What is apostasy (riddah), and into how many categories is it classified?  

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Apostasy is what takes one out of Islam. It is classified into three categories: ·    The verbal apostasy: such as to swear at Allah, even in a state of anger or joking.·    The action-based apostasy: such as to knowingly toss the Qur’an in the trash, or to knowingly tread on the Qur’an.·    The belief-based apostasy: such as to believe that Allah is a body, or a spirit, or that He sits on the Throne, or that He dwells in Heaven, or that His Self occupies a particular place or all places.  In Suratut-Tawbah, Ayah 74 means, “But indeed they uttered the word of blasphemy, and committed blasphemy after having been Muslim.” Also, Ayah 37 in Surat Fussilat means, “Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon.” The Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said in a hadith related by Muslim and al-Bukhariyy, “The slave may utter a word which he thinks harmless, that results in his falling into Hellfire a distance further than what is between east and west.” This is the depth that only non-believers will fall to.