Murtad is an Islamic term derived from the Arabic language. It refers to a person who is a Muslim by birth and leaves Islam, or someone who accepts Islam and later abandons it. In Islamic scriptures, this act is called “irtidaad,” which means turning away from religion. According to Islamic law (Sharia), apostasy is considered a serious matter, and different punishments or consequences have been prescribed in various Islamic schools of thought. However, the interpretation and application of these rulings may vary across countries and communities in modern times.
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Punishment of Murtad in the Quran
The Quran does not explicitly prescribe any worldly punishment (such as capital punishment) for apostasy. However, some verses are often linked to this subject:
Surah Al-Baqarah (2:217): Whoever abandons Islam will see all his good deeds destroyed and will suffer loss in the Hereafter.
Surah An-Nisa (4:89): This verse refers to those who return to disbelief after faith. The Quran mainly highlights punishment in the Hereafter, rather than prescribing capital punishment in this world.
👉 In summary: The Quran focuses on spiritual consequences, not worldly punishment.
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Punishment of Murtad in the Hadith
The Hadith literature contains more explicit references regarding apostasy:
Sahih Bukhari (Hadith 6922): The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever changes his religion (Islam), kill him.” Many Islamic scholars consider this Hadith as the basis for the death penalty for apostasy.
Sahih Bukhari (Hadith 3017): Narrated by Ali (RA): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said there are three for whom the death penalty is applied:
1. A married person who commits adultery,
2. One who commits murder without justification,
3. One who abandons Islam (apostasy).
Based on these narrations, some scholars in traditional Islamic law considered the death penalty appropriate, but with certain conditions:
Apostasy must be voluntary and done with full awareness.
The person should be given an opportunity to repent.
This punishment is enforced only under an Islamic state, not at the individual level.
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Apostasy in the Modern Context
In today’s world, the punishment for apostasy varies depending on the country and its laws:
Saudi Arabia, Iran: Apostasy can carry the death penalty under Sharia law.
Turkey, Indonesia: Apostasy is considered a personal matter, with no legal punishment.
Pakistan: Although apostasy itself is not directly punishable by law, socially it is considered very shameful. A declared apostate may face social ostracism, family separation, violence, and even murder. Under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, insulting the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ carries the death penalty or life imprisonment. While this section does not explicitly cover apostasy, in some cases, apostasy is interpreted as an insult to Islam.
Bangladesh: There is no direct law against apostasy. The constitution guarantees religious freedom, but being a Muslim-majority country, Islamic sentiments often influence social and legal matters. Under Section 295-A of the Penal Code, hurting or insulting religious sentiments can result in up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. Apostasy may sometimes be interpreted as an insult if declared publicly in a derogatory way. Bloggers and writers have been arrested or even killed for “hurting religious sentiments.”
India: There is no specific law regarding apostasy. India’s secular constitution guarantees freedom of religion under Article 25. Thus, leaving Islam (or any religion) is not a criminal act. However, socially, people rarely admit apostasy openly due to fear of being ostracized by family and community, difficulties in marriage for their children, threats, or even physical harm.
