What is the ruling on an adult Muslim who becomes an apostate and persists in disbelief after the age of maturity?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of the Apostate

Book 50 · Issue 12 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If the apostate adult or any of their children who were deemed Muslim at birth (and have reached maturity and soundness of mind) refuse to repent after being asked three times, they shall be killed. If the child was not yet mature, they are waited upon until they reach maturity, then asked to repent; if they do not repent, they are killed. They should be detained to prevent their escape.

Supporting text

The mentioned individuals are those who were born before the apostasy and were judged to be Muslims, thus they are not enslaved. If they are of age and refuse to repent after being asked three times, they are killed; if not of age, they are awaited until maturity for repentance.