Islamic Cleric Okays Death Fine for whoever changes religion

Abuja, Nigeria —  Dr. Ibrahim Jalingo, National Chairman of the Council of Ulama, has stirred controversy by reaffirming support for the death penalty for Muslims who renounce their faith, drawing on Islamic traditions to justify his stance.

In a lengthy statement posted on his verified Facebook page Thursday, Jalingo mounted a vigorous defense of a Hadith that prescribes execution for apostates, slamming critics who argue that it contradicts the Qur’an. He dismissed such dissenters as lacking basic theological understanding.

Reacting to an individual named Issiyaku Abdulkadir, who reportedly cited the Hadith—“Whoever changes his religion, kill him”—as one of 100 contradictory texts, Jalingo fired back with what he described as a “theological correction,” branding such arguments as “compound ignorance.”

“This is the first Hadith in a list fabricated by ignorant critics who claim it contradicts the Qur’an,” Jalingo wrote. “Their shallow knowledge gives me an opportunity to expose the depth of their misunderstanding.”

He went further to equate the Hadith literature with divine revelation, stating that both the Qur’an and Hadith were revealed by Allah. According to him, while the Qur’an offers broad guidance, Hadiths often serve to elaborate on divine rulings.

“The Prophet (peace be upon him) clearly stated: ‘I was given the Qur’an and something like it alongside it.’ This shows that Hadith is just as divinely sourced,” he claimed.

Backing his view with verses from Surahs At-Tawbah, Al-Baqarah, and An-Nisa, Jalingo argued that Qur’anic directives also support capital punishment in certain religious contexts. He asserted that the oft-quoted verse—“There is no compulsion in religion”—has been abrogated and no longer holds legal weight in such matters.

“It is a serious error to claim this Hadith contradicts the Qur’an,” he wrote. “The Qur’anic verses themselves go further by calling for the elimination of polytheism in some cases.”

Jalingo also launched a blistering attack on his critics, describing them in derogatory terms, and accusing them of attempting to mislead the faithful.

The post has ignited a firestorm on social media, with polarized reactions. While a segment of conservative Muslims hailed Jalingo for standing firm in his interpretation of Islamic law, others—including fellow Muslims—condemned the remarks as inflammatory, dangerous, and a misrepresentation of Islam’s message of compassion and tolerance.

By Enoch  Odesola | April 11, 2025