Is it permissible to declare a disbeliever one who says, “I will not take my religion except from a specific school of jurisprudence or a specific person,” while knowing of an authentic hadith and leaving off acting upon it?
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The questioner : A questioner says: What about the one who says, “I will not take my religion except from a specific school of jurisprudence, a specific person, or a specific group,” and he has the matter from an authentic hadith but leaves it off? Do we say that he is a disbeliever or one who associates partners with Allah?
The Shaykh : No, by Allah. We do not say he is a disbeliever or one who associates partners with Allah, ever. Why? Because many of the common people follow a scholar of whom they have a good opinion and they follow him. So if a hadith is brought to him, he says, “I do not follow this hadith,” meaning that I do not trust the one who cited it as evidence. But if it is established for me that it is the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), I will act upon it. However, this man whom I follow has extensive knowledge and integrity in knowledge, so perhaps this hadith that the other person cited as evidence might be weak, or perhaps it is a general text that is specified, or perhaps it is an absolute text that is restricted in another place. But if he said, “I know that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said this, but I do not accept it,” that is another matter. However, many people do not trust the one who brought the hadith and say, “I followed a scholar in whom I trust regarding his knowledge and his religion, but if it is established for him that this is the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he will not seek a way around it.” Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : No, by Allah. We do not say he is a disbeliever or one who associates partners with Allah, ever. Why? Because many of the common people follow a scholar of whom they have a good opinion and they follow him. So if a hadith is brought to him, he says, “I do not follow this hadith,” meaning that I do not trust the one who cited it as evidence. But if it is established for me that it is the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), I will act upon it. However, this man whom I follow has extensive knowledge and integrity in knowledge, so perhaps this hadith that the other person cited as evidence might be weak, or perhaps it is a general text that is specified, or perhaps it is an absolute text that is restricted in another place. But if he said, “I know that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said this, but I do not accept it,” that is another matter. However, many people do not trust the one who brought the hadith and say, “I followed a scholar in whom I trust regarding his knowledge and his religion, but if it is established for him that this is the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he will not seek a way around it.” Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.