LEGACY OF APOSTATES

Fiqh al-Ikhtilāf Perspective on Ḥanafī and Syāfi‘ī Opinions

Abstract

According to classical Islamic scholars, apostasy means aggression against the state and society because religion and state are unity. Therefore, properties belonging to apostates were taken over by Baitulmal, so they could not be inherited. Despite its meaning, nation-states that separated state and religion gave rise to individual apostasy without aggression. In this phenomenon, is the apostate's property inherited by his Muslim family? Referred to the Ḥanafī school of thought, property obtained before apostasy may be inherited, not after apostasy. But on the other side, the al-Syāfi'ī school of thought stated that Muslims can’t inherit an apostate's property. Related to this phenomenon, examining the opinions of these two schools of thought and their method of ijtihad was important. It found that both schools of thought used the bayānī approach. From the Fiqh al-Ikhtilaf perspective, the difference of opinions was diverse, not contradictory because Hanafi's opinion applied in siyasa.