The Criterion for the Permissibility That Necessitates Disbelief
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Honorable Shaykh! What is the criterion for the permissibility (istihlal) by which a servant becomes a disbeliever?
Permissibility (Istihlal): It is that he believes lawful what Allah has forbidden.
As for practical permissibility, one looks: If this permissibility is of the kind that necessitates disbelief, then he is a disbeliever and an apostate. For example, if a person deals in riba (usury or interest) but does not believe it is lawful, yet he persists in it, he does not become a disbeliever; because he does not consider it permissible.But if he says: If he says that riba is lawful, meaning the riba that Allah has forbidden, then he becomes a disbeliever; because he is denying Allah and His Messenger.
Therefore, permissibility (istihlal): There is practical permissibility and doctrinal permissibility in his heart.
So, practical permissibility: One looks at the act itself: does it necessitate disbelief or not? It is well known that consuming riba does not make a person a disbeliever, but it is among the major sins. However, if one prostrates to an idol, that necessitates disbelief. Why? Because the act itself necessitates disbelief.This is the criterion, but there must be another condition, which is: That this person who considers it permissible is not excused by his ignorance. If he is excused by his ignorance, he does not become a disbeliever. For example, if a person is a new Muslim who does not know that intoxicants are forbidden, then even if he considers them permissible, he does not become a disbeliever until he learns that they are forbidden. If he persists after being taught, he becomes a disbeliever.
Permissibility (Istihlal): It is that he believes lawful what Allah has forbidden.
As for practical permissibility, one looks: If this permissibility is of the kind that necessitates disbelief, then he is a disbeliever and an apostate. For example, if a person deals in riba (usury or interest) but does not believe it is lawful, yet he persists in it, he does not become a disbeliever; because he does not consider it permissible.But if he says: If he says that riba is lawful, meaning the riba that Allah has forbidden, then he becomes a disbeliever; because he is denying Allah and His Messenger.
Therefore, permissibility (istihlal): There is practical permissibility and doctrinal permissibility in his heart.
So, practical permissibility: One looks at the act itself: does it necessitate disbelief or not? It is well known that consuming riba does not make a person a disbeliever, but it is among the major sins. However, if one prostrates to an idol, that necessitates disbelief. Why? Because the act itself necessitates disbelief.This is the criterion, but there must be another condition, which is: That this person who considers it permissible is not excused by his ignorance. If he is excused by his ignorance, he does not become a disbeliever. For example, if a person is a new Muslim who does not know that intoxicants are forbidden, then even if he considers them permissible, he does not become a disbeliever until he learns that they are forbidden. If he persists after being taught, he becomes a disbeliever.