If we refrain from cursing a specific person, do we also refrain from declaring a specific person a disbeliever, such as the extremists among philosophers and atheists? If we rule on their disbelief specifically, do we then curse them specifically? What is the ruling?
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The questioner : If we refrain from cursing a specific person, let us also refrain from declaring a specific person a disbeliever, such as the extremists among philosophers and atheists, because if we rule on their disbelief specifically, have we not ruled that they are to be cursed?
The Shaykh : No, not at all. If we rule on their disbelief specifically, it does not follow that we must curse them. Why? However, as for declaring them innovators and misguiding them, we must declare them innovators and misguiding them. And we declare them disbelievers specifically, yes, but on the condition that the proof has been established against them. And we do not know about these philosophers whether they were presented with the truth, or whether the truth was explained to them. Now, they have already died.
The questioner : .....؟
The Shaykh : In any case, as I said, we say: whoever says such-and-such is a disbeliever.
The Shaykh : No, not at all. If we rule on their disbelief specifically, it does not follow that we must curse them. Why? However, as for declaring them innovators and misguiding them, we must declare them innovators and misguiding them. And we declare them disbelievers specifically, yes, but on the condition that the proof has been established against them. And we do not know about these philosophers whether they were presented with the truth, or whether the truth was explained to them. Now, they have already died.
The questioner : .....؟
The Shaykh : In any case, as I said, we say: whoever says such-and-such is a disbeliever.