Analysis and Evaluation of the Hadith “Man Baddal La Dinah Faqtulouh” on the Topic of Killing an Apostate, Focusing on the Perspective of the Salafist and Ibn Taymiyyah Hadith Scholars

One of the most challenging issues in Islamic jurisprudence is the issue of killing an apostate. According to this doctrine, a Muslim who leaves Islam will be killed. Regarding the details of this punishment, there is a great difference between Islamic sects. Salafists, a sect of Ahl-o-Hadith, Ahl-o-Sunnah following the thoughts of Ibn Taymiyyah Harrani, are one of the living and influential sects in the Islamic world that their specific and narrow-minded view of the apostate has left harmful consequences in the Islamic world. In the belief of this sect, anyone who becomes an apostate; If he does not repent within three days; is killed the main motivation of the Salafists in killing the apostate is the narration of “Man Baddal Dinah Faqtulouh”. This hadith has been reported in different ways in reliable Sunni sources. If the authenticity of the above hadith is challenged; The basis of the Salafists in killing the apostate will change. The present research evaluates this hadith with an analytical-documentary method. In the end, it comes to this conclusion; that this hadith does not have the conditions of protest for killing the apostate. Because, first, it is considered as a khabar wahid. Secondly, there is interruption, refinement, and anxiety in its chain. Thirdly, the content of the hadith is in conflict with the verses, narrations, practical life of the Prophet, jurisprudence rules, and other authorities. One of the sub-goals of the research is correct explanation and answer to doubts; Based on that, Imam Ali killed some apostates by burning them in a harsh and strict manner and contrary to the Prophet’s order. Research proves this point; that such a report from Imam Ali (a.s.) is unreliable.