Following a Scholar in Declaring Another Person a Disbeliever
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The questioner:
If you are following one of the scholars in matters of religion, is it obligatory for you to follow him if he declares a person a disbeliever after the proof has been established against him? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh:
There is a distinction regarding taqlid (following a scholar without knowing his evidence). As for the scholar who is capable of knowing the rulings, it is not permissible for him to follow others; rather, he must research until he knows the Islamic ruling, because he has the ability to do so. It is not permissible for him to follow others, except, as the scholars said, if time is short for him and he is unable to perform ijtihad (independent legal reasoning); in that case, he follows others temporarily. As for the layperson and the beginner, he follows one in whom he trusts regarding his knowledge and his religion. Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nahl 16:43] So he should ask one in whom he trusts regarding his knowledge and his religion, and he should act according to his statement until he learns and knows the Islamic rulings and becomes self-sufficient. Yes.
The questioner:
The questioner says: I am a young man with many worries and sorrows, and I often commit [sins].
The Shaykh:
As for following one who declares Muslims to be disbelievers, this is not permissible. This is an error. It is not permissible to follow a scholar if he errs. This is misguidance and an error. It is not permissible to follow a scholar who adopts this path and declares Muslims to be disbelievers.
If you are following one of the scholars in matters of religion, is it obligatory for you to follow him if he declares a person a disbeliever after the proof has been established against him? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh:
There is a distinction regarding taqlid (following a scholar without knowing his evidence). As for the scholar who is capable of knowing the rulings, it is not permissible for him to follow others; rather, he must research until he knows the Islamic ruling, because he has the ability to do so. It is not permissible for him to follow others, except, as the scholars said, if time is short for him and he is unable to perform ijtihad (independent legal reasoning); in that case, he follows others temporarily. As for the layperson and the beginner, he follows one in whom he trusts regarding his knowledge and his religion. Allah the Exalted said:
So ask the people of the message if you do not know.
فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَThe questioner:
The questioner says: I am a young man with many worries and sorrows, and I often commit [sins].
The Shaykh:
As for following one who declares Muslims to be disbelievers, this is not permissible. This is an error. It is not permissible to follow a scholar if he errs. This is misguidance and an error. It is not permissible to follow a scholar who adopts this path and declares Muslims to be disbelievers.
Source
التحذير من الغلو في التكفير — islamhouse.com (1:07:05)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.