Apostasy Does Not Cancel an Expiation (Kaffara)

Question

Question: Zayd said: “I will memorize one page of the Qur’an during the night; otherwise all food, however many times and however much I eat, is haram for me.” Then Zayd gave up memorizing the Qur’an, and a few days later, thinking that perhaps no expiation (kaffara) can be made for the oath he had sworn, and supposing this, — Allah’s refuge is sought! — he became an apostate, and then after an hour he accepted Islam.

Answer

There is disagreement as to whether an expiation that became binding in the state of Islam is cancelled by apostasy (irtidad); according to the verifying scholars (muhaqqiqun) it is not cancelled. Hence, after renewing Islam, discharging the expiation is obligatory (lazim). [ar]ويقضي ما ترك من عبادة في الإسلام لأن ترك الصلاة والصيام معصية والمعصية تبقى بعد الردة.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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