Islam and Apostasy: Difference between revisions

'''Apostasy''' (ارتداد, irtidād and ridda), or leaving the religion, is a serious offense in [[Islam]]. The punishment for apostasy as prescribed by [[Muhammad]] is death. A ''murtad'' (مرتد apostate) who hides his apostasy is referred to as a ''munāfiq'' (منافق hypocrite).

In Islam, the rejection in part (of any of the pillars, or individual beliefs in Islam) or whole of the religion, amounts to apostasy.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.alsunna.org/Questions-about-Apostasy-Blasphemy.html|2=2011-02-25}} Questions about Apostasy (Blasphemy)] - Al Sunna.org</ref> Numerous [[Sahih]] (authentic) [[hadith]]s attribute this punishment as explicitly prescribed by Muhammad. In Sahih Bukhari, for instance, it is recorded that “Allah's Apostle said, 'Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him'”.<ref name="apostasy">M. Muhsin Khan (Translator) - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.cmje.org/religious-texts/hadith/bukhari/084-sbt.php#009.084.057|2=2011-10-30}} Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 84 - Dealing with Apostates, Number 57] - USC-MSA, [[Compendium of Muslim Texts]]</ref> Apostasy is also famously one of only three reasons, according to Muhammad, for which killing a Muslim is permitted.<ref>M. Muhsin Khan (Translator) - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.cmje.org/religious-texts/hadith/bukhari/083-sbt.php#009.083.017|2=2011-10-30}} Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 83 - Blood Money (Ad-Diyat), Number 17] - USC-MSA, [[Compendium of Muslim Texts]]</ref>