What is the prescribed duration for soliciting repentance from an apostate?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of the Apostate
Primary text
The prescribed duration for soliciting repentance is three days. This is reported from 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and held by Malik, Ishaq, and the proponents of *Ahl al-Ra'y*. It is also one opinion of Al-Shafi'i. This duration is established based on the narration regarding 'Umar, and because apostasy often arises from ambiguity (*shubha*) which does not resolve immediately, necessitating a period for reflection, with three days being the established, brief period due to the existing narrations.
Supporting text
The second opinion of Al-Shafi'i, which is considered the sounder of his two positions, states that if he repents immediately, he is spared, otherwise he is killed on the spot. This view is also held by Ibn al-Mundhir, relying on the narrations of 'Umar and Mu'adh, arguing that persisting after three days constitutes persistence in disbelief, analogous to the state after the three days. Al-Zuhri held that he is called upon three times; if he refuses, his neck is struck, resembling one of Al-Shafi'i's views. Al-Nakha'i suggested he should be solicited indefinitely, which leads to never executing him, contradicting the Sunnah and consensus.