In a move that has ignited widespread debate across religious and human rights circles, prominent Islamic cleric and National Chairman of the Council of Ulama, Dr. Ibrahim Jalingo, has publicly defended the death penalty for individuals who renounce Islam.
The cleric’s position was shared on his official Facebook page on Thursday, where he provided a theological defence of a Hadith that prescribes execution for apostates.
His remarks have since gone viral, attracting both praise and condemnation from across the Muslim world.
Jalingo Defends Controversial Hadith: “Whoever Changes His Religion, Kill Him”
Dr. Jalingo responded to growing online criticism that claimed the Hadith in question contradicts the Qur’an.
Refuting this, he stated that both the Qur’an and Hadith are divine revelations. He claimed that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was given “the Qur’an and something like it alongside it.”
He wrote:
“The Hadith you cited—‘Whoever changes his religion, kill him’—is authentic and does not contradict the Qur’anic revelation…”
Jalingo cited verses from Surah At-Tawbah, Surah Al-Baqarah, and Surah An-Nisa’ to support his claim that Islam sanctions the killing of apostates under specific circumstances.
Cleric Says Verse on Freedom of Religion Has Been Abrogated
In a particularly controversial argument, Jalingo claimed that the often-quoted verse, “There is no compulsion in religion” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:256), has been abrogated (naskh) by later verses and Hadiths.
“No one would claim that the Hadith contradicts the Qur’an—because the Qur’an itself goes even further,” he stated.
Critics Accused of “Compound Ignorance” and Moral Degeneracy
Jalingo did not mince words in attacking his critics. He labeled them as “fabricators” and “compound ignoramuses,” comparing their approach to “prostitutes and effeminate men.”
His response was directed specifically at individuals challenging Hadiths online, particularly one Issiyaku Abdulkadir.
Backlash and Support Follow Viral Facebook Post
The cleric’s post has triggered a wave of reactions on social media. While some conservative supporters praised him for standing firm on Islamic teachings, others—including Muslim scholars—have condemned the statement as inflammatory, dangerous, and contrary to contemporary Islamic thought.
Human rights groups and religious freedom advocates have also raised concerns about the implications of such teachings in a diverse and pluralistic society.
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