37/14. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4065 — Idol Worship, Apostasy, and the Stated Ruling
The Ruling on Apostates
Hadith About Apostasy and Idol Worship
Sunan an-Nasai : 4065
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4065
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ عَلِيًّا، أُتِيَ بِنَاسٍ مِنَ الزُّطِّ يَعْبُدُونَ وَثَنًا فَأَحْرَقَهُمْ، قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ إِنَّمَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ بَدَّلَ دِينَهُ فَاقْتُلُوهُ " .
Anas Narrated from:
'Ali came to some people of Az-Zutt, who worshipped idols, and burned them. Ibn 'Abbas said: "But the Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'Whoever changes his religion, kill him.'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4065In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 100English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4070
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4065
This hadith about apostasy describes Ali encountering people from Az-Zutt who were worshipping an idol and burning them. Ibn Abbas responds by quoting the Messenger of Allah concerning the person who changes religion. Unlike Hadith 4060, this wording does not include Ibn Abbas's separate statement against punishment by fire, so that point should not be inserted as though it appears here. The narration links the reported return to idol worship with the Prophetic legal statement cited by Ibn Abbas. Its core themes are apostasy, idol worship, and the need to refer a serious judgment back to Prophetic teaching. According to Islamic scholars, penal rulings are handled by lawful courts and qualified authorities, not by private individuals.
What we learn from this hadith
- The report connects a return to idol worship with the cited apostasy ruling.
- Ibn Abbas bases his response on a Prophetic statement.
- This version should not be expanded with wording that it does not contain.
- Serious penalties belong to lawful judgment, not personal action.
