Ridda (apostasy from Islam): its conditions, its forms, the repentance of the apostate, and its effects on property, marriage and worship

الردة

Ridda in the lexicon is turning back from a thing; in law it is a Muslim's unbelief by an explicit word, a word implying it, or an act containing it, and it can only be committed by a sane, adult and free person. ^{1 2} Abu Hanifa and al-Shafi'i do not count a child's apostasy in one view, the Malikis and a famous Hanbali view count it; a child is not killed before puberty; a madman's apostasy is not valid; a drunk man's apostasy is not counted by the Hanafis, while the Shafi'is and Ahmad count it. ^{2 3} One who is compelled to speak unbelief does not become an unbeliever, by the verse excepting the compelled whose heart is at peace in faith. ³ Apostasy happens by belief, speech, act or omission: associating others with God, throwing the Qur'an in filth, prostrating to an idol, and abandoning prayer in denial. ^{4 5 6} Insulting God is unbelief by agreement; insulting the Prophet ﷺ is apostasy for the Hanafis and Hanbalis, and for the Shafi'is apostasy with an added hadd, while the acceptance of the repentance of the insulter is disputed. ^{7 8 9 10} The apostate is asked to repent, and if he does not he is killed by the imam; the female apostate is killed by the majority and not by the Hanafis. ^{11 12 10 13} A marriage of an apostate is void; a spouse's apostasy annuls the marriage for the Hanafis; the apostate's property is disputed as to whether it passes away. ^{14 15 16} The deeds of the apostate are annulled, and the jurists differ on the condition of this, and on repeating the pilgrimage and the missed prayers. ^{17 18}