Should You Maintain a Relationship with an Apostate Who Left Islam?

Islamic Guidance on Maintaining Ties with an Apostate: Should You Cut Off or Stay in Touch?

Question: My husband’s niece, who lives in Australia, has left Islam and married a Hindu boy. She also has a daughter. Her mother is a very religious woman. When she asked someone about this issue, she was told not to completely cut off ties with her daughter but to stay in touch, hoping she might return to Islam. Now, this girl is coming to Pakistan with her mother. I want to know if we should meet her and maintain a relationship with her or completely cut off ties?

Answer: The punishment for apostasy in Islam is death, but unfortunately, we do not have Sharia law in our countries. If Islamic law were in place, there would be no need to ask about maintaining a relationship with an apostate. However, it is not permissible to befriend a disbeliever, but there is no harm in having dealings and maintaining a worldly relationship with disbelievers. You can maintain a relationship with this apostate to the extent that you can convey the truth to her, clear her misunderstandings, and encourage her to return to Islam. However, friendship is not allowed because she has chosen disbelief and lost the love of Muslims.

Answered by: Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi (May Allah preserve him)

Jeddah Dawah Center, Hayy Al-Salamah, Saudi Arabia