Major Kufr, and Minor Kufr and when does it apply?

**al-fateh** · 05-30-2007

Major Kufr, and Minor Kufr and when does it apply?

Salamu Alaikum

can one please elabore more on the matter of major and mino Kufr and when is it applied.

what conditions must it meet, and is there any specific Quranic reference or hadith to support it.

Thanks in Advance.

**Ra`eesah** · 05-30-2007

Assalamu'Alaykum

Do you mean Major Sin and Minor Sin?

**'Abd al-Baari** · 05-30-2007

This is a good read..hope it helps Inshallah

To make the concept of kufr clear, we would like to cite for you what the renowned Muslim scholar, Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, states in his book 'Islamic Awakening Between Rejection and Extremism' :

Many misconceptions that control the minds of the Muslim youth need to be addressed and fully explained so as to make clear the rulings of Islam and to avoid any form of baseless dangerous judgments. Some of the most important misconceptions include concepts like the concept of Islam, iman, kufr (disbelief), nifaq (hypocrisy) and jahiliyyah (paganism)…etc. Linguistic complexities or a lack of mastery of the Arabic language by some people have led to such confusion and misunderstanding.

The complexities of language escape the non-experts. Consequently, they become unable to differentiate between the figurative or metaphoric meanings and the literal meanings, thereby confusing matters. They are unable to realize, for instance, the difference between absolute (or perfect) iman and limited (or nominal) iman; between perfect Islam and limited (or nominal) Islam between major kufr leading the person totally outside the fold of Islam and the kufr of disobedience between major shirk and minor shirk; between hypocrisy of belief and hypocrisy of action. They also equate the jahiliyyah of ethics and behavior with that of belief. The following is a brief clarification of these concepts with a view to preventing dangerous consequences.

In juristic language, kufr signifies the rejection and denial of Allah, Glory be to Him, and His messages, according to the following Qur'anic verse: “Anyone who denies Allah, His angels, His books, His Apostles, and the Day of judgment has gone far, far astray.” (An-Nisaa’: 136)

Kufr could also imply apostasy, and consequently the complete loss of iman.

The term kufr is also used to refer to transgression which is far short of a total rejection of Islam and do not amount to a rejection and denial of Allah, Glory be to Him, and His Messenger. The well known Muslim scholar Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim divided kufr into two categories namely major kufr and minor kufr. Major kufr leads to eternal punishment in the Hellfire while minor kufr leads to temporary rather than eternal punishment in the Hellfire. Consider the following Hadiths: “Two things, if practiced by my Ummah, are manifestations of kufr: false accusation about a person's lineage and lamentation of the deed.” And: “He who has anal sex with his wife commits kufr in what was revealed to Muhammad.” Also: “If a person seeks a soothsayer or fortuneteller and believes in him or her, he commits kufr in what was revealed to Muhammad." In another Hadith, we read: “Do not revert to kufr after my death by putting one another to the sword."

There is, in fact, a Qur’anic verse that is clearly misconceived by people. The verse reads: “Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed: such are disbelievers.” (Al-Ma’idah: 44)

This verse is given various interpretations. Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) says: “It is not kufr which excludes a person from the fold of Islam, but it resembles kufr in one aspect, because the person who commits it does not deny Allah and the Last Day.” Tawus expressed the same opinion. `Atta’ said: "The kufr meant in the verse, refers to a form of kufr which can be greater or lesser in degree than another."

Others, like `Ikrimah, argued that those who do not judge in accordance with what Almighty Allah has revealed commit kufr. But this argument is weak, because sheer rejection of Allah's revelation amounts to kufr whether a person has judged in the light of the Shari`ah or not. `Abdul-`Aziz Al Kinani maintains that kufr comprises negligence to judge in accordance with all that which Allah, the Almighty, has revealed, including tawhid (monotheism) and Islam.

Ibn Al-Qayyim says: “Judging contrary to what Allah, the Almighty, has revealed involves both types of kufr, the major and the minor, according to the attitude of the person making the judgment. If the person believes that a judgment must be passed according to what Allah has revealed and a punishment decided, but refrains from doing so out of disobedience and transgression, in that case he commits minor kufr. But if he believes that it is not obligatory to judge according to the Shari`ah and that he is free to act, notwithstanding his conviction that it is divine, he then commits a major kufr. But if he acts out of ignorance, or makes an unintentional mistake, he is only to be judged as a wrongdoer.”

The gist of the matter is that all forms of transgression and disobedience are types of kufr implying ingratitude, because gratitude requires compliance and obedience. Therefore, human endeavor could be manifest in gratitude, or in kufr, or in something other than the two. Only Allah knows what is in the heart of everyone.

Source: www.islamonline.net

**al-fateh** · 05-30-2007

no i mean major Kufr and Minor Kufr....

**Ra`eesah** · 05-30-2007

Assalamu`Alaykum

"Kufr means to cover up something to the extent that is is destroyed. A farmer is called a kaafir for covering up the land. It can also mean to cover up the fitrah.

In Islam: Absence of emaan from a person, even if his heart believes.
Kufr can be major or minor.

Major kufr is of 5 types:

1. Kufr of denial
“And who is more unjust than he who invents a lie against God or rejects the Truth when it reaches him? Is there not a home in Hell for those who reject Faith?” (Al-‘Ankaboot, 29:68)

Examples of this include to deny Allah, to deny the Prophet (saw), or to deny the Day of Judgment.

2. Kufr of arrogance
They do not necessarily deny the truth, but refuse to submit to it.

“Not so Iblees; he refused and was haughty. He was of those who disbelieve.” (2:34)

Abu Talib, Firawn, and Heraclius are all examples. In modern times, many Orientalists may also fall into this category.

3. Kufr of doubt.
This is for someone who claims that he is not sure. When you do not have certain faith of these fundamentals, then you have kufr.

“And I do not think the hour will come, and even if I am returned to my Lord I will most certainly find a returning place better than this. His companion said to him while disputing with him: Do you disbelieve in Him Who created you from dust, then from a tiny drop, then He made you a perfect man?” (Al-Kahf, 18:36-37)

The person who had doubt called a kaafir in the Quran.

4. Kufr of turning away.
Most of mankind now simply don’t care, they don’t research, they don’t think about the purpose of life or their creation. They have capability to research but don’t.

“And who does more wrong than one to whom are recited the Signs of his Lord, and who then turns away therefrom? Verily from those who transgress We shall exact (due) retribution.” (As-Sajdah, 32:22)

There is a dual responsibility, we must spread islam, but they should also be trying to answer these questions.

5. Kufr of hypocrisy (nifaq).
Person outwardly claims to be Muslim but they know in their heart they are lying. This happens when Islam is in power. There were no munafiqeen in Mecca.

In this world though we are obligated to treat them as Muslims.

Minor Kufr:

Any act that the Shari’ah has called kufr, but does not take one outside the fold of Islam. One meaning of kufr is extreme ingratitude. This is why kufr and shukr are often paired together.

Denying others their lineage
Denying one’s father
Wailing over dead people

One example is the hadith, that “cursing a Muslim is a sin, and fighting him is kufr.” And then in the Quran it says, “And if two parties or groups among the believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them both, but if one of them rebels against the other, then fight you (all) against the one that which rebels till it complies with the Command of Allah; then if it complies, then make reconciliation between them justly, and be equitable. Verily! Allah loves those who are equitable” (49:9). So here even though they have committed kufr, they are still Muslim."

**Ummu Sufyaan** · 05-31-2007

brothers and sisters.
jazallahu khair for that.

**boriqee** · 06-02-2007

this right here should lay it out like an easily read map

masalama

**Amor101** · 06-28-2017

Originally Posted by al-fateh

Major Kufr, and Minor Kufr and when does it apply?

Salamu Alaikum

can one please elabore more on the matter of major and mino Kufr and when is it applied.

what conditions must it meet, and is there any specific Quranic reference or hadith to support it.

Thanks in Advance.

Wa alaykum salam

It is very simple. When you say your shahadah, then you approved that Allah is God (the most intelligent) and that what he says is the best.

Therefore, when you approve Allah , you approved everything He says (or every verse). When you approve the Prophet(pbuh), then you approved everything he says(or every hadeeth).

In conclusion, rejecting a hadeeth or verse, you denied your shahadah and thus it is kufr.

I hope the above was clear. It is very important we believe in Shariah and that it is the best and the better. Shariah must be normal for us and we must believe that Shariah is better for the world.

**Amor101** · 06-28-2017

Here is a very good source all of us Muslims use:

The Invalidators of Islaam

By Imaam 'Abdullaah Ibn 'Abdul 'Azeez Ibn Baaz

This is a slightly abridged translation of 'al-'Aqeedatus Saheehah war-Risaalatul Ma'iyyah' (a collection of four booklets by the al-'Allaamah Ibn Baaz) (p.37-41).

"PIVOTAL QUOTE": So the scholars (rahima-humullaah) have mentioned in judgement upon the apostate that the Muslim apostates from his Religion due to many types of invalidators that make his blood and his wealth permissible and by that he leaves Islaam.

Know - o Muslim brother - that Allaah has obligated upon all of the servants to enter into Islaam and to hold fast to it and to warn against whatever opposes it. So Allaah sent His Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) to call to that, and He, the Mighty and Majestic, informed that whoever followed him was indeed guided, and whoever resisted him was indeed misguided. So He warned in many statements concerning the causes for apostasy and the types of disbelief. So the scholars (rahimahumullaah) have mentioned in judgement upon the apostate that the Muslim apostates from his Religion due to many types of invalidators that make his blood and his wealth permissible and by that he leaves Islaam. The most dangerous of these emanate from ten invalidators. [The shaykh, the Imaam, Muhammad Ibn 'Abdul Wahhaab and other than him from the people of knowledge have mentioned all of these. Translators Note: See: Durarus Sunniyyah (8/89-90), and Mu`allifaatush Shaykh Muhammad Ibn 'Abdul Wahhaab (5/212/214)]

We shall mention them for you in what follows upon a short path to warn you about them and so that you may warn others in hopes of security and well being, along with a small explanation after mentioning them.

First

From the ten invalidators is shirk (associating partners) in the worship of Allaah. Allaah the Exalted says:

"Verily Allaah does not forgive that you associate partners with Him, but He forgives whatever is below that for whoever He wishes."[Sooratun Nisaa` 3:116]

Allaah the Exalted says:

"Whoever associates partners with Allaah, then Allaah, then Allaah has forbidden Paradise for him and his dwelling be in the Fire and there will be no helpers for the oppressors." [Sooratul Maa`idah 5:72]

So from that is supplication to the dead and seeking their aid and taking oaths by them and slaughtering for their sake.

Second

Whoever places intermediaries between himself and Allaah, supplicating to them and asking them for intercession and placing his trust upon them, then he has indeed disbelieved by agreement.

Third

Whoever does not disbelieve in the idolaters, or doubts in their disbelief, or believes in the correctness of their religion, then he has disbelieved.

Fourth

Whoever believes that the guidance of other than the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) is more complete than his Guidance, or that the judgement of other than him is better than his Judgement, such as those who give precedence to the judgement of the tawaagheet over his Judgement, then he is a disbeliever.

Translators Note: Imaam Ibnul Qayyim gave a general definition for taaghoot (pl. tawaagheet) when he said [Fathul Majeed (p. 16)]:

"A taaghoot is everything that a slave transgresses the limits by, such as a deity, or someone who is followed, or calls to his following. So a taaghoot is every people who subject judgement to other than Allaah and His Messenger, or worship from other than Allaah, or obey without Guidance from Allaah, or those who obey him in what is not known as obedience to Allaah."

Fifthly

Whoever hates something from what the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) came with, or the one who acts like that, then he has indeed disbelieved due to the statement of Allaah:

"That is because they disbelieved in what Allaah revealed, so He rendered their deeds worthless." [Sooratul Muhammad 47:9]

Sixth

Whoever ridicules something from the Religion of the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), or its reward, or its punishment, he has disbelieved. The proof for this is the statement of Allaah:

"Say: Was it Allaah and His messenger and His Signs that you were mocking? Make no excuse, indeed you have disbelieved after your faith." [Sooratut Tawbah 9:65-66]

Seventh

Magic, and from it is sarf (detachment) [Sarf: A magical action by which it is intended to distance a man from that which he wants, such as detaching a man from the love of his wife to hatred for her] and 'itf (affection) ['Itf: A magical action by which it is intended to encourage a man towards what he does not want through Satanic paths]. So whoever does this, or is happy with it - he has disbelieved. The proof is the statement of Allaah:

"And they do not teach anyone until they have said: 'We are a trial so do not disbelieve.'" [Sooratul Baqarah 2:102]

Eighth

Supporting the disbelievers and cooperating with them against the Muslims. The proof for this is the statement of Allaah the Exalted:

"So whoever forms an alliance with them, then verily he is from them. Verily Allaah does not guide an oppressive people." [This means, none is more oppressive than them] [Sooratul Maa`idah 5:51]

Ninth

Whoever believes that some of the people are free to leave from the Law (sharee'ah) of Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), then he is a disbeliever due to the statement of Allaah the Exalted:

"Whoever seeks a religion other than Islaam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter, he will be from the losers." [Soorah Aali Imraan 3:75]

Tenth

Turning away from the Religion of Allaah without being knowledgeable about it, nor acting upon it. The proof for this is the statement of Allaah:

"And who is more unjust [That is, the disbelievers] than one who is reminded [Reminder: an admonition and insight into what is obligatory upon him] of the statement of his Lord, then he turns away [Turning away: rejecting alliance] from them. Verily We will take retribution [Retribution: taking back what was done before] from the criminals." [Sooratus Sajdah 32:22]

So all of these invalidators do not differentiate between the scoffer or the liberal person or the fearful, except that it is deception. All of them are from the greatest danger and most numerous in occurrence. So it is befitting for the Muslim that he is aware of them and fears them for himself.

Whoever believes in the constitutions and laws that the people take as being better than the Law of Islaam, or that the Laws of Islaam cannot be applied in the twentieth century, or that they are a cause for division amongst the Muslims, or that it restricts a persons devotion to his Lord without entering into the matters of the Next Life. Also entering into the fourth category is whoever thinks that the Ruling of Allaah in cutting the hand of the thief or stoning the adulterer is not valid in this age. Also entering into that is whoever believes that it is permissible to rule by other than the Law of Allaah in conduct and punishments or other than them.

We seek refuge in Allaah from that which necessitates His Anger and His Grievous Punishment. May the Prayers and Peace of Allaah be upon the best of His creation, Muhammad and upon his family and his companions.

**happymuslim** · 06-28-2017

Originally Posted by Amor101