The Rules of Shirk, Kufr, and Fisq
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner asks about major kufr (disbelief), O Shaykh, and minor kufr, and about major fisq (open sinfulness) and minor fisq, and about major shirk (associating partners with Allah) and minor shirk?
Answer: Whatever necessitates apostasy is major kufr. And whatever types of shirk do not necessitate apostasy, such as riya' (showing off in worship) in prayer or in recitation, this is called minor shirk. Likewise: "Two things among people are kufr: wailing over the dead and tracing lineage." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) called it kufr, saying:Sahih Muslim 67. He called it kufr, meaning minor kufr. So the point is that kufr is of two kinds: major and minor. Shirk is of two kinds, and nifaq (hypocrisy) is of two kinds. If you examine the texts and evidence, you will know that.
So minor nifaq is like: lying, betraying a trust, being unjust in litigation, and breaking a promise. These are among the characteristics of minor nifaq.
As for major nifaq: it is when one conceals kufr and displays Islam. That is, in his heart he does not see the obligation of following the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), nor does he affirm the oneness of Allah in his heart, nor does he see that the religion is the truth, nor does he see that zina (unlawful sexual intercourse) is forbidden, nor does he see that what Allah has forbidden is forbidden. In his heart, he is with the hypocrites and the disbelievers. This is major nifaq, may Allah protect us from it. It is when one believes the opposite of what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) brought, believing that the religion is not correct, or that prayer is not obligatory, or that fasting Ramadan is not obligatory, but he does not make this public. He keeps it secret between himself and his companions. This is apostasy from Islam and major nifaq, may Allah protect us from it.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
Answer: Whatever necessitates apostasy is major kufr. And whatever types of shirk do not necessitate apostasy, such as riya' (showing off in worship) in prayer or in recitation, this is called minor shirk. Likewise: "Two things among people are kufr: wailing over the dead and tracing lineage." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) called it kufr, saying:
Two (things) are found among men which are tantamount to unbelief: slandering one's lineage and lamentation on the dead.
اثنتان في الناس هما بهم كفر: الطعن في النسب، والنياحة على الميتSo minor nifaq is like: lying, betraying a trust, being unjust in litigation, and breaking a promise. These are among the characteristics of minor nifaq.
As for major nifaq: it is when one conceals kufr and displays Islam. That is, in his heart he does not see the obligation of following the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), nor does he affirm the oneness of Allah in his heart, nor does he see that the religion is the truth, nor does he see that zina (unlawful sexual intercourse) is forbidden, nor does he see that what Allah has forbidden is forbidden. In his heart, he is with the hypocrites and the disbelievers. This is major nifaq, may Allah protect us from it. It is when one believes the opposite of what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) brought, believing that the religion is not correct, or that prayer is not obligatory, or that fasting Ramadan is not obligatory, but he does not make this public. He keeps it secret between himself and his companions. This is apostasy from Islam and major nifaq, may Allah protect us from it.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.