Who is a Murtad. (An Apostate) .                                               

 The word Murtad is derived from IRTIDAAD, 'to turn back'. One who gives up Islam willfully for another Faith or becomes a Mulhad (an atheist) (By Marriage or for any other reason) is classified as a Murtad (apostate, renegade, and traitor). (This law does not apply to one who has been compelled by force to change his Faith.)

Islam does not permit force to bring any one into its religion. The Holy Quran declares: "Let there be no compulsion in religion" (Surah Baqarah, Verse 256). Islam places no restrictions on any one's Faith. "And say: '(This) is the Truth from your Lord; so let him who wishes believe and let him who wishes disbelieve . . .'" (Surah Al-Kahf, Verse 29). But any Muslim who leaves his Faith willfully is regarded as a traitor. He shall be declared a Murtad, a renegade. He is not to be trusted by the Community.

 (A Kaafir is a non-Believer, one who does not believe in the Divine Laws of Islam.)

(A Mushrik is a pagan, or one who joins partners with Allah / worships other than Allah.)

(A Mulhad is an atheist, or one who belief that Almighty Allah does not exist.)

 Upon hearing of a Muslim having become a Murtad, the Learned (Imam / Sheikh) and family members are expected to call on him / her at least once every day for three days, (or on three separate occasions) in order to coerce and induce him / her back into the fold. Beautifull speech with wisdom (as ordained by Almighty Allah) should be used. Should this person agree to return, he / she will have to follow the same procedure as would apply to a convert to the Faith; that is firstly reject Kufr (disbelief) and then pronounce his Shahadat (Testimony) in the presence of witnesses. A Murtad must also repay the obligatory duties (Fara-id) he had missed. (Salah - Zakaah -Siyam) - Once he / she returns to Islam, and Muslims must no longer shun him. The attitude Islam adopts towards a Murtad is that if he dies or is killed, Muslims are not allowed to bath or bury him in their cemetery or to offer prayers for him. This is declared in the Holy Quran in Surah Taubah, Verse 84: "Nor do thou ever pray for any of them that dies nor stand at his grave: for they rejected Allah and his Apostle, and died in a state of perverse rebellion. " Therefore, a Muslim should not fraternise or befriend a Murtad. (You are allowed to befriend people of other Faiths, but not those who are Murtad.) (One should isolate oneself from family members who have apostated)

Even marriage ties are affected. A wife or a husband of a Murtad or of a Mulhad does not require other grounds for annulling Marriage. A Murtad, having committed Kuf'r, cannot inherit from a Muslim nor a Muslim from him. A directive of the Holy Prophet says, "The Kaafir does not inherit a Muslim's wealth nor a Muslim a Kaafir's." For committing the act of KUFR, one should make TAUBAH— repent sincerely—for three days—earnestly begging Allah for His forgiveness, beseeching Him for His mercy, for He is Oft-forgiving, Most Mercifull  --  (This is hardly a "punishment" befitting the grievous offence. It is rather an opportunity for those who go astray to invoke His clemency.) -- A Kaafir, a Murtad or a Mulhad is permitted back into the fold of Islam, provided he PUBLICLY rejects Kufr beliefs, declares his Kalimah Shahada and makes sincere Taubah.