرَحَ بِٱلۡكُفۡرِ صَدۡرࣰ ا فَعَلَيۡهِمۡ غَضَبࣱ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمࣱ‏ ۝١٠٦

    Whoever disbelieves in Allah after his belief... except for one who is forced [to renounce his religion] while his heart is secure in faith. But those who [willingly] open their breasts to disbelief, upon them is wrath from Allah, and for them is a great punishment

  3. 3
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 6922
    Sahih Bukhari

    "Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him."

    Narrated `Ikrima:Some Zanadiqa (atheists) were brought to `Ali and he burnt them. The news of this event, reached Ibn `Abbas who said, "If I had been in his place, I would not have burnt them, as Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade it, saying, 'Do not punish anybody with Allah's punishment (fire).' I would have killed them according to the statement of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), 'Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النُّعْمَانِ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، قَالَ أُتِيَ عَلِيٌّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ بِزَنَادِقَةٍ فَأَحْرَقَهُمْ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَقَالَ لَوْ كُنْتُ أَنَا لَمْ أُحْرِقْهُمْ لِنَهْىِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلَقَتَلْتُهُمْ لِقَوْلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَنْ بَدَّلَ دِينَهُ فَاقْتُلُوهُ ‏"‏‏.‏

  4. 4
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 6878
    Sahih Bukhari

    One of three cases where a Muslim's life may be taken is the apostate who leaves the Muslims.

    Narrated `Abdullah:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The blood of a Muslim who confesses that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that I am His Apostle, cannot be shed except in three cases: In Qisas for murder, a married person who commits illegal sexual intercourse and the one who reverts from Islam (apostate) and leaves the Muslims

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لاَ يَحِلُّ دَمُ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ يَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ بِإِحْدَى ثَلاَثٍ النَّفْسُ بِالنَّفْسِ وَالثَّيِّبُ الزَّانِي، وَالْمَارِقُ مِنَ الدِّينِ التَّارِكُ الْجَمَاعَةَ ‏"‏‏.‏

  5. 5
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 6923
    Sahih Bukhari

    Mu'adh insisted a man who left Islam for Judaism be executed, calling it the judgment of Allah and His Messenger.

    Narrated Abu Burda:Abu Musa said, "I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) along with two men (from the tribe) of Ash`ariyin, one on my right and the other on my left, while Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was brushing his teeth (with a Siwak), and both men asked him for some employment. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'O Abu Musa (O `Abdullah bin Qais!).' I said, 'By Him Who sent you with the Truth, these two men did not tell me what was in their hearts and I did not feel (realize) that they were seeking employment.' As if I were looking now at his Siwak being drawn to a corner under his lips, and he said, 'We never (or, we do not) appoint for our affairs anyone who seeks to be employed. But O Abu Musa! (or `Abdullah bin Qais!) Go to Yemen.'" The Prophet then sent Mu`adh bin Jabal after him and when Mu`adh reached him, he spread out a cushion for him and requested him to get down (and sit on the cushion). Behold: There was a fettered man beside Abu Muisa. Mu`adh asked, "Who is this (man)?" Abu Muisa said, "He was a Jew and became a Muslim and then reverted back to Judaism." Then Abu Muisa requested Mu`adh to sit down but Mu`adh said, "I will not sit down till he has been killed. This is the judgment of Allah and His Apostle (for such cases) and repeated it thrice. Then Abu Musa ordered that the man be killed, and he was killed. Abu Musa added, "Then we discussed the night prayers and one of us said, 'I pray and sleep, and I hope that Allah will reward me for my sleep as well as for my prayers

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ قُرَّةَ بْنِ خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنِي حُمَيْدُ بْنُ هِلاَلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ أَقْبَلْتُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَعِي رَجُلاَنِ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ، أَحَدُهُمَا عَنْ يَمِينِي، وَالآخَرُ عَنْ يَسَارِي وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَسْتَاكُ فَكِلاَهُمَا سَأَلَ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ يَا أَبَا مُوسَى ‏"‏‏.‏ أَوْ ‏"‏ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ قَيْسٍ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا أَطْلَعَانِي عَلَى مَا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمَا، وَمَا شَعَرْتُ أَنَّهُمَا يَطْلُبَانِ الْعَمَلَ‏.‏ فَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى سِوَاكِهِ تَحْتِ شَفَتِهِ قَلَصَتْ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ لَنْ ـ أَوْ ـ لاَ نَسْتَعْمِلُ عَلَى عَمَلِنَا مَنْ أَرَادَهُ، وَلَكِنِ اذْهَبْ أَنْتَ يَا أَبَا مُوسَى ـ أَوْ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ قَيْسٍ ـ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ ‏"‏‏.‏ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ، فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ عَلَيْهِ أَلْقَى لَهُ وِسَادَةً قَالَ انْزِلْ، وَإِذَا رَجُلٌ عِنْدَهُ مُوثَقٌ‏.‏ قَالَ مَا هَذَا قَالَ كَانَ يَهُودِيًّا فَأَسْلَمَ ثُمَّ تَهَوَّدَ‏.‏ قَالَ اجْلِسْ‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ أَجْلِسُ حَتَّى يُقْتَلَ‏.‏ قَضَاءُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ‏.‏ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ، فَأَمَرَ بِهِ فَقُتِلَ، ثُمَّ تَذَاكَرْنَا قِيَامَ اللَّيْلِ، فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَمَّا أَنَا فَأَقُومُ وَأَنَامُ، وَأَرْجُو فِي نَوْمَتِي مَا أَرْجُو فِي قَوْمَتِي‏.‏

  6. 6
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 7211
    Sahih Bukhari

    A Bedouin who asked to cancel his pledge left Madinah; no action against him is reported.

    Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah:A bedouin gave the Pledge of allegiance to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) for Islam. Then the bedouin got fever at Medina, came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Cancel my Pledge," But Allah's Apostle refused. Then he came to him (again) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Cancel my Pledge." But the Prophet (ﷺ) refused Then he came to him (again) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Cancel my Pledge." But the Prophet (ﷺ) refused. The bedouin finally went out (of Medina) whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Medina is like a pair of bellows (furnace): It expels its impurities and brightens and clears its good

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ،‏.‏ أَنَّ أَعْرَابِيًّا، بَايَعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ فَأَصَابَ الأَعْرَابِيَّ وَعْكٌ بِالْمَدِينَةِ، فَأَتَى الأَعْرَابِيُّ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَقِلْنِي بَيْعَتِي، فَأَبَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ فَقَالَ أَقِلْنِي بَيْعَتِي فَأَبَى، ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ فَقَالَ أَقِلْنِي بَيْعَتِي فَأَبَى فَخَرَجَ الأَعْرَابِيُّ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِنَّمَا الْمَدِينَةُ كَالْكِيرِ تَنْفِي خَبَثَهَا وَيَنْصَعُ طِيبُهَا ‏"‏‏.‏

  7. 7
    Quran Al-Baqara · 2:256

    There shall be no compulsion in religion.

    لَآ إِكۡرَاهَ فِي ٱلدِّينِۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ ٱلرُّشۡدُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيِّۚ فَمَن يَكۡفُرۡ بِٱلطَّٰغُوتِ وَيُؤۡمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱسۡتَمۡسَكَ بِٱلۡعُرۡوَةِ ٱلۡوُثۡقَىٰ لَا ٱنفِصَامَ لَهَاۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ۝٢٥٦

    There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing

  8. 8
    Quran Aal-i-Imraan · 3:86–89

    Those who disbelieve after belief are condemned, except those who repent and reform.

    كَيۡفَ يَهۡدِي ٱللَّهُ قَوۡمࣰ ا كَفَرُواْ بَعۡدَ إِيمَٰنِهِمۡ وَشَهِدُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱلرَّسُولَ حَقࣱّ وَجَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتُۚ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ ۝٨٦ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ جَزَآؤُهُمۡ أَنَّ عَلَيۡهِمۡ لَعۡنَةَ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ أَجۡمَعِينَ ۝٨٧ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنۡهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمۡ يُنظَرُونَ ۝٨٨ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُواْ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ذَٰلِكَ وَأَصۡلَحُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورࣱ رَّحِيمٌ ۝٨٩

    86 How shall Allah guide a people who disbelieved after their belief and had witnessed that the Messenger is true and clear signs had come to them? And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people 87 Those - their recompense will be that upon them is the curse of Allah and the angels and the people, all together 88 Abiding eternally therein. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved 89 Except for those who repent after that and correct themselves. For indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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