The Conclusion of the Criterion for Declaring an Innovator a Disbeliever?
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The Shaykh : This issue is serious. Know that a statement may be disbelief, or an action may be disbelief, yet the one who makes the statement or performs the action is not a disbeliever.
Perhaps you have heard the story of the man who lost his camel in a desert, and it was lost from him and he was unable to find it, and his food and drink were on it, so he was on the verge of dying. He lay down under a tree waiting for death, when he saw the camel's rein hanging from the tree. He took it, and out of intense joy he said:Sahih Muslim 2747a What is this word? Is it disbelief or not faith?
It is disbelief, but he erred out of intense joy, so nothing was required of him.
A man is coerced into disbelief and is not considered a disbeliever, as Allah said:[An-Nahl 16:106].
So he commits disbelief, yet the ruling of disbelief is lifted from him because of coercion, because he did not intend it.
The disobedient man who had destroyed himself with sins said to his family: : Even though the man doubted the power of Allah, and doubting the power of Allah is disbelief, but this man, when he doubted the power of Allah the Exalted, did so out of contempt for Allah, but out of fear of Allah Mighty and Majestic that He would punish him, he thought that if he did that, he would be saved.
In any case, I call upon you, O questioner, and I also call upon those who are listening to be cautious in pronouncing the word "disbelief" until it becomes clear from the Book and the Sunnah that this is disbelief, and then it becomes clear that this description applies to this specific man, and then they rule according to what the Islamic Shari'ah requires.
Just as it is not permissible for us to say: "This is lawful" or "This is forbidden" except by the permission of Allah, so it is not permissible for us to say: "This is disbelief" or "This is not disbelief" except by the permission of Allah. We limit ourselves to this, because we will go out to the open area and apologize to the brothers, and we hope that they will forgive us. The reward has been obtained for them, if Allah wills, even if they did not get what they intended from their questions, but the reward is obtained, and what we mentioned is, if Allah wills, good.
And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah guide us and you to good. May Allah bless you. May Allah reward you with good. Please allow us to leave.
Perhaps you have heard the story of the man who lost his camel in a desert, and it was lost from him and he was unable to find it, and his food and drink were on it, so he was on the verge of dying. He lay down under a tree waiting for death, when he saw the camel's rein hanging from the tree. He took it, and out of intense joy he said:
0 Lord, Thou art my servant and I am Thine Lord
اللهم أنت عبدي وأنا ربكIt is disbelief, but he erred out of intense joy, so nothing was required of him.
A man is coerced into disbelief and is not considered a disbeliever, as Allah said:
Whoever disbelieves in Allah after his belief... except for one who is forced [to renounce his religion] while his heart is secure in faith. But those who [willingly] open their breasts to disbelief, upon them is wrath from Allah, and for them is a great punishment;
مَنْ كَفَرَ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ إِيمَانِهِ إِلَّا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُ مُطْمَئِنٌّ بِالْأِيمَانِ وَلَكِنْ مَنْ شَرَحَ بِالْكُفْرِ صَدْراً فَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌSo he commits disbelief, yet the ruling of disbelief is lifted from him because of coercion, because he did not intend it.
The disobedient man who had destroyed himself with sins said to his family:
When I die, burn me and scatter me in the sea. I fear that if Allah has power over me, He will punish me with a punishment He does not inflict on anyone in the worlds. So his family did that to him; they burned him and scattered him. Then Allah Mighty and Majestic gathered him by His power—Be, and it is—and asked him: Why did you do that? He said: O my Lord, out of fear of Your punishment. So Allah forgave him.
إذا مت فأحرقوني وذروني في اليم أخاف إن قدر الله علي أن يعذبني عذابا لا يعذبه أحدا من العالمين، ففعل أهله ذلك به أحرقوه وذروه، فجمعه الله عز وجل بقدرته -كن فيكون- وسأله : لم فعلت ؟ قال : يا رب خوفا من عقابك فغفر الله لهIn any case, I call upon you, O questioner, and I also call upon those who are listening to be cautious in pronouncing the word "disbelief" until it becomes clear from the Book and the Sunnah that this is disbelief, and then it becomes clear that this description applies to this specific man, and then they rule according to what the Islamic Shari'ah requires.
Just as it is not permissible for us to say: "This is lawful" or "This is forbidden" except by the permission of Allah, so it is not permissible for us to say: "This is disbelief" or "This is not disbelief" except by the permission of Allah. We limit ourselves to this, because we will go out to the open area and apologize to the brothers, and we hope that they will forgive us. The reward has been obtained for them, if Allah wills, even if they did not get what they intended from their questions, but the reward is obtained, and what we mentioned is, if Allah wills, good.
And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah guide us and you to good. May Allah bless you. May Allah reward you with good. Please allow us to leave.