An Islamic cleric and the National Chairman of the Council of Ulama, Dr. Ibrahim Jalingo, has publicly endorsed the death penalty for individuals who renounce their religion, defending a controversial Hadith.
In a strong statement shared on his official Facebook page, Dr. Jalingo supported the Hadith that prescribes the death penalty for apostates and criticized critics of the Hadith, calling them "ignorant."
A Hadith, which refers to reports of the sayings, actions, or approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), is considered a primary source of guidance in Islam after the Qur'an.
Jalingo’s statement came in response to those questioning the authenticity of the Hadith, accusing it of contradicting the Qur'an. He used his post to dismiss these claims and defend the Hadith, stating: “Today, I came across the first Hadith among the supposed ‘100 Hadiths’ which the fabricators claim contradict the Qur’an. They assert that Muslims who believe in both the divine revelation of the Hadith and the Qur’an cannot respond to them! The Hadith in question is: ‘Whoever changes his religion, kill him.’"
The cleric took the opportunity to present a theological rebuttal, asserting the divine origin of both the Qur'an and the Hadith. He stated, “It should be made clear to everyone that the Prophet (peace be upon him) never said: ‘The role of Hadith is to interpret the Qur’an.’ However, the Prophet said: ‘Indeed, I was given the Qur’an and something like it alongside it.’”
Jalingo further defended the Hadith by referencing Qur'anic verses, including Surah At-Tawbah, verse 5, which he said supports the Hadith: “Then, when the sacred months have passed, kill the polytheists wherever you find them.” He also cited Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 193, and Surah An-Nisa’ verses 89 and 91 to justify his position.
The cleric also claimed that the well-known verse “There is no compulsion in religion” (La ikrah fi ad-deen) had been abrogated by these verses and Hadith, stating: “No one would claim that the Hadith which says ‘Whoever changes his religion, kill him’ contradicts the Qur’an—because the Qur’an itself goes even further.”
Jalingo’s comments, particularly his endorsement of apostate executions, have sparked fierce debates. While some supporters praised his position as an upholding of Islamic values, others, including human rights advocates, condemned the remarks as dangerous and inflammatory. The post has since gone viral, garnering significant attention on social media.
