Islamic Cleric Dr. Ibrahim Jalingo Backs Death Penalty for Muslims Who Leave Their Religion, Calls Critics Ignorant in Viral Facebook Post
In a controversial social media post that has triggered widespread reactions, prominent Islamic cleric and National Chairman of the Council of Ulama, Dr. Ibrahim Jalingo, openly backed the death penalty for Muslims who renounce their faith.
Posting on his official Facebook page Thursday, Jalingo staunchly defended a Hadith which prescribes capital punishment for apostates, dismissing critics as victims of what he termed “compound ignorance.”
The statement was issued in response to growing scrutiny over the authenticity of certain Hadiths. Critics argue some sayings contradict the Qur’an a claim Jalingo fiercely rejected. He accused detractors of spreading falsehoods and undermining the foundations of Islamic theology.
“The Hadith in question is: ‘Whoever changes his religion, kill him.’ Those who claim it contradicts the Qur’an are either ignorant or deliberately misleading the public,” Jalingo wrote. He identified one critic as Issiyaku Abdulkadir, whom he accused of promoting a list of “100 Hadiths” that allegedly conflict with the Qur’an.
Jalingo maintained that Hadiths, like the Qur’an, are divine revelations and elaborated that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was given both. He cited multiple verses from the Qur’an including Surah At-Tawbah, Surah Al-Baqarah, and Surah An-Nisa’ to argue that the call to punish apostates is in harmony with the holy text.
He also asserted that the oft-quoted verse promoting religious freedom “There is no compulsion in religion” has been abrogated by later revelations and should no longer be used as a counterargument.
Jalingo’s post, laced with strong language and personal attacks, quickly went viral. While some hardline followers applauded his boldness in defending Islamic doctrine, many others including Muslims condemned his remarks as inflammatory and dangerous, warning that such interpretations could fuel extremism and violence.
The statement has ignited fierce debate among Islamic scholars, human rights advocates, and social media users, renewing discussions around religious freedom, interpretation of scripture, and the limits of theological authority.
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