The Danger of Rushing to Perform Takfir [declare a person to be Kaafir]

**[General Article] The Danger of Rushing to Perform Takfir -** 05-08-2005

Shaykh Ahmad Fareed hafidhahullaah

The Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "He who says to his brother 'O Disbeliever', then it returns upon one of them." [1] He also said: "And he who accuses a believer of Kufr (disbelief) then it is like killing him." [2]

Imaam an-Nawawee said, "They differ as regards interpretation of this "returning", so it is said, "Kufr returns upon him if he is making that lawful", and this is far from the context of the narration, and it is said, "it is taken to refer to the Khawaarij", since they declare believers to be Kaafiroon (disbelievers)."[3]

Imaam al-Haafidh (Ibn Hajr) says, "And what is correct is that the hadith (narration from the Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam was said as a warning against a Muslim saying that to his brother. It is said, "What returns upon him is his speaking ill of his brother and the sin of declaring him a kaafir (disbeliever)", and this is reasonable. It is also said, "It is to be feared that this will lead him into kufr", just as it is said, "sins leads towards kufr". Thus it is feared that if he continues in that and persists in it then he will have a bad end. I prefer from these sayings that it refers to the one who says it to someone from whom nothing is known except Islaam and there is no justification or reason for him to claim that he is a kaafir. So in such a case he becomes a kaafir himself because of that, and this will be explained. So the meaning of the hadith is that his judgement of takfeer (making someone a kaafir) returns upon himself, so what is meant is takfeer not kufr. So it is as if he passed judgement of kuft upon himself since he passed this judgement on one who is like him (ie. a muslim)"[4]

Imaam ash-Shawkaanee said, "Judging that a Muslim has left Islaam and entered into Kufr is something that is not fitting for a Muslim who believes in Allaah and the Last Day except with a proof (Burhaan) which is clearer than the daytime sun, since it is established in the authentic hadith reported by a group of Companions that he who says to his brother "O Kaafir!" Then it returns back to one of them." In another wording, "Whoever addresses a man with Kufr, or says 'Enemy of Allaah' and he is not that, then it returns back upon him"[5]

So in these ahadith (plural of hadith) and others similar to them, there is the severest reprimand and the greatest warning against hurrying to perform takfeer. Allaah, The Mighty and Majestic says:

" ... and such as open their breasts to disbelief ... " [Soorah an-Nahl 16:106]

So what has to be the case is that the heart embraces kufr and is at peace with it, and the soul is satisfied with it. So the appearance of wicked beliefs only is not to be taken into account here, especially if one is ignorant of the fact that they are contrary to Islaam. Likewise account will not be taken of the appearance of an action of kufr for the one who did not intend to leave Islaam by it and enter into kufr, and likewise account will not be taken of a word spoken by a Muslim which is a saying of kufr, when he does not believe what it means."[6]

So where do they stand those who hasten to perform takfeer of the Muslims in relation to the saying of the Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam: "Abusing a Muslim is open sin and killing him is kufr" [7] And in relation to his saying: "The Muslim is the Brother of a Muslim, he does not oppress or forsake him." [8] Also in relation to his saying: "All of the Muslim to the Muslim is inviolable; his blood, his wealth and his honour." [9] ?

Imaam Al-Qurtubee says in his tafseer (exegesis/explanation) of Sooratul Hujuraat: " ... and His (Allaah) saying: "lest your deeds be rendered fruitless while you perceive it not'." [Soorah al-Hujuraat 49:2] does not mean that a person becomes a kaafir without knowing since just as a person does not become a believer except through choosing eemaan (faith) over kufr, then likewise a believer does not become a kaafir without intending kufr and choosing it, and there is consensus (ijma') regarding this."[10]

Footnotes

1. Reported by al-Bukhaaree, Muslim, Maalik, at-Tirmidhee and Abu Dawood.

2. Reported by al-Bukhaaree.

3. Abbreviated from an-Nawawee's "Sharh" (explanation) of Saheeh Muslim (2/50)

4. Abbreviated from "Fathul-Baaree" (10/466)

5. Hadith reported by Muslim (2/49 - Book of Eemaan).

6. Taken from "as-Sailul-Jarraar" (4/578) and adapted.

7. Reported by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.

8. Reported by Muslim.

9. Reported by Muslim, Abu Daawood and at-Tirmidhee.

10. Tafseer of al-Qurtubee (7/6128).

Noora_z3

Jazakallah bro..

**Jawharah**

Jazakallah khair brother. This is an important post.. Many tend to forget this.

Mu'maneen

Jazakallahkher Fe Dunya Wal Akhira Dear Brother of Islam. Excellent information.

--------------------

Vist my new Islamic Site:
http://hstrial-besmail.homestead.com/islam.html

amani

Quote:

Originally Posted by mm_ca04

Many tend to forget this.

true say

JazakAllah khair

**Abu Sayyad**

True even happens to me somtimes

, Allahg save us fromit

Osman

Jazak'Allahu Khayran for sharing this much needed reminder.

I would just like to add the definition of Kafir.

A Kafir is a person who refuses to submit himself to Allah (God), a disbeliever in God.

Source

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kadafi Guest Status: Posts: n/a Reputation: Gender:	[General Article] The Danger of Rushing to Perform Takfir - 05-08-2005 Shaykh Ahmad Fareed hafidhahullaah The Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "He who says to his brother 'O Disbeliever', then it returns upon one of them." [1] He also said: "And he who accuses a believer of Kufr (disbelief) then it is like killing him." [2] Imaam an-Nawawee said, "They differ as regards interpretation of this "returning", so it is said, "Kufr returns upon him if he is making that lawful", and this is far from the context of the narration, and it is said, "it is taken to refer to the Khawaarij", since they declare believers to be Kaafiroon (disbelievers)."[3] Imaam al-Haafidh (Ibn Hajr) says, "And what is correct is that the hadith (narration from the Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam was said as a warning against a Muslim saying that to his brother. It is said, "What returns upon him is his speaking ill of his brother and the sin of declaring him a kaafir (disbeliever)", and this is reasonable. It is also said, "It is to be feared that this will lead him into kufr", just as it is said, "sins leads towards kufr". Thus it is feared that if he continues in that and persists in it then he will have a bad end. I prefer from these sayings that it refers to the one who says it to someone from whom nothing is known except Islaam and there is no justification or reason for him to claim that he is a kaafir. So in such a case he becomes a kaafir himself because of that, and this will be explained. So the meaning of the hadith is that his judgement of takfeer (making someone a kaafir) returns upon himself, so what is meant is takfeer not kufr. So it is as if he passed judgement of kuft upon himself since he passed this judgement on one who is like him (ie. a muslim)"[4] Imaam ash-Shawkaanee said, "Judging that a Muslim has left Islaam and entered into Kufr is something that is not fitting for a Muslim who believes in Allaah and the Last Day except with a proof (Burhaan) which is clearer than the daytime sun, since it is established in the authentic hadith reported by a group of Companions that he who says to his brother "O Kaafir!" Then it returns back to one of them." In another wording, "Whoever addresses a man with Kufr, or says 'Enemy of Allaah' and he is not that, then it returns back upon him"[5] So in these ahadith (plural of hadith) and others similar to them, there is the severest reprimand and the greatest warning against hurrying to perform takfeer. Allaah, The Mighty and Majestic says: " ... and such as open their breasts to disbelief ... " [Soorah an-Nahl 16:106] So what has to be the case is that the heart embraces kufr and is at peace with it, and the soul is satisfied with it. So the appearance of wicked beliefs only is not to be taken into account here, especially if one is ignorant of the fact that they are contrary to Islaam. Likewise account will not be taken of the appearance of an action of kufr for the one who did not intend to leave Islaam by it and enter into kufr, and likewise account will not be taken of a word spoken by a Muslim which is a saying of kufr, when he does not believe what it means."[6] So where do they stand those who hasten to perform takfeer of the Muslims in relation to the saying of the Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam: "Abusing a Muslim is open sin and killing him is kufr" [7] And in relation to his saying: "The Muslim is the Brother of a Muslim, he does not oppress or forsake him." [8] Also in relation to his saying: "All of the Muslim to the Muslim is inviolable; his blood, his wealth and his honour." [9] ? Imaam Al-Qurtubee says in his tafseer (exegesis/explanation) of Sooratul Hujuraat: " ... and His (Allaah) saying: "lest your deeds be rendered fruitless while you perceive it not'." [Soorah al-Hujuraat 49:2] does not mean that a person becomes a kaafir without knowing since just as a person does not become a believer except through choosing eemaan (faith) over kufr, then likewise a believer does not become a kaafir without intending kufr and choosing it, and there is consensus (ijma') regarding this."[10] Footnotes 1. Reported by al-Bukhaaree, Muslim, Maalik, at-Tirmidhee and Abu Dawood. 2. Reported by al-Bukhaaree. 3. Abbreviated from an-Nawawee's "Sharh" (explanation) of Saheeh Muslim (2/50) 4. Abbreviated from "Fathul-Baaree" (10/466) 5. Hadith reported by Muslim (2/49 - Book of Eemaan). 6. Taken from "as-Sailul-Jarraar" (4/578) and adapted. 7. Reported by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim. 8. Reported by Muslim. 9. Reported by Muslim, Abu Daawood and at-Tirmidhee. 10. Tafseer of al-Qurtubee (7/6128).

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Noora_z3 seArChing sOuL Status: Offline Posts: 207 Reputation: 349 Rep Power: 23 Join Date: Mar 2005 Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: The Danger of Rushing to Perform Takfir [declare a person to be Kaafir] - 05-08-2005 Jazakallah bro.. __________________ A Muslim Paradise is not a place of arrival, but a way of Travellin

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Jawharah LI's Fishter Status: Offline Posts: 5,153 Reputation: 35435 Rep Power: 72 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Along the Coast Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: The Danger of Rushing to Perform Takfir [declare a person to be Kaafir] - 05-09-2005 Jazakallah khair brother. This is an important post.. Many tend to forget this. __________________ Watch your eye, should it ever reveal to you the faults of others, say to it: “O my eye, other people have eyes too.” [Ahmad al Zarruq]

	(#4 (permalink))
Mu'maneen LI Senior Member Status: Offline Posts: 248 Reputation: 455 Rep Power: 22 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: The Danger of Rushing to Perform Takfir [declare a person to be Kaafir] - 05-09-2005 Jazakallahkher Fe Dunya Wal Akhira Dear Brother of Islam. Excellent information. -------------------- Vist my new Islamic Site: http://hstrial-besmail.homestead.com/islam.html

	(#6 (permalink))
Abu Sayyad *iwannagetmarried.com* Status: Offline Posts: 6,797 Reputation: 49319 Rep Power: 90 Join Date: Mar 2005 Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: The Danger of Rushing to Perform Takfir [declare a person to be Kaafir] - 05-09-2005 True even happens to me somtimes , Allahg save us fromit __________________ هَلْ جَزَاء الْإِحْسَانِ إِلَّا الْإِحْسَانُ؟ Is there any reward for good other than good? [ar-Rahman: 60] "However, keep in mind that you must instruct the people with kindness and mercy. Don’t take this answer and shove it in their faces.* Be kind, gentle and patient.*" - Imam Suhaib Webb, advising after giving an answer. O Allah, Lord of Jibril, Mika'il and Israfil, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen, You will judge between Your servants concerning that wherein they differ. Guide me with regard to that wherein there is dispute concerning the truth by Your leave, for You guide whomsoever You will to the straight path. Oh Allah, I seek refuge in You lest I misguide others, or I am misguided by others, lest I cause others to err or I am caused to err, lest I abuse others or be abused, and lest I behave foolishly or meet with the foolishness of others.

	(#7 (permalink))
Osman Account Disabled Status: Offline Posts: 3,571 Reputation: 16416 Rep Power: 0 Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Warrington, England Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: The Danger of Rushing to Perform Takfir [declare a person to be Kaafir] - 05-09-2005 Jazak'Allahu Khayran for sharing this much needed reminder. I would just like to add the definition of Kafir. A Kafir is a person who refuses to submit himself to Allah (God), a disbeliever in God. Source