What are the types of disbelief? And when is the one who rules by other than what Allah has revealed a disbeliever?
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The questioner: ... regarding the general application to all actions and creed and everything, or is it specific to the legal ruling? ???
The Shaykh: No, it is specific to the legal ruling, it is specific to the creed, meaning the one who does not rule by what Allah has revealed while believing that not ruling by what Allah has revealed is the correct belief.
The questioner: Believing.
The Shaykh: Believing that ruling by other than what Allah has revealed is the correct belief, then he is the wrongdoer, he is the disbeliever, and he is the open sinner. As for the one who rules with a ruling that contradicts the Shari'ah, whether it is a customary ruling or not, he contradicts the Shari'ah but he believes that it is contrary to the Shari'ah and that the correct path is the Shari'ah, then he is not a disbeliever, but rather he is among the transgressors, like those who consume usury or interest, steal, and commit unlawful sexual intercourse, and so on. All of these contradict the Shari'ah. If this contradiction is accompanied by a contradiction of the heart, as they say in some countries, if you tell him, for example, "Pray," he says to you, "No prayer, no ritual purity. This was in a past time that has passed." This is disbelief because he believes in his heart the opposite of what our Lord, Blessed and Exalted is He, has legislated. If, for example, it is said to the one who takes usury or interest, "Why do you consume the forbidden?" and he says to you, "Allah will accept our repentance, we need to live," then he is not a disbeliever. But if he says, "No forbidden, no lawful," then he has committed disbelief. In brief, and this is a very long discussion, and may Allah gather us on another occasion. Disbelief is of two types: creedal disbelief and practical disbelief.
Creedal disbelief: It is that in which one believes the belief of the disbelievers, so he is an apostate.
And practical disbelief: It is that in which one does the deeds of the disbelievers but does not believe their belief.
The questioner: He believes himself to be negligent.
The Shaykh: Negligent and mistaken.
The Shaykh: And Glory be to You, O Allah, and with Your praise, we bear witness that there is no deity but You. I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You.
The Shaykh: No, it is specific to the legal ruling, it is specific to the creed, meaning the one who does not rule by what Allah has revealed while believing that not ruling by what Allah has revealed is the correct belief.
The questioner: Believing.
The Shaykh: Believing that ruling by other than what Allah has revealed is the correct belief, then he is the wrongdoer, he is the disbeliever, and he is the open sinner. As for the one who rules with a ruling that contradicts the Shari'ah, whether it is a customary ruling or not, he contradicts the Shari'ah but he believes that it is contrary to the Shari'ah and that the correct path is the Shari'ah, then he is not a disbeliever, but rather he is among the transgressors, like those who consume usury or interest, steal, and commit unlawful sexual intercourse, and so on. All of these contradict the Shari'ah. If this contradiction is accompanied by a contradiction of the heart, as they say in some countries, if you tell him, for example, "Pray," he says to you, "No prayer, no ritual purity. This was in a past time that has passed." This is disbelief because he believes in his heart the opposite of what our Lord, Blessed and Exalted is He, has legislated. If, for example, it is said to the one who takes usury or interest, "Why do you consume the forbidden?" and he says to you, "Allah will accept our repentance, we need to live," then he is not a disbeliever. But if he says, "No forbidden, no lawful," then he has committed disbelief. In brief, and this is a very long discussion, and may Allah gather us on another occasion. Disbelief is of two types: creedal disbelief and practical disbelief.
Creedal disbelief: It is that in which one believes the belief of the disbelievers, so he is an apostate.
And practical disbelief: It is that in which one does the deeds of the disbelievers but does not believe their belief.
The questioner: He believes himself to be negligent.
The Shaykh: Negligent and mistaken.
The Shaykh: And Glory be to You, O Allah, and with Your praise, we bear witness that there is no deity but You. I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.