3552 - وَ كَتَبَ غُلاَمٌ لِأَمِيرِ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ إِلَيْهِ إِنِّي قَدْ أَصَبْتُ قَوْماً مِنَ اَلْمُسْلِمِينَ زَنَادِقَةً وَ قَوْماً مِنَ اَلنَّصَارَى زَنَادِقَةً فَقَالَ "أَمَّا مَنْ كَانَ مِنَ اَلْمُسْلِمِينَ وُلِدَ عَلَى اَلْفِطْرَةِ ثُمَّ اِرْتَدَّ فَاضْرِبْ عُنُقَهُ وَ لاَ تَسْتَتِبْهُ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يُولَدْ مِنْهُمْ عَلَى اَلْفِطْرَةِ فَاسْتَتِبْهُ فَإِنْ تَابَ وَ إِلاَّ فَاضْرِبْ عُنُقَهُ وَ أَمَّا اَلنَّصَارَى فَمَا هُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَعْظَمُ مِنَ اَلزَّنْدَقَةِ".
Hadith.3552 - A servant wrote to Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib 
saying:
"I have come across a group of Muslims who are heretics (Zindiqs) and a group of Christians who are also heretics."
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib replied: "As for those who were born as Muslims, upon the natural disposition (Fitrah), and then apostatized-strike their necks (execute them) and do not offer them repentance.
But those who were not born upon the natural disposition (Fitrah), offer them repentance. If they repent, then leave them; but if they do not, then strike their necks (execute them).
And as for the Christians, what they are upon (their belief system) is even graver than heresy."
