I'm curious. In christianity, faith in the face persecution is strongly encouraged even dying for the faith. For to christians even if you kill the body that doesn't mean you kill the soul. And all who are properly baptized in the faith, are members of the body of Christ who rose from the dead. That's what christians believe and trust in. So for christians to apostize we risk our spiritual destruction even if we physically live.
I read on a website that apostacy in Islam is a death sentence. Is it a physical death or spiritual one? Is that in the Koran or is it a matter of state? If so why?

Peace be with you