Types of Disbelief
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Question: Does disbelief have types and degrees, some greater than others, or is it a single degree? And if it has degrees, which one does insulting the religion, or the Lord, or the Messenger fall under, may Allah protect us from that?
Answer: Yes, disbelief—may Allah protect us from it—has degrees, some more severe than others. Some of it is disbelief that takes one out of the religion, and some is less than that, minor disbelief. Insulting the religion, or insulting Allah, or His Messenger, this is major disbelief that takes one out of the religion—may Allah protect us from it.
As for minor disbelief, it is like the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 64a
،And his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 65 , so this is minor disbelief that does not take one out of the religion. Killing the soul is a great crime, a major sin, and a great prohibition, but it does not reach the degree of disbelief that takes one out of the religion.
Answer: Yes, disbelief—may Allah protect us from it—has degrees, some more severe than others. Some of it is disbelief that takes one out of the religion, and some is less than that, minor disbelief. Insulting the religion, or insulting Allah, or His Messenger, this is major disbelief that takes one out of the religion—may Allah protect us from it.
As for minor disbelief, it is like the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):