Surah 2

Surah 2:217

"They ask you about the sacred month – (about) fighting during it. Say: ‘Fighting during it is a serious (matter), but keeping (people) from the way of God – and disbelief in Him – and the Sacred Mosque, and expelling its people from it, (are even) more serious in the sight of God. Persecution is more serious than killing.’ They will not stop fighting you until they turn you back from your religion, if they can. Whoever of you turns away from his religion and dies while he is a disbeliever, those – their deeds have come to nothing in this world and the Hereafter. Those are the companions of the Fire. There they will remain."
Christian Footnotes (1)Islamic Commentaries (1)Manuscripts (74)

2.217 – Persecution is more serious than killing

This expression, which also appears at verse 191, is further explained in this verse. Here “persecution” (fitna) seems to include turning people away from the way of Allah, disbelieving in Allah and the “sacred mosque,” and expelling people from the mosque. Muslim commentators often explained fitna in such verses as shirk – that is, “associating” anything or anyone with Allah.

2.217 – Whoever of you turns away from his religion and dies while he is a disbeliever

What is the consequence for Muslims who turn away from Islam? This verse seems to say that they go to hell when they die. A further question is whether the Quran prescribes punishment in this world for whoever turns away from Islam. See a list of other verses related to the topic of apostasy at 16.106.

- from The Quran with Christian Commentary: A Guide to Understanding the Scripture of Islam

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