What is your opinion regarding the prevalence among the youth of declaring specific individuals disbelievers? We request clarification of this issue with evidence.
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The questioner : May the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : What is your opinion regarding the prevalence among the youth of declaring specific individuals disbelievers? We request clarification of this issue with evidence.
The Shaykh : This is also one of the grave matters in these days, unfortunately, which is the haste in applying the term of disbelief to a Muslim, either because of his deviation in understanding some correct Islamic ideas or beliefs, or because of his neglect in performing some of the pillars or obligatory duties. Today, there is a group of Muslims known as "the Takfir and Hijrah Group". In the past, they had an idea that was later clarified to them, namely that the idea of hijrah (emigration) is not applicable at all. Therefore, they settled for remaining with the first part of their previous slogan, which is declaring Muslims disbelievers. Not declaring a specific individual disbeliever as mentioned in the question, but declaring disbelievers—we say: in some countries by the load, meaning collectively.
This is because, unfortunately, we find that Islamic countries are governed by laws, most of which are not Sharia-compliant, and it is true of them that they are ruling by other than what Allah has revealed. Accordingly, these people who are called the Takfir Group declared the rulers who enforce laws in Islamic countries like India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt—where Egypt was once ruled and colonized by some disbelieving European countries—to be disbelievers. They imposed their laws, which contradict Islamic Sharia, on those countries by force. Then the colonizer left, but left behind its laws, ideas, and customs, and so on. And, unfortunately, many of these countries have not changed anything but a very small amount of those laws, especially those rulings related to what is called today "personal status". This group—meaning the Takfir Group—observes that since the ruling is by laws, then these rulers are disbelievers. They cite the well-known verse, namely the saying of the Exalted:[Al-Ma'idah 5:44], and in the second verse: , and in the third: . However, this verse, as in the tafsir of Ibn Jarir al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir al-Dimashqi, has a meaning different from the meaning to which these people who have exaggerated in declaring Muslims disbelievers adhere, as will be explained. Ibn Jarir says: "The meaning of the verse is that it refers to the Jews and those who share their belief in ruling by other than what Allah has revealed". That is, whoever does not rule by what Allah has revealed is either doing so out of the belief that ruling by other than what Allah has revealed is correct, and that ruling by what Allah has revealed is not suitable for this time; that is disbelief itself. This is the truth. But if the ruler rules by other than the Sharia of Islam in many or most of his rulings, while believing in his heart that he is wrong in what he does, but his desire has overcome him, just as desire overcomes those who, for example, deal in riba (usury or interest), deal in deception, steal, plunder, commit zina (unlawful sexual intercourse), and drink khamr (intoxicants), all of these are undoubtedly sinners. But these sinners, starting from the one who rules by other than what Allah has revealed to the one who smokes and drinks alcohol, have two states, one of two states:
Either they consider these forbidden things permissible in their hearts and say, as they say in our region of Sham: "No halal, no haram, there is no longer any halal or haram." This is disbelief itself, because he believes that the Sharia does not have to be followed.
But if he says, as some sinners say, remembering his sin, his open sinfulness, and his lewdness, he tells you: "Allah is Forgiving and Merciful, Allah will accept our repentance." This means that he acknowledges his sin and admits that he deserves to be punished, but Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. This is not like that type of disbelievers who do not acknowledge the Sharia of Islam.
There is no difference between one sin and another, and the most serious is ruling by other than what Allah has revealed. If the one who rules by other than what Allah has revealed believes that the Sharia is no longer suitable, then he is an apostate from his religion. But if he believes in the depths of his heart—and Allah knows that truly, and he may say so to some of the people around him—then in that case, he is a disbeliever with practical disbelief.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : What is your opinion regarding the prevalence among the youth of declaring specific individuals disbelievers? We request clarification of this issue with evidence.
The Shaykh : This is also one of the grave matters in these days, unfortunately, which is the haste in applying the term of disbelief to a Muslim, either because of his deviation in understanding some correct Islamic ideas or beliefs, or because of his neglect in performing some of the pillars or obligatory duties. Today, there is a group of Muslims known as "the Takfir and Hijrah Group". In the past, they had an idea that was later clarified to them, namely that the idea of hijrah (emigration) is not applicable at all. Therefore, they settled for remaining with the first part of their previous slogan, which is declaring Muslims disbelievers. Not declaring a specific individual disbeliever as mentioned in the question, but declaring disbelievers—we say: in some countries by the load, meaning collectively.
This is because, unfortunately, we find that Islamic countries are governed by laws, most of which are not Sharia-compliant, and it is true of them that they are ruling by other than what Allah has revealed. Accordingly, these people who are called the Takfir Group declared the rulers who enforce laws in Islamic countries like India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt—where Egypt was once ruled and colonized by some disbelieving European countries—to be disbelievers. They imposed their laws, which contradict Islamic Sharia, on those countries by force. Then the colonizer left, but left behind its laws, ideas, and customs, and so on. And, unfortunately, many of these countries have not changed anything but a very small amount of those laws, especially those rulings related to what is called today "personal status". This group—meaning the Takfir Group—observes that since the ruling is by laws, then these rulers are disbelievers. They cite the well-known verse, namely the saying of the Exalted:
And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the disbelievers.
ومن لم يحكم بما أنزل الله فأولئك هم الكافرونThen those are the wrongdoers
فأولئك هم الظالمونThen those are the open sinners
فأولئك هم الفاسقونEither they consider these forbidden things permissible in their hearts and say, as they say in our region of Sham: "No halal, no haram, there is no longer any halal or haram." This is disbelief itself, because he believes that the Sharia does not have to be followed.
But if he says, as some sinners say, remembering his sin, his open sinfulness, and his lewdness, he tells you: "Allah is Forgiving and Merciful, Allah will accept our repentance." This means that he acknowledges his sin and admits that he deserves to be punished, but Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. This is not like that type of disbelievers who do not acknowledge the Sharia of Islam.
There is no difference between one sin and another, and the most serious is ruling by other than what Allah has revealed. If the one who rules by other than what Allah has revealed believes that the Sharia is no longer suitable, then he is an apostate from his religion. But if he believes in the depths of his heart—and Allah knows that truly, and he may say so to some of the people around him—then in that case, he is a disbeliever with practical disbelief.