Is a disbeliever who says "There is no god but Allah" while in a state of disbelief and without understanding its meaning considered a Muslim by that?
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The questioner : The questioner asks: If a disbeliever says "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah" while in a state of disbelief, and the circumstances indicate that he does not understand its meaning, is he...
The Shaykh : ...is he what?
The questioner : ...does he not understand its meaning? Is he considered a Muslim by that, given that it is a condition for the validity of speech that the speaker intends its meaning?
The Shaykh : Yes. The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) said that if a disbeliever says, "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," he becomes a Muslim, and his apostasy is not accepted from him thereafter. If he does apostatize, his ruling is the ruling of apostates: he is required to return to Islam. If he does not return, he is killed. However, it is obligatory for us, if this speaker is not an Arab, to make him understand its meaning in his own language. This is based on the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He):[Ibrahim 14:4]. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : ...is he what?
The questioner : ...does he not understand its meaning? Is he considered a Muslim by that, given that it is a condition for the validity of speech that the speaker intends its meaning?
The Shaykh : Yes. The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) said that if a disbeliever says, "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," he becomes a Muslim, and his apostasy is not accepted from him thereafter. If he does apostatize, his ruling is the ruling of apostates: he is required to return to Islam. If he does not return, he is killed. However, it is obligatory for us, if this speaker is not an Arab, to make him understand its meaning in his own language. This is based on the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He):
And We did not send any messenger except [speaking] in the language of his people to state clearly for them, and Allah sends astray [thereby] whom He wills and guides whom He wills
وما أرسلنا من رسول إلا بلسان قومه ليبين لهم فيضل الله من يشاء ويهدي من يشاءThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.