What is the ruling on praying behind someone who has some forms of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and mocks the Sunnah?
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The questioner : In addition to the brother's question, meaning if the imam has a type of shirk, meaning he writes amulets or mocks the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)
The Shaykh : (peace and blessings be upon him)
The questioner : such as the beard and shortening the garments, and so on?
The Shaykh : My brother, the issue of the beard and the like, that is his sin upon his own back. But shirk, that is the serious matter. However, we, the people of the Sunnah, must know that not everyone who falls into shirk has shirk attributed to them. Not everyone who falls into shirk has shirk attributed to them, meaning that the ruling of the mushrikin (those who associate partners with Allah) applies to them. This is because shirk is divided into categories. Of these categories, two concern us now. The first category is shirk of the heart and shirk of the tongue. If a Muslim who prays and fasts commits shirk of the tongue, this shirk of the tongue may express shirk of the heart, or it may not. Therefore, it is not permissible to rule that this person who committed shirk of the tongue is a mushrik of the heart, except after asking him for details and clarification. If we assume that his shirk was of the first type, then he is a Muslim who has what we have and upon him is what is upon us. Perhaps you have heard the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to that man who heard a sermon from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and wanted to show his obedience to him, so he said to him: So this is shirk, but it is shirk of the tongue. He should have said "What Allah wills, then what you will" but he made a mistake and said "What Allah wills and what you will" thereby making him a partner by pairing him with his Lord. And of this nature is If the one you are saying is a mushrik has shirk of the tongue, then he is a Muslim. And if it is revealed that his shirk is shirk of the heart, then at that time, it is also not permissible to rush to declare him a disbeliever, as long as he testifies that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, except after the proof is established against him. If the proof is established against him and he persists in his shirk and misguidance, then at that time we cast him away, casting away like a pomegranate seed. But without this clarification, it is not permissible to declare a Muslim who testifies that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah a disbeliever, let alone if he prays the five prayers and leads the Muslims. It is necessary to note this distinction. Do you have anything else?
The questioner : And he writes amulets
The Shaykh : That is a mistake, my brother. This is a mistake. But we say that it is necessary to distinguish between practical disbelief and creedal disbelief, verbal disbelief and disbelief of the heart. This is forbidden and not permissible for him, but it is not permissible to declare him a disbeliever merely on the basis of these actions.
The Shaykh : (peace and blessings be upon him)
The questioner : such as the beard and shortening the garments, and so on?
The Shaykh : My brother, the issue of the beard and the like, that is his sin upon his own back. But shirk, that is the serious matter. However, we, the people of the Sunnah, must know that not everyone who falls into shirk has shirk attributed to them. Not everyone who falls into shirk has shirk attributed to them, meaning that the ruling of the mushrikin (those who associate partners with Allah) applies to them. This is because shirk is divided into categories. Of these categories, two concern us now. The first category is shirk of the heart and shirk of the tongue. If a Muslim who prays and fasts commits shirk of the tongue, this shirk of the tongue may express shirk of the heart, or it may not. Therefore, it is not permissible to rule that this person who committed shirk of the tongue is a mushrik of the heart, except after asking him for details and clarification. If we assume that his shirk was of the first type, then he is a Muslim who has what we have and upon him is what is upon us. Perhaps you have heard the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to that man who heard a sermon from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and wanted to show his obedience to him, so he said to him:
"What Allah wills and what you will." He (peace be upon him) said: "Have you made me a rival to Allah? Say: What Allah wills alone."
ما شاء الله وشئت فقال عليه السلام : أجعلتني لله ندا قل ما شاء الله وحدهThat a man from among his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) saw in a dream, while he was walking in one of the alleys of Madinah, that he met a man from the Jews. The Muslim said to him: "You are a good people, O Jews, if only you did not associate partners with Allah by saying: 'Azir is the son of Allah.' The Jew said: "And you are a good people, O Muslims, if only you did not associate partners with Allah by saying: 'What Allah wills and what Muhammad wills.' Then he walked a little and met a man from the Christians. He said to him: "You are a good people, O Christians, if only you did not associate partners with Allah by saying: 'Jesus is the son of Allah.' The Christian said: "And you are a good people, O Muslims, if only you did not associate partners with Allah by saying: 'What Allah wills and what Muhammad wills.' When morning came, he went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and related the vision to him. He said to him: "Have you related it to anyone?" He said: "No." So he (peace and blessings be upon him) delivered a sermon to the people and said: "O people, for a long time I have heard one of you saying: 'What Allah wills and what Muhammad wills.' So do not say: 'What Allah wills and what Muhammad wills,' but say: 'What Allah wills alone.' And in a narration: 'What Allah wills, then what you will.'"
أن رجلا من أصحابه صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم رأى في المنام بينما كان يمشي في بعض أزقة المدينة لقي رجلا من اليهود فقال له المسلم : نعم القوم أنتم معشر يهود لولا أنكم تشركون بالله فتقولون عزير ابن الله فقال اليهودي : ونعم القوم أنتم معشر المسلمين لولا أنكم تشركون بالله وتقولون : ما شاء الله وشاء محمد ثم سار قليلا فلقي رجلا من النصارى فقال له نعم القوم أنتم معشر النصارى لولا أنكم تشركون بالله وتقولون عيسى ابن الله فقال النصراني ونعم القوم أنتم معشر المسلمين لولا أنكم تشركون بالله فتقولون ما شاء الله وشاء محمد فلما أصبح به الصباح جاء إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم وقص عليه الرؤية قال له : هل قصصتها على أحد ؟ قال : لا فخطب عليه الصلاة والسلام في الناس وقال : يا أيها الناس طالما كنت أسمع أحدكم يقول : ما شاء الله و شاء محمد ألا فلا تقولوا ما شاء الله وشاء محمد ولكن قولوا ما شاء الله وحده وفي رواية ما شاء الله ثم شئتThe questioner : And he writes amulets
The Shaykh : That is a mistake, my brother. This is a mistake. But we say that it is necessary to distinguish between practical disbelief and creedal disbelief, verbal disbelief and disbelief of the heart. This is forbidden and not permissible for him, but it is not permissible to declare him a disbeliever merely on the basis of these actions.