Chapter on Apostasy
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 3|Book 1|Chapter 54
رَوَى هِشَامُ بْنُ سَالِمٍ عَنْ عَمَّارٍ اَلسَّابَاطِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ يَقُولُ: "كُلُّ مُسْلِمٍ بَيْنَ مُسْلِمَيْنِ اِرْتَدَّ عَنِ اَلْإِسْلاَمِ وَ جَحَدَ مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ نُبُوَّتَهُ وَ كَذَّبَهُ فَإِنَّ دَمَهُ مُبَاحٌ لِكُلِّ مَنْ سَمِعَ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ وَ اِمْرَأَتَهُ بَائِنَةٌ مِنْهُ فَلاَ تَقْرَبْهُ وَ يُقْسَمُ مَالُهُ عَلَى وَرَثَتِهِ وَ تَعْتَدُّ اِمْرَأَتُهُ عِدَّةَ اَلْمُتَوَفَّى عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا، وَ عَلَى اَلْإِمَامِ أَنْ يَقْتُلَهُ إِنْ أُتِيَ بِهِ وَ لاَ يَسْتَتِيبَهُ ".
Hisham ibn Salim narrated from Ammar al-Sabati who said: I heard Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, say: "Any Muslim who is living among Muslims and then apostasizes from Islam, denies the prophethood of Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family, and rejects him, then his blood is permissible (to be shed) for anyone who hears that from him. His wife becomes separated from him and must not approach him. His wealth is distributed among his heirs, and his wife observes the waiting period (iddah) as if her husband had died. It is upon the Imam to execute him if he is brought before him, and he is not to be given the opportunity to repent."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى اَلسَّكُونِيُّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ آبَائِهِ عَلَيْهِمُ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "أَنَّ اَلْمُرْتَدَّ عَنِ اَلْإِسْلاَمِ تُعْزَلُ عَنْهُ اِمْرَأَتُهُ وَ لاَ تُؤْكَلُ ذَبِيحَتُهُ وَ يُسْتَتَابُ ثَلاَثاً فَإِنْ رَجَعَ وَ إِلاَّ قُتِلَ يَوْمَ اَلرَّابِعِ إِذَا كَانَ صَحِيحَ اَلْعَقْلِ".
Al-Sakuni narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام, from his forefathers, peace be upon them: "A person who apostasizes from Islam is to be separated from his wife, his slaughtered meat is not to be eaten, and he is to be given an opportunity to repent for three days. If he repents, he is spared, but if he does not repent, he is killed on the fourth day, provided he is of sound mind."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى حَمَّادٌ عَنِ اَلْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: فِي اَلْمُرْتَدِّ عَنِ اَلْإِسْلاَمِ قَالَ "لاَ تُقْتَلُ وَ تُسْتَخْدَمُ خِدْمَةً شَدِيدَةً وَ تُمْنَعُ عَنِ اَلطَّعَامِ وَ اَلشَّرَابِ إِلاَّ مَا تُمْسِكُ بِهِ نَفْسَهَا وَ تُلْبَسُ أَخْشَنَ اَلثِّيَابِ وَ تُضْرَبُ عَلَى اَلصَّلَوَاتِ ".
Hammad narrated from Al-Halabi, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, regarding a person who apostasizes from Islam: "He is not to be killed but is to be subjected to hard labor, denied food and drink except what sustains his life, made to wear coarse clothing, and beaten to perform prayers."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ غِيَاثِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "إِذَا اِرْتَدَّتِ اَلْمَرْأَةُ عَنِ اَلْإِسْلاَمِ لَمْ تُقْتَلْ وَ لَكِنْ تُحْبَسُ أَبَداً".
In a narration by Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim, from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام, that Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said: "If a woman apostasizes from Islam, she is not to be killed but is to be imprisoned forever."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 209
وَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "إِنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ لَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْ أَهْلِ اَلْبَصْرَةِ أَتَاهُ سَبْعُونَ رَجُلاً مِنَ اَلزُّطِّ فَسَلَّمُوا عَلَيْهِ وَ كَلَّمُوهُ بِلِسَانِهِمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُمْ "إِنِّي لَسْتُ كَمَا قُلْتُمْ أَنَا عَبْدُ اَللَّهِ مَخْلُوقٌ" " قَالَ "فَأَبَوْا عَلَيْهِ وَ قَالُوا لَعَنَهُمُ اَللَّهُ لاَ بَلْ أَنْتَ أَنْتَ هُوَ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ "لَئِنْ لَمْ تَرْجِعُوا عَمَّا قُلْتُمْ وَ لَمْ تَتُوبُوا إِلَى اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَأَقْتُلَنَّكُمْ" " قَالَ "فَأَبَوْا عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَتُوبُوا وَ يَرْجِعُوا " قَالَ "فَأَمَرَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنْ تُحْفَرَ لَهُمْ آبَارٌ فَحُفِرَتْ ثُمَّ خَرَقَ بَعْضَهَا إِلَى بَعْضٍ ثُمَّ قَذَفَ بِهِمْ فِيهَا ثُمَّ جَنَّ رُءُوسَهَا ثُمَّ أَلْهَبَ فِي بِئْرٍ مِنْهَا نَاراً وَ لَيْسَ فِيهَا أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ فَدَخَلَ فِيهَا اَلدُّخَانُ عَلَيْهِمْ فَمَاتُوا".
Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام, said: "When Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام had finished dealing with the people of Basra, seventy men from the Zutt came to him, greeted him, and spoke to him in their language. Then Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said to them: 'Indeed, I am not as you have said. I am a servant of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, created by Him.' They refused to accept his words and said (may Allah سبحانه وتعالى curse them): 'No, rather you are (God) Himself.' So Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said to them: 'If you do not retract what you have said and do not repent to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Almighty and Glorious, I will surely kill you.' They refused to repent or retract. Then, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام, ordered that pits be dug for them, which were then connected to one another. Imam عليه السلام cast them into these pits and covered their openings. Imam عليه السلام then lit a fire in one of the pits, without any of them inside, causing smoke to enter and suffocate them until they died."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
قَالَ مُصَنِّفُ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ إِنَّ الْغُلَاةَ لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ يَقُولُونَ لَوْ لَمْ يَكُنْ عَلِيٌّ رَبّاً لَمَا عَذَّبَهُمْ بِالنَّارِ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ لَوْ كَانَ رَبّاً لَمَا احْتَاجَ إِلَى حَفْرِ الْآبَارِ وَ خَرْقِ بَعْضِهَا إِلَى بَعْضٍ وَ تَغْطِيَةِ رُءُوسِهَا وَ لَكَانَ يُحْدِثُ نَاراً فِي أَجْسَادِهِمْ فَتَلْهَبُ بِهِمْ فَتُحْرِقُهُمْ وَ لَكِنَّهُ لَمَّا كَانَ عَبْداً مَخْلُوقاً حَفَرَ الْآبَارَ وَ فَعَلَ مَا فَعَلَ حَتَّى أَقَامَ حُكْمَ اللَّهِ فِيهِمْ وَ قَتَلَهُمْ وَ لَوْ كَانَ مَنْ يُعَذِّبُ بِالنَّارِ وَ يُقِيمُ الْحَدَّ بِهَا رَبّاً لَكَانَ مَنْ عَذَّبَ بِغَيْرِ النَّارِ لَيْسَ بِرَبٍّ وَ قَدْ وَجَدْنَا اللَّهَ تَعَالَى عَذَّبَ قَوْماً بِالْغَرَقِ وَ آخَرِينَ بِالرِّيحِ وَ آخَرِينَ بِالطُّوفَانِ وَ آخَرِينَ بِالْجَرَادِ وَ الْقُمَّلِ وَ الضَّفَادِعِ وَ الدَّمِ وَ آخَرِينَ بِحِجارَةٍ مِنْ سِجِّيلٍ وَ إِنَّمَا عَذَّبَهُمْ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَى قَوْلِهِمْ بِرُبُوبِيَّتِهِ بِالنَّارِ دُونَ غَيْرِهَا لِعِلَّةٍ فِيهَا حِكْمَةٌ بَالِغَةٌ وَ هِيَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى ذِكْرُهُ حَرَّمَ النَّارَ عَلَى أَهْلِ تَوْحِيدِهِ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ لَوْ كُنْتُ رَبَّكُمْ مَا أَحْرَقْتُكُمْ وَ قَدْ قُلْتُمْ بِرُبُوبِيَّتِي وَ لَكِنَّكُمُ اسْتَوْجَبْتُمْ مِنِّي بِظُلْمِكُمْ ضِدَّ مَا اسْتَوْجَبَهُ الْمُوَحِّدُونَ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ أَنَا قَسِيمُ نَارِهِ بِإِذْنِهِ فَإِنْ شِئْتُ عَجَّلْتُهَا لَكُمْ وَ إِنْ شِئْتُ أَخَّرْتُهَا فَمَأْوَاكُمُ النَّارُ هِيَ مَوْلَاكُمْ أَيْ هِيَ أَوْلَى بِكُمْ وَ بِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ وَ لَسْتُ لَكُمْ بِمَوْلًى وَ إِنَّمَا أَقَامَهُمْ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فِي قَوْلِهِمْ بِرُبُوبِيَّتِهِ مَقَامَ مَنْ عَبَدَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ صَنَماً.
The compiler of this book, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى have mercy on him, said: The extremists, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى curse them, claim that if Ali عليه السلام had not been a Lord عز وجل, he would not have punished them with fire. It is said to them: If he were a Lord عز وجل, he would not have needed to dig pits, connect some of them to others, cover their tops, and then set fire to them. Instead, he would have created fire directly within their bodies, causing it to blaze and burn them. However, since he was a created servant of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, he dug the pits and did what he did in order to establish Allah's سبحانه وتعالى ruling upon them and executed them accordingly. If the one who punishes with fire and enforces punishment using it must be a Lord عز وجل, then by this reasoning, anyone who punishes by other means, such as drowning, would not be a Lord عز وجل. Yet, we have found that Allah سبحانه وتعالى the Exalted punished some people by drowning, others by the wind, others by the flood, and others by locusts, lice, frogs, blood, and stones of baked clay. Indeed, Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام punished them with fire for their claim of his divinity, instead of using other forms of punishment, for a profound wisdom. This wisdom lies in the fact that Allah سبحانه وتعالى the Exalted has forbidden fire upon the people of His Oneness. So Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said: "Had I been your Lord عز وجل, I would not have burned you, even though you claimed my divinity. But because of your wrongdoing, you have earned from me the opposite of what the believers in Allah's سبحانه وتعالى Oneness deserve from their Lord عز وجل, the Almighty. I am the divider of His fire by His permission-if I wish, I hasten it for you, and if I wish, I delay it. Your abode is the fire; it is your master," meaning it is more deserving of you, and what an evil destination! And I am not your master." Thus, Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام dealt with them for their claim of his divinity in the same way as those who worshiped idols instead of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Almighty.
وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ رَجُلَيْنِ بِالْكُوفَةِ مِنَ اَلْمُسْلِمِينَ أَتَى رَجُلٌ أَمِيرَ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فَشَهِدَ أَنَّهُ رَآهُمَا يُصَلِّيَانِ لِصَنَمٍ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ وَيْحَكَ لَعَلَّهُ بَعْضُ مَنْ يَشْتَبِهُ عَلَيْكَ أَمْرُهُ فَأَرْسَلَ رَجُلاً فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِمَا وَ هُمَا يُصَلِّيَانِ لِصَنَمٍ فَأَتَى بِهِمَا قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُمَا اِرْجِعَا فَأَبَيَا فَخَدَّ لَهُمَا فِي اَلْأَرْضِ أُخْدُوداً وَ أَجَّجَ فِيهِ نَاراً فَطَرَحَهُمَا فِيهِ رَوَى ذَلِكَ مُوسَى بْنُ بَكْرٍ عَنِ اَلْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ:.
And it is reported that two men in Kufa, who were Muslims, were brought before Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام. A man testified that he had seen them praying to an idol. Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said: "Woe unto you! Perhaps it is someone who merely appeared similar to them, and the matter has confused you." Then, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام sent a man to observe them. The man returned and confirmed that they were indeed praying to an idol. So, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام summoned them and said: "Repent and return (to Islam)." But they refused. Then, Imam عليه السلام dug a trench in the ground, lit a fire in it, and threw them into the fire. This was narrated by Musa ibn Bakr from al-Fudayl, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ كَتَبَ غُلاَمٌ لِأَمِيرِ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ إِلَيْهِ إِنِّي قَدْ أَصَبْتُ قَوْماً مِنَ اَلْمُسْلِمِينَ زَنَادِقَةً وَ قَوْماً مِنَ اَلنَّصَارَى زَنَادِقَةً فَقَالَ "أَمَّا مَنْ كَانَ مِنَ اَلْمُسْلِمِينَ وُلِدَ عَلَى اَلْفِطْرَةِ ثُمَّ اِرْتَدَّ فَاضْرِبْ عُنُقَهُ وَ لاَ تَسْتَتِبْهُ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يُولَدْ مِنْهُمْ عَلَى اَلْفِطْرَةِ فَاسْتَتِبْهُ فَإِنْ تَابَ وَ إِلاَّ فَاضْرِبْ عُنُقَهُ وَ أَمَّا اَلنَّصَارَى فَمَا هُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَعْظَمُ مِنَ اَلزَّنْدَقَةِ".
A servant wrote to Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام saying: "I have come across a group of Muslims who are heretics (Zindiqs) and a group of Christians who are also heretics." Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام replied: "As for those who were born as Muslims, upon the natural disposition (Fitrah), and then apostatized-strike their necks (execute them) and do not offer them repentance. But those who were not born upon the natural disposition (Fitrah), offer them repentance. If they repent, then leave them; but if they do not, then strike their necks (execute them). And as for the Christians, what they are upon (their belief system) is even graver than heresy."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ عَنِ اَلْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "أَنَّ رَجُلاً مِنَ اَلْمُسْلِمِينَ تَنَصَّرَ فَأُتِيَ بِهِ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فَاسْتَتَابَهُ فَأَبَى عَلَيْهِ فَقَبَضَ عَلَى شَعْرِهِ وَ قَالَ "طَئُوا عِبَادَ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ" فَوُطِئَ حَتَّى مَاتَ".
In a narration reported by Musa bin Bakr from Al-Fudhayl, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: "A man from among the Muslims converted to Christianity. He was brought to Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام. Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام asked him to repent, but he refused. Then Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام seized him by his hair and said: 'Trample upon him, O servants of Allah سبحانه وتعالى!' So they trampled him until he died."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى فَضَالَةُ عَنْ أَبَانٍ أَنَّ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: فِي اَلصَّبِيِّ إِذَا شَبَّ فَاخْتَارَ اَلنَّصْرَانِيَّةَ وَ أَحَدُ أَبَوَيْهِ نَصْرَانِيٌّ أَوْ جَمِيعاً مُسْلِمَيْنِ قَالَ "لاَ يُتْرَكُ وَ لَكِنْ يُضْرَبُ عَلَى اَلْإِسْلاَمِ ".
In a narration reported by Fadalah from Aban, Abu Abdullah عليه السلام said: "Regarding a child who grows up and chooses Christianity while one of his parents is a Christian or both of them are Muslims, he is not to be left (in that state), but rather he is compelled to follow Islam."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى اِبْنُ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَبَانٍ أَنَّ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: فِي اَلرَّجُلِ يَمُوتُ مُرْتَدّاً عَنِ اَلْإِسْلاَمِ وَ لَهُ أَوْلاَدٌ وَ مَالٌ قَالَ "مَالُهُ لِوُلْدِهِ اَلْمُسْلِمِينَ ".
Ibn Faddal reported from Aban that Abu Abdullah عليه السلام said: "If a man dies as an apostate from Islam and he has children and wealth, his wealth is to be inherited by his Muslim children."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "إِذَا أَسْلَمَ اَلْأَبُ جَرَّ اَلْوَلَدَ إِلَى اَلْإِسْلاَمِ فَمَنْ أَدْرَكَ مِنْ وُلْدِهِ دُعِيَ إِلَى اَلْإِسْلاَمِ فَإِنْ أَبَى قُتِلَ وَ إِنْ أَسْلَمَ اَلْوَلَدُ لَمْ يَجُرَّ أَبَوَيْهِ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ بَيْنَهُمَا مِيرَاثٌ ".
Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said: "If the father embraces Islam, he leads his child to Islam. When the child reaches maturity, he is invited to accept Islam; if he refuses, he is to be killed. However, if the child accepts Islam, they do not bring their parents into it, and there will be no inheritance between them."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
Commentary #1