What Happens When a Muslim Commits Apostasy?

Implications of apostasy (summarised from Sheikh Yahya's "Mukhtaṣar Al-Maqāl"):

1. The apostate is adviced, requested to repent and return to Islām (الاستتابة), but if they persist upon disbelief they are killed as an apostate

2. The ties of faith and loyalty between them and the Muslims are completely severed

3. It is not permissible for them to marry a Muslim

4. It is not permissible for them to act as a waliyy (guardian) for a Muslim relative in marriage

5. It is not permissible for them to inherit from a deceased Muslim relative, nor is it permissible for the relative to inherit from them

6. It is not permissible for them to enter Makkah and the surrounding sanctuary

7. Their slaughtering is impermissible

8. Their testimony is invalid

9. Zakāh is not collected from them nor distributed to them

10. It is not permissible to offer funeral prayer over them

11. It is not permissible to pray behind them

12. It is not permissible to seek forgiveness for them after their death

...

After reflecting over these implications, you can see why declaring a Muslim to be a disbeliever is such a serious issue!

You can also see why abandoning prayer (an act of disbelief) is such a grave sin!!!

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