We list below the Quranic verses related to apostasy so you can make your own decision on the Quran's position on the subject. We underline key words to help you focus better.

As a background, here are two basic rules.

Muslims as a rule must make decisions based on the Quran,

"And we sent down the Book to thee for the express purpose, that thou should make clear to them those things in which they differ, that it should be a guide and a mercy to those who believe." (Quran 16:64)

"Those who listen to the Word and follow the best meaning in it, those are the ones whom God has guided, and those are the ones endowed with understanding." (Quran 39:18)

So why not check with the Quran?

... more than one chance, or kill at first sight?

• Believe in that which has been revealed unto the believers, at the opening of the day and disbelieve at the end thereof in order that they may return (Quran 3:72)

• Those who believe, then disbelieve, and then (again) believe, then disbelieve, and then increase in disbelief, God will never pardon them, nor will He guide them to the (right) way (Quran 4:137)

• If thy Lord had willed (enforced His will), all who are in the earth would have believed together; would thou compel men until they are believers? (Quran 10:100)

…respecting the apostates as human too?

• Obey God and obey the Messenger and beware! But if you turn away, then know that the duty of Our Messenger is only plain conveyance (of the message) (Quran 5:99)

• O ye who believe! Whoso of you becomes a renegade from his religion, (know that in his stead) God will bring a people whom He loves and who loves Him, humble towards believers, stern towards disbelievers, striving in the way of God and fearing not the blame of any blamer. Such is the grace of God, which He gives unto whom He will. God is All-embracing, All-Knowing (Quran 5:54)

• Unto you your religion and unto me my religion (Quran 109:6)

... freedom of choice?

• There is no compulsion in religion. Surely the right direction is henceforth distinct from error. And he who rejects false deities and believes in God has grasped a firm handle hold which will never break. And God is Hearer, Knower. (Quran 2:256)

• O you who believe! You have charge of your own souls. He who goes astray cannot injure you if you are rightly guided (Quran 5:105)

• Say: (It is) the truth from your Lord. Then whosoever will, let him believe and whosoever will, let him disbelieve. Verily We have prepared for the wrongdoers fire whose (flaming) canopy shall enclose them (Quran 18:29)

... a decree to take the life of an apostate?

• Whoso disbelieves in God after he has believed - save him who is forced thereto and whose heart is still content with faith - but such as open their breasts to disbelief: on them is wrath from God. Theirs will be an awful doom (Quran 16:106)

• And among mankind is he who worships God on a narrow Marge. Then if good befalls him, he is content therewith, but if a trial befalls him, he returns to his (former) way. He loses both this world and the Hereafter. That a manifest loss (Quran 22:11)

• O Prophet! Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be stern with them. Their resort is hell, a hapless journey's end (Quran 66:9)

… on what ground can you take another person's life?

• Whosoever kills a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind (Quran 5:32)

• And end not the life that God has made sacred, save in the course of justice (Quran 6:151)

But wait a minute…. Who are those who reject religion as the Quran sees it?

• Have you seen someone who rejects religion? That is someone who ushes the orphan aside and does not promote the feeding of the needy. It will be too bad of the prayerful who are absent-minded as they pray, who aimed to be noticed, while they hold back contribution. (Quran 107 : 1-7)

So what do you think?