It is not permissible to declare a member of the Muslim community a disbeliever for a sin unless he considers it permissible
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Question:
Some people say: This statement, which is the statement of the Salaf, that we do not declare a member of the Muslim community a disbeliever for a sin unless he considers it permissible, they say this is the view of the Murji'ah?
Answer:
This is an error. This is the view of the people of the Sunnah: one is not declared a disbeliever for a sin unless he considers it permissible. The fornicator is not a disbeliever, and the one who drinks intoxicants is not a disbeliever; rather, he is a sinner, unless he considers it permissible. This is the view of the people of the Sunnah, contrary to the Khawarij. The Khawarij are those who declare people disbelievers for sins. As for the people of the Sunnah, they say: He is a sinner who must be subjected to the hudud punishment, and repentance is obligatory for him, but he is not a disbeliever if he does not consider the sin permissible. If he committed fornication but did not consider it permissible, or drank intoxicants but did not consider it permissible, or did similar things, or consumed riba (usury or interest) but did not consider it permissible, he is not a disbeliever. He is a sinner with deficient faith and weak faith, contrary to the Khawarij and the Mu'tazilah. This is the view of the people of the Sunnah and the community.
As for if he considers it permissible, and says: Fornication is lawful, he is a disbeliever. Or if he says: Intoxicants are lawful, he is a disbeliever, according to all the people of the Sunnah and the community. Or if he says: Riba (usury or interest) is lawful, he is a disbeliever. Or if he says: Undutifulness to parents is lawful, he is a disbeliever. But if he commits it without holding that belief, and he knows that it is forbidden—such as being undutiful to his parents while knowing it is forbidden, committing fornication while knowing it is forbidden, or drinking intoxicants while knowing it is forbidden—this is a sinner with deficient faith and weak faith according to the people of the Sunnah, and he is not a disbeliever. However, he deserves to be subjected to the hudud punishment for intoxicants, the hudud punishment for fornication, he is disciplined for undutifulness to parents, and he is disciplined for consuming riba (usury or interest). There is no harm. Good.
Some people say: This statement, which is the statement of the Salaf, that we do not declare a member of the Muslim community a disbeliever for a sin unless he considers it permissible, they say this is the view of the Murji'ah?
Answer:
This is an error. This is the view of the people of the Sunnah: one is not declared a disbeliever for a sin unless he considers it permissible. The fornicator is not a disbeliever, and the one who drinks intoxicants is not a disbeliever; rather, he is a sinner, unless he considers it permissible. This is the view of the people of the Sunnah, contrary to the Khawarij. The Khawarij are those who declare people disbelievers for sins. As for the people of the Sunnah, they say: He is a sinner who must be subjected to the hudud punishment, and repentance is obligatory for him, but he is not a disbeliever if he does not consider the sin permissible. If he committed fornication but did not consider it permissible, or drank intoxicants but did not consider it permissible, or did similar things, or consumed riba (usury or interest) but did not consider it permissible, he is not a disbeliever. He is a sinner with deficient faith and weak faith, contrary to the Khawarij and the Mu'tazilah. This is the view of the people of the Sunnah and the community.
As for if he considers it permissible, and says: Fornication is lawful, he is a disbeliever. Or if he says: Intoxicants are lawful, he is a disbeliever, according to all the people of the Sunnah and the community. Or if he says: Riba (usury or interest) is lawful, he is a disbeliever. Or if he says: Undutifulness to parents is lawful, he is a disbeliever. But if he commits it without holding that belief, and he knows that it is forbidden—such as being undutiful to his parents while knowing it is forbidden, committing fornication while knowing it is forbidden, or drinking intoxicants while knowing it is forbidden—this is a sinner with deficient faith and weak faith according to the people of the Sunnah, and he is not a disbeliever. However, he deserves to be subjected to the hudud punishment for intoxicants, the hudud punishment for fornication, he is disciplined for undutifulness to parents, and he is disciplined for consuming riba (usury or interest). There is no harm. Good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.