Chapter on the Ruling on the Apostate: He Who Disbelieves After His Islam
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : Then the author said "Chapter on the Ruling on the Apostate". The term *murtadd* (apostate) with respect to a thing means the one who returns; this is in the Arabic language. In technical usage, the author said in it "He Who Disbelieves After His Islam". This apostate: everyone who disbelieves after his Islam is an apostate. But know that disbelief mentioned in the Book and the Sunnah is divided into two categories: disbelief that expels one from the religion, which is major shirk (associating partners with Allah), and disbelief that does not expel one from the religion, which is minor shirk. Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) called it "disbelief less than disbelief," meaning it is not major shirk. The intended meaning here in this chapter is major shirk, not minor shirk. Here is the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) Sahih Muslim 64a. Which of the two categories is it?
The questioner : ... .
Another questioner: The minor one.
The Shaykh : The minor one, due to His saying, the Exalted[Al-Hujurat 49:10], even though they are two factions fighting each other. Good. And in his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) Sahih Muslim 82b, the intended meaning is major shirk, as indicated by other texts. So everyone who disbelieves after his Islam is an apostate. Good. If a person became Muslim for the sake of a salary, and then the salary was reduced and he disbelieved, is he an apostate or not an apostate? Is he?
The questioner : He is an apostate.
The Shaykh : There are people who tell me that foreigners become Muslim in order to remain in the country, and when they return to their families they become apostates. We say that their apostasy is considered apostasy from Islam, because we hold them accountable by what? By the apparent state of their affairs. And the secrets are known only to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). We have no concern with them, as long as this man became Muslim and testified that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, then he is a Muslim. And if he returns to his original religion, we consider him an apostate. Yes, that is correct. Now, the time has been announced, if it is, yes?
Abusing a Muslim is an outrage and fighting against him is unbelief
سِباب المسلم فسوق وقتاله كفرThe questioner : ... .
Another questioner: The minor one.
The Shaykh : The minor one, due to His saying, the Exalted
The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers
إنما المؤمنون إخوة فأصلحوا بين أخويكمBetween man and polytheism and unbelief is the abandonment of salat.
بين الرجل وبين الشرك والكفر ترك الصلاةThe questioner : He is an apostate.
The Shaykh : There are people who tell me that foreigners become Muslim in order to remain in the country, and when they return to their families they become apostates. We say that their apostasy is considered apostasy from Islam, because we hold them accountable by what? By the apparent state of their affairs. And the secrets are known only to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). We have no concern with them, as long as this man became Muslim and testified that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, then he is a Muslim. And if he returns to his original religion, we consider him an apostate. Yes, that is correct. Now, the time has been announced, if it is, yes?