What is the ruling on declaring a specific person a disbeliever?
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The questioner : We read in some books, and I think it is by one of the grandsons ofThe Shaykh : Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab, regarding the ruling on declaring a specific person a disbeliever. In truth, I did not understand anything from it, because he cites statements and comments on them, then contradicts some of them with others. So I would like you to explain this answer, or the answer to this question, to me: the ruling on declaring a specific person a disbeliever?
Another questioner : Do you mean the one who is helped, or the one who is specified?
The Shaykh : No, no, the specified one, meaning the specific person, is that not so?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Before answering this question directly, we remind you of what was mentioned earlier, namely that disbelief is of two types: doctrinal disbelief and practical disbelief. And I think the question relates to declaring someone a disbeliever, specifically regarding doctrinal disbelief, is that not so?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : All right, in that case, we say that declaring someone a disbeliever is permissible at times and not permissible at other times. It is permissible here when the proof mentioned at the beginning of the session is established. If the proof is established against the man who has fallen into doctrinal disbelief and he persists in it, then not only is it permissible to declare him a disbeliever, but it is obligatory to do so. However, if the proof is not established, it is not permissible to rush to declare him a disbeliever, because he may have an excuse. The hardest thing is for a Muslim to declare his Muslim brother a disbeliever. This is the answer to the question.
The questioner : Yes, may Allah reward you with good.
Another questioner : Do you mean the one who is helped, or the one who is specified?
The Shaykh : No, no, the specified one, meaning the specific person, is that not so?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Before answering this question directly, we remind you of what was mentioned earlier, namely that disbelief is of two types: doctrinal disbelief and practical disbelief. And I think the question relates to declaring someone a disbeliever, specifically regarding doctrinal disbelief, is that not so?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : All right, in that case, we say that declaring someone a disbeliever is permissible at times and not permissible at other times. It is permissible here when the proof mentioned at the beginning of the session is established. If the proof is established against the man who has fallen into doctrinal disbelief and he persists in it, then not only is it permissible to declare him a disbeliever, but it is obligatory to do so. However, if the proof is not established, it is not permissible to rush to declare him a disbeliever, because he may have an excuse. The hardest thing is for a Muslim to declare his Muslim brother a disbeliever. This is the answer to the question.
The questioner : Yes, may Allah reward you with good.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.