The ruling on one who commits a nullifier of Islam while pronouncing the two testimonies of faith
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From Fuad Muhammad Ahmad Ali. We received this message containing these questions. He says: In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy. First: Is it permissible for a Muslim to declare another Muslim a disbeliever if he does not perform the prescribed prayers, or if he mocks the Qur'an? Is it permissible for us to say to such people: "They are disbelievers," even though they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah?
Answer: Yes, O questioner! If one who testifies that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah is found to have done something that necessitates disbelief, he must be declared a disbeliever. This is because a Muslim is declared a disbeliever by any of the nullifiers of Islam. Therefore, one who says, "I testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," is not immune from committing an act of disbelief. No, rather, whenever an act of disbelief is found from him, he is declared a disbeliever on account of it. The one who mocks the Qur'an, or mocks the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), or mocks the prayer, or mocks fasting, or mocks anything that Allah has legislated, is a disbeliever according to all scholars. The scholars have mentioned this in the chapter on the ruling of the apostate. If you are a student of knowledge, you should review the words of the scholars. Otherwise, know that this is disbelief, misguidance, and apostasy from Islam, as Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said: [Surah al-Tawbah: 65-66].
Likewise, the one who intentionally abandons the prayer and does not pray is also a disbeliever according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions, even if he does not deny its obligation. Whenever he abandons it out of negligence and laziness, he is declared a disbeliever on account of that according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2616Hasan (Darussalam) So whoever abandons the pillar of Islam is a disbeliever. And based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him), as narrated by Muslim in the Sahih: Narrated by Muslim in the Sahih from the hadith of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him). And based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) also: Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam) This is the correct opinion among the scholars' views.
Some scholars said: He is not declared a disbeliever by major shirk, but his disbelief is minor shirk, as long as he does not deny its obligation. If he denies its obligation, he is a disbeliever by consensus. However, as long as he knows that it is an obligation, but laziness and laxity overcome him so that he does not pray, he is not declared a disbeliever on account of that according to a group of scholars. Rather, he is a sinner committing a great sin, greater than the sin of zina and drinking intoxicants and the like. And he is a disbeliever with a disbelief less than disbelief. This is the opinion of a group of scholars.
The correct view is the first opinion: that he is a disbeliever with major shirk. This is due to the aforementioned hadiths and other evidence indicating this. It is obligatory for the people of Islam to be cautious of this, and to preserve the prayers and care for them, and to care for performing them in congregation. This is the obligation of every Muslim. His saying, "I testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," is not a shield against being declared a disbeliever if a nullifier of Islam is found from him, as you have learned, O questioner. Mocking the religion is disbelief by consensus, even if he says, "I testify that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." Likewise, if he denies the resurrection after death, or denies Paradise, or denies the Fire, he is a disbeliever by the consensus of the Muslims, even if he says, "I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." Because his denial of these matters is a lie against the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and a lie against Allah in what He informed about in His Book. Likewise, if he insults the religion... insults Allah... insults the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), he is a disbeliever by consensus, even if he pronounces the two testimonies. Likewise, if he says that fasting Ramadan is not obligatory, or that zakah is not obligatory when its conditions are met, or that Hajj is not obligatory when one is able to afford it; he is a disbeliever by consensus.
Therefore, it is incumbent upon you, O questioner, and upon every Muslim, to be alert to these matters, and to be cautious of everything that causes disbelief and exiting the circle of Islam. It is also incumbent upon the believer to understand his religion, to be discerning, and to be cautious of falling into what Allah has forbidden him while he is unaware. There is no power and no strength except with Allah! Yes.
Answer: Yes, O questioner! If one who testifies that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah is found to have done something that necessitates disbelief, he must be declared a disbeliever. This is because a Muslim is declared a disbeliever by any of the nullifiers of Islam. Therefore, one who says, "I testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," is not immune from committing an act of disbelief. No, rather, whenever an act of disbelief is found from him, he is declared a disbeliever on account of it. The one who mocks the Qur'an, or mocks the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), or mocks the prayer, or mocks fasting, or mocks anything that Allah has legislated, is a disbeliever according to all scholars. The scholars have mentioned this in the chapter on the ruling of the apostate. If you are a student of knowledge, you should review the words of the scholars. Otherwise, know that this is disbelief, misguidance, and apostasy from Islam, as Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said:
(65) And if you ask them, they will surely say, "We were only conversing and playing." Say, "Is it Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?" (66) Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief. If We pardon one faction of you - We will punish another faction because they were criminals.
قُلْ أَبِاللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِئُونَ لا تَعْتَذِرُوا قَدْ كَفَرْتُمْ بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْLikewise, the one who intentionally abandons the prayer and does not pray is also a disbeliever according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions, even if he does not deny its obligation. Whenever he abandons it out of negligence and laziness, he is declared a disbeliever on account of that according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
The head of the matter is Islam, and its pillar is the Salat
رأس الأمر الإسلام وعموده الصلاةBetween a man and disbelief and shirk (associating partners with Allah) is the abandonment of prayer.
بين الرجل وبين الكفر والشرك ترك الصلاةThe covenant that distinguishes between us and them is prayer; so whoever leaves it, he has committed Kufr.
العهد الذي بيننا وبينهم الصلاة فمن تركها فقد كفرSome scholars said: He is not declared a disbeliever by major shirk, but his disbelief is minor shirk, as long as he does not deny its obligation. If he denies its obligation, he is a disbeliever by consensus. However, as long as he knows that it is an obligation, but laziness and laxity overcome him so that he does not pray, he is not declared a disbeliever on account of that according to a group of scholars. Rather, he is a sinner committing a great sin, greater than the sin of zina and drinking intoxicants and the like. And he is a disbeliever with a disbelief less than disbelief. This is the opinion of a group of scholars.
The correct view is the first opinion: that he is a disbeliever with major shirk. This is due to the aforementioned hadiths and other evidence indicating this. It is obligatory for the people of Islam to be cautious of this, and to preserve the prayers and care for them, and to care for performing them in congregation. This is the obligation of every Muslim. His saying, "I testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," is not a shield against being declared a disbeliever if a nullifier of Islam is found from him, as you have learned, O questioner. Mocking the religion is disbelief by consensus, even if he says, "I testify that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." Likewise, if he denies the resurrection after death, or denies Paradise, or denies the Fire, he is a disbeliever by the consensus of the Muslims, even if he says, "I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." Because his denial of these matters is a lie against the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and a lie against Allah in what He informed about in His Book. Likewise, if he insults the religion... insults Allah... insults the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), he is a disbeliever by consensus, even if he pronounces the two testimonies. Likewise, if he says that fasting Ramadan is not obligatory, or that zakah is not obligatory when its conditions are met, or that Hajj is not obligatory when one is able to afford it; he is a disbeliever by consensus.
Therefore, it is incumbent upon you, O questioner, and upon every Muslim, to be alert to these matters, and to be cautious of everything that causes disbelief and exiting the circle of Islam. It is also incumbent upon the believer to understand his religion, to be discerning, and to be cautious of falling into what Allah has forbidden him while he is unaware. There is no power and no strength except with Allah! Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.