If a Christian converts to Islam and becomes a Sufi or a Shi'ite, do we declare him a disbeliever because he did not embrace Islam according to the methodology of the people of the Sunnah and the community?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
Many Christians, when they convert to Islam, follow a school of thought other than that of the people of the Sunnah and the community, such as Sufism or Shi'ism. Does this mean we declare them disbelievers because they entered a school other than that of the people of the Sunnah and the righteous Salaf, or do we look at them according to the sect they entered?
The Shaykh : If a person converts to Islam and embraces it, then adopts an innovated creed, we give him the ruling of the people of that creed. If the innovation is one that entails disbelief, he is a disbeliever, and his transition from Christianity to this disbelieving innovation will not benefit him. If it is not one that entails disbelief, he is not a disbeliever. However, the people of the Sunnah should be the ones to receive these new converts themselves, because a person may convert desiring Islam, and then an innovator comes to him, deceives him, and says, "This is Islam," so he commits the innovation because he does not know. It is obligatory for the people of the Sunnah to receive these new converts so that no one with an innovation snatches them away.
The questioner : So we declare him a disbeliever, is that normal?
The Shaykh : As I told you: if he adopts an innovation that entails disbelief, he has the ruling of its followers, and if he adopts an innovation that does not entail disbelief, he has the ruling of its followers.
But it may be said: this Christian who knows nothing about Islam committed an innovation that entails disbelief out of ignorance. In that case, we first teach him that what he has adopted is not correct, and then if he persists, he is given the ruling of the people of that innovation. Yes.
Many Christians, when they convert to Islam, follow a school of thought other than that of the people of the Sunnah and the community, such as Sufism or Shi'ism. Does this mean we declare them disbelievers because they entered a school other than that of the people of the Sunnah and the righteous Salaf, or do we look at them according to the sect they entered?
The Shaykh : If a person converts to Islam and embraces it, then adopts an innovated creed, we give him the ruling of the people of that creed. If the innovation is one that entails disbelief, he is a disbeliever, and his transition from Christianity to this disbelieving innovation will not benefit him. If it is not one that entails disbelief, he is not a disbeliever. However, the people of the Sunnah should be the ones to receive these new converts themselves, because a person may convert desiring Islam, and then an innovator comes to him, deceives him, and says, "This is Islam," so he commits the innovation because he does not know. It is obligatory for the people of the Sunnah to receive these new converts so that no one with an innovation snatches them away.
The questioner : So we declare him a disbeliever, is that normal?
The Shaykh : As I told you: if he adopts an innovation that entails disbelief, he has the ruling of its followers, and if he adopts an innovation that does not entail disbelief, he has the ruling of its followers.
But it may be said: this Christian who knows nothing about Islam committed an innovation that entails disbelief out of ignorance. In that case, we first teach him that what he has adopted is not correct, and then if he persists, he is given the ruling of the people of that innovation. Yes.