(1) باب الْحُكْمِ فِيمَنِ ارْتَدَّ
`Abd Allah (b. Mas`ud) reported the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) as saying:
The blood of a Muslim man who testifies that there is no god but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah should not be lawfully shed but only for one of three reasons: married fornicator, soul for soul, and one who deserts his religion separating himself from the community. (ID)
Reference (ID): Sunan Abi Dawud 4352 (ID)
In-book reference (ID): Book 40, Hadith 2 (ID)
English translation (ID): Book 39, Hadith 4338 (ID)