(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. (PT)
Reference (PT): Sunan Abi Dawud 4352 (PT)
In-book reference (PT): Book 40, Hadith 2 (PT)
English translation (PT): Book 39, Hadith 4338 (PT)