In Christianity, the book of Hebrews 6:4-6 presents a severe spiritual warning about falling away from Christ—without prescribing any earthly punishment. In contrast, Islam treats apostasy (riddah) as both a theological and legal offense ...
By Dr. Tim Orr
The decision to leave one’s faith is never made lightly. For some, it is the result of deep intellectual struggles; for others, it stems from personal experiences of disillusionment. But what happens next depends entirely on the religious framework they are leaving behind. In Christianity, the book of Hebrews 6:4-6 presents a severe spiritual warning about falling away from Christ—without prescribing any earthly punishment. In contrast, Islam treats apostasy (riddah) as both a theological and legal offense, often warranting severe consequences, including death in some Islamic-majority nations. These two perspectives—one centered on divine judgment and spiritual loss, the other on earthly enforcement and communal identity—reveal a fundamental divide between Christianity and Islam in their understanding of faith, salvation, and human freedom. What does it mean to reject faith in these two traditions? And how does each one respond to apostasy? The answers reveal more than just doctrine; they expose how God, salvation, and religious commitment are understood.
Apostasy—the act of abandoning one’s faith—is a profound and often controversial topic in both Christianity and Islam. Religious communities have wrestled with how to respond when someone walks away from their beliefs for centuries. In Christianity, the book of Hebrews warns those who reject Christ after having known Him. The passage in Hebrews 6:4-6 warns that those who have "once been enlightened" and then fall away cannot be "restored again to repentance," for they are crucifying Christ all over again. The tone of this warning is sobering, underscoring the spiritual peril of apostasy.
Islam, by contrast, takes a very different approach. Apostasy (riddah) is not just a theological issue but a legal and communal crime in classical Islamic thought. The Hadith states, “Whoever changes his religion, kill him” (Sahih al-Bukhari 3017), a ruling that has shaped Islamic jurisprudence for centuries. Unlike Hebrews 6, which warns about eternal consequences but does not prescribe any legal penalty, Islam historically enforces earthly punishment for apostasy.
These two perspectives reflect profound theological differences. Christianity sees apostasy as a spiritual tragedy, a rejection of grace, while Islam often sees it as a betrayal of the religious and social order. This article explores these contrasting views, diving deep into how each tradition understands apostasy, repentance, and assurance of salvation.
The passage in Hebrews 6:4-6 reads:
"For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt" (ESV).
This passage presents a dilemma: can someone who once experienced the blessings of the Christian faith fall away permanently? Different theological traditions interpret this passage in diverse ways:
One crucial distinction between Hebrews 6 and Islam is that there is no coercion in Hebrews 6. The passage warns of the spiritual dangers of apostasy but does not call for any legal or social penalties. Apostasy is a matter between the individual and God, not a crime to be punished by human authorities.
In contrast, Islam has historically treated apostasy as a grave offense, both spiritually and legally. The Qur'an speaks of apostasy in several places:
"And whoever among you reverts from his religion [Islam] and dies while he is a disbeliever—for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and they will be the companions of the Fire, abiding eternally therein" (Surah 2:217, Qur’an).
While this passage describes eternal consequences, Islamic law goes further, prescribing earthly penalties as well. The Hadith is even more explicit:
"Whoever changes his religion, kill him" (Sahih al-Bukhari 3017).
These teachings shaped classical Islamic jurisprudence. In Sunni and Shi’a traditions, apostasy (riddah) is a capital crime. The reasoning behind this is twofold:
Even today, many Islamic-majority countries enforce apostasy laws. Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Pakistan have legal penalties ranging from imprisonment to execution (Marshall, Gilbert, & Shea, 2013). In places where apostasy is not legally punished, social pressure often serves as an enforcement mechanism—apostates are frequently disowned by family, shunned by society, or even attacked by extremist groups.
However, not all Muslims agree with these laws. Some modern scholars argue that Islamic teachings on apostasy should be reinterpreted. They point to verses like Surah 2:256, which states, "There is no compulsion in religion," as evidence that apostasy should not be punished by human authorities (Saeed, 2006). Nonetheless, traditional interpretations still dominate many Islamic societies, where religious freedom remains restricted.
Another key distinction between Hebrews 6 and Islam is how each faith understands repentance for apostasy.
This highlights a deeper theological difference:
One of the most profound contrasts between Christianity and Islam is the question of assurance.
"By Allah, though I am the Apostle of Allah, yet I do not know what Allah will do to me…" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6607).
This contrast between certainty and uncertainty reflects the deeper theological divide: Christianity is based on grace, while Islam is based on a system of works, obedience, and divine discretion.
The contrast between Hebrews 6 and Islam’s teachings on apostasy highlights a fundamental truth: faith must be voluntary. Christianity warns of apostasy’s spiritual danger but does not enforce religious belief through coercion. Islam, historically, has used legal and social means to keep believers from leaving the faith.
At its core, Christianity presents a God who calls people freely to Himself—offering grace, forgiveness, and assurance in Christ. Islam, by contrast, maintains an element of compulsion, where apostasy is often met with severe consequences.
This difference underscores why the Gospel is truly good news: it is not based on fear but on God’s unchanging promise of salvation.
Dr. Tim Orr works full-time at Crescent Project as the assistant director of the internship program and area coordinator and is very active in UK outreach. He is a scholar of Islam, Evangelical minister, conference speaker, and interfaith consultant with over 30 years of experience in cross-cultural ministry. He holds six degrees, including a master’s in Islamic studies from the Islamic College in London. He is a Congregations and Polarization Project research associate at the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at Indiana University Indianapolis. His research focuses on American Evangelicalism, Islamic antisemitism, and Islamic feminism. He has spoken at prestigious universities and mosques, including Oxford University, Imperial College London, and the University of Tehran. He has published widely, including articles in Islamic peer-reviewed journals, and has written four books.