The ruling on one who performs the obligatory acts while doubting the validity of Islam
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Question:
Another questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, he sent this question and says: I want an answer. Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. To proceed: Is the Islam or faith of one who prays and fasts while doubting the validity of Islam valid? He does so for many reasons, and only performs the obligatory acts, and his inner state says: If the message of Islam is true, then here I have performed some of what is required of me; and if it is not true, and there is no religion and no reckoning, then I have lost nothing.
Answer:
In reality, this person is either a fool who has no mind, or he is misguided, may Allah protect us from that. If he is a fool, he is not held accountable for this. Likewise, if he is afflicted with obsessive thoughts from Shaytan, he should reject this and abandon these obsessions and doubts, and not speak about them. However, if he has hesitation and doubt regarding the truth of the message and the truth of Islam, then he is an atheist, may Allah protect us from that, and it does not benefit him that he prays while in doubt. Allah the Exalted said regarding the hypocrites:[At-Tawbah 9:45] This is the state of the hypocrites, even if they display and continue with righteous deeds, but they have doubt and uncertainty in their hearts, so their deeds are rejected, and they are [An-Nisa 4:145-146], [An-Nisa 4:146]. Yes.
Another questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, he sent this question and says: I want an answer. Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. To proceed: Is the Islam or faith of one who prays and fasts while doubting the validity of Islam valid? He does so for many reasons, and only performs the obligatory acts, and his inner state says: If the message of Islam is true, then here I have performed some of what is required of me; and if it is not true, and there is no religion and no reckoning, then I have lost nothing.
Answer:
In reality, this person is either a fool who has no mind, or he is misguided, may Allah protect us from that. If he is a fool, he is not held accountable for this. Likewise, if he is afflicted with obsessive thoughts from Shaytan, he should reject this and abandon these obsessions and doubts, and not speak about them. However, if he has hesitation and doubt regarding the truth of the message and the truth of Islam, then he is an atheist, may Allah protect us from that, and it does not benefit him that he prays while in doubt. Allah the Exalted said regarding the hypocrites:
and whose hearts have doubted, and they, in their doubt, are hesitating.
وَارْتَابَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِي رَيْبِهِمْ يَتَرَدَّدُونَin the lowest depths of the Fire - and never will you find for them a helper - (146) Except for those who repent, correct themselves, hold fast to Allah, and are sincere in their religion for Allah
فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ نَصِيرًا إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَأَصْلَحُوا وَاعْتَصَمُوا بِاللَّهِ وَأَخْلَصُوا دِينَهُمْ لِلَّهِfor those will be with the believers. And Allah is going to give the believers a great reward.
فَأُولَٰئِكَ مَعَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَسَوْفَ يُؤْتِ اللَّهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، 7632- حكم من يؤدي الفرائض وهو متشكك في صحة الإسلام - الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.