The Difference between Kufr that does not necessitate punishment and the one which does

declared a ‘Kāfir’ the one who goes against it, from worshipping Allāh alone (and that) there is no partner to Him and his forbidding of worshipping of any other besides Him, for verily this is the most apparent symbol of Islām” He means; so in this, it is not possible to be said that, the hujjah has not been established by which the person who leaves it becomes a Kāfir.”

(Majmū’a Arrasāil wal masāil Annajdiyya, 4: 474,475)

Sheikh Suleimān bin Sahmān (r.a.) said: “So none is excused for not having Imāan in Allāh and His Angels, His books, His Messengers and the Last day, so there is no excuse for him after that due to ignorance. And Allāh explains the ignorance of many amongst the Kufaār, while clearly stating their kufr. And He ascribed the Christians with ignorance, while a Muslim will not doubt in their kufr.

And we firmly state that; most of the Jews and Christians today are blind following ignorant (people) and we believe in their kufr and we believe in the kufr of those who doubt in their kufr. And the Qur’an stated upon that; verily doubt in the fundamentals of religion is kufr…..And there is no excuse for the person whose status is the like, because he did not understand the evidences of Allāh and His explanations. There is no excuse for him after it reaches him even if he doesn’t understand it”(Kashf Shubhatain, 92)

Ibn Taymiyyah (r.a.) said: “Verily many from the people are tested in places of ignorance and its times, in matters of major Shirk while they do not know”

(Majmū’ul Fatāwa, 22:387)

The Difference between Kufr that does not necessitate punishment and the one which does

Allah (s.w.t) says: “Messengers who gave good news as well as warning, that mankind after (the coming) of the messengers, should have no plea against Allah, For Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.” (An-Nisa 4/165)

“(The messengers were sent) thus, for thy Lord would not destroy for their wrong-doing men's habitations whilst their occupants were unwarned.” (Al-Anaam 6/131) Allah says: “And we are not to punish, until we send a messenger…” (Al-Isra, 17:15 )

So Allāh is not going to punish anyone on the Day of Judgment until He

establishes the Hujjah (proof) upon him. And His (s.w.t) ruling in this world is that the person who commits Shirk is a ‘Mushrik’. Punishment will be sent upon these people only after the arrival of the Rasul (messenger bringing proof). When it comes to the turning away, mentioned in the ayah “So he gave nothing in charity, nor did he pray! But on the contrary, he rejected Truth and turned away!” (Al-Qiyama 75/31-32) a situation as such can only be under consideration after the arrival of the Rasul. The Ayah mentioning Pharoah (firaun): “But (Pharaoh) rejected it and disobeyed (guidance)” (an-Naziat 79/21) this had happened after the arrival of the Messenger again. Likewise in the other ayah it is mentioned

“Then did (Moses) show him the Great Sign. But (Pharaoh) rejected it and disobeyed (guidance)” (an-Naziat 79/20-21) “But Pharaoh disobeyed the

messenger; so We seized him with a heavy Punishment.” (Al-Muzzammil 73/16) Al Sheikh Abdullāh and Sheikh Ibrāhīm who are the sons of Sheikh Abdullatīf and Sheikh

Suleimān bin Sah’mān, said: “As for their saying, we say ‘that the word is Kufr and we will not rule with kufr upon the one who said it’ so to generalize this is mere ignorance, because this phrase doesn’t apply except over the specific individual, and the matter of takfeer of the specific individual (muayyan) is a

known matter, (that is) if one says such a word is kufr, then it is said ‘whoever says this saying is a Kāfir’. But the person who said it is not ruled as a Kāfir until the hujjah (proof), which the person who leaves it becomes a Kāfir, there the takfeer is made upon him. Then there is the hidden matters which sometimes, its evidence is hidden from people, just like the matter of Qadr (divine decree) and Irjā and its likes. And for what the people of desires said; then some of their sayings include kufr matters which includes rejection of proofs from the Book and Sunnah wich is proved with tawātur, so the saying which includes rejection of some texts would be kufr and it is not judged upon the one who says it for possibility of existence of a preventing factor like ignorance and not having knowledge with what contradicts the text or with what it proves. Thus verily the Sharī’ah doesn’t become binding except after it reaches (a person/group).” (Aqīdatul Muwahhidīn, page 227and 526) Ibn Qayyim states: “They had not been destructed for their ‘Zulm’ before the arrival of the Rasul” in this case these ayah point out two essentials, surely their acts of Shirk was evil, zulm before hujjah, but yet Allah will not punish them before sending a Messenger. In this sense, the mentioned ayah is similar to the ayah in surah Qassas which guides to the two fundaments.

“If (We had) not (sent thee to the Quraish), in case a calamity should seize them for (the deeds) that their hands have sent forth, they might say: "Our Lord! why did You not sent us a messenger? We should then have followed Thy Signs and been amongst those who believe!" (Al-Qassas 28/47)

“In reality the actions they have done with their own hands is sufficient evidence for their destruction. Now if these acts hadn’t been bad/evil there would be no need for their punishment. Whereas, the conditions of destruction hadn’t been met, they had been abstained (hujjah was not established) from being subjected (to

punishment). This is because a Messenger had not arrived to them yet. Whenever a Messenger arrives the cause will take place and then the conditions are met (for punishment). Now the punishment for their evil actions will take place and they will be punished in both ‘Dunya’ and the ‘Akhirah’. Absolutely the reason of punishment exists before the hujjah. However the existence for the reason of punishment does not necessitate that it comes to existence. The reason for this is Allah had laid down a condition that a Rasul must be sent because the punishment is invalid until the hujjah. The last thing to be said regarding these matters is this.”

(Miftah’u Dar is Saada, 2/7-39)

Ibn Qayyim also stated the following: “It is waajib to believe that whoever belongs to a religion other than Islam is a ‘Kafir’. Allah will not punish anyone before He sends the hujjah with His Rasul. This is always the case. The ‘hukm’(ruling) upon the individuals is the right of Allah. When it comes to a worldly hukm, the hukm will be given according to the appearance (zahr). Children of the Kuffar and those mentally sick, from the Kuffar are also Kufar (disbelievers) according to the hukm in this life. Their hukm is the same as those who had their walayah.” (Tariqu’l-Hijratayn)

Imam Mufti of Nadj Abu Batin related the following from shaikh ul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, “Whoever performs the action of Shirk, with no doubt is a Mushrik.

He will be invited to repent. If he has repented it is great, if not he will be killed”

he also said: “With no doubt Imam Ibn Taymiyyah in many places has clarified that an individual who performs any action of Shirk will be given the hukm of takfeer (proclaimed a kafir).

Although he had narrated from the ‘Ijma’ of the Muslims, he had not excused the ignorant (in matters of shirk). Allah (swt) stated “Allah forgives not (the sin of)

joining other gods with Him; but He forgives whom He please other sins than this:

one who joins other gods with Allah, Hath strayed far, far away (from the right).”

(An-Nisa 4/116) also “…Whoever joins other gods with Allah, Allah will forbid him the garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help.” (al-Maida 5/72) Now whoever claims this avoidance to be

particular to only the stubborn (muannid) individuals and excludes the ignorant, the misinterpreters and the imitators (muqallid) with no doubt will have opposed Allah and RasulAllah (saaws) and he will have separated from the path of the

‘Muminoon’(believers). Moreover in the books of the fuqaha, the section of ‘the hukm of the murtad’ commences with the following: “Whoever performs the action of Shirk to Allah has to be called for repentance… and they never limit it with the muannid. In reality this is a clear matter. Alhamdulillah.” ( Al Intisar li Hizb’ il Muwahhidun war Rad ala’l Mujadil an’ il-Mushrikeen, 27)

This is the view of Ibn Taymiyyah regarding the Ummah of Muhammad: “Time will come when some nass(text) will seem difficult to understand and they will not understand. In reality these matters difficult to understand are attributed to them (with their lack of understanding) because they are unable to comprehend the meaning of these evidences. Whereas it is not possible that in the Qur’an there is anything which opposes the open mind and senses. Nevertheless there is bayan (clear explanation) of its meaning in the Qur’an. Surely Allah had made the Qur’an cure for what is in the bosoms and a bayan(clear explanation) for the people. For this reason it is not possible for the opposite to happen. On the other hand,

sometimes in some places and in some Eras the product of ‘Risalah’ had been left hidden. Such that they will not know what the Rasul had brought. This could be, by not knowing the statements or by knowing the statements but not

comprehending it. In this situation because of the lack of the light of nubuwwa (Prophethood) they will become a part of ‘Jahiliyyah.’ Here, in this environment, Shirk will occur and deen (religion) will be bits and pieces. For instance, like the fitna which makes girding swords. Now fitna is divided into two sections: kawl (statement) and amal (action). This is due to Jahilliyyah which originates from the light of ‘Nubuwwa’ being left hidden.

Malik b. Anas stated: When ‘ilm diminishes useless things like foam will appear.

When the ‘nass’(text) diminish ‘hawa’ and desires will dominate. For this reason fitnah has been compared to a night of darkness. In his khutbah Ahmad said:

Alhamdulillah He has left masters of ‘ilm in every era of fatrah. The hidayah given to the people on earth surely is from the glory of nubuwwah. It is stated in the ayah: “…but if, as is sure, there comes to you Guidance from Me, whosoever follows My Guidance, will not lose his way, nor fall into misery.” (Ta-Ha 20/123) Those who are subjected to their Prophets are those in hidayah and deliverance.

They are always the Muslim Mu’min. The ‘Ahl’ of punishment and heresy are those who oppose the Rasul and deny them. Those left are those which the nabawi hujjah had not reached the ahl jahiliyyah which are the ones in heresy and

ignorance. An addition they have fallen in evil and shirk. However Allah states:

“…nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had sent an messenger (to give warning). (Al-Isra 17/15) “Messengers who gave good news as well as warning, that mankind, after (the coming) of the messengers, should have no plea against Allah: For Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.” (An-Nisa 4/165) “Nor was thy Lord the one to destroy a population until He had sent to its centre a messenger,

rehearsing to them Our Signs; nor are We going to destroy a population except when its members practise iniquity.” (Al-Qassas 28/59) Allah will not destroy and punish these people before sending an envoy (messenger). There are many

narrations regarding the individual which Risalah had not reached in this ‘dunya’

and according to them Allah will send an envoy to this individual on the day of judgement to the field of Arafat” (Majmuatul Fataawa, 14:307)

The meaning of establishing the Hujjah (proof) and it’s different circumstances

Allah says: “And of them there are some who listen to you; but We have set veils on their hearts, so they understand it not, and deafness in their ears; if they see every one of the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) they will not believe therein; to the point that when they come to you to argue with you, the disbelievers say: "These are nothing but tales of the men of old.” (6:25) Allāh says: “Or do you think that most of them hear or understand? They are only like cattle; nay, they are even farther astray from the Path. (i.e even worse than cattle).”(25:44) Also Allāh says: “Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearings, (i.e. they are closed from accepting Allah's Guidance), and on their

eyes there is a covering. Theirs will be a great torment.” (Al Bakarah, 2:7) Whomsoever the Qur’ān reaches, (then) he is not excused for the major

fundamentals ,which is the basis of the Religion. Allāh has verily explained it and cleared it and established the Hujjah upon His slaves with it. The meaning of establishing the Hujjah does not mean that the human understands it with a clear understanding as the person whom Allāh has guided, and given tawfīq and (who) is obedient to His orders and understands. For verily the hujjah is established upon the Kuffār (while) Allāh informed us that He has made veils upon their hearts so that they may not understand His words. Allāh (swt) says: “but We have set veils on their hearts, so they understand it not” (6:25)

The verses which carry this meaning are many, in which Allāh informs us that they did not understand the Qur’ān neither did they comprehend it, and that he has put veils on their hearts and barriers on their hearings and He did not excuse them with all this, but rather labled them Kufar (disbelievers). Therefore establishing the hujjah doesn’t mean to prove the features of Kufr to the one who has not

understood it, but rather it is the Proof established against them of the deserving punishment in this world and the torment in the Day of Judgment.

Ibn Taimiya said: “Allāh said “Do they not then earnestly seek to understand the Qur'an, or are their hearts locked up by them?”(47:24) and Allāh said “Do they not ponder over the Word (of Allah), or has anything (new) come to them that did not come to their fathers of old?” (28:68) and Allāh said: “Do they not consider the Qur'an (with care)? Had it been from other Than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancy.” (4:82) So when He incited the Kuffār and the Munāfiqeen to ponder over it, it is to known its meaning (of verses) which the Kuffār and the Munāfiqen can’t understand or know” (Majmū’ul Fatāwā 5/158) And he (Ibn Taimiya) said: “So His verses obligates two things: One -

understanding it and pondering over it, as to know what is consists of and Two - Silence (calm, stillness) when it is heard. So his recitation of it or his listening obligates this. And if a person hears it but doesn’t understand it, he is criticized.

And if he understands it, yet doesn’t act upon it, he is criticized. But it is necessary to everyone, when he hears it to understand it and act upon it. As verily it is

necessary for everyone to hear it with keenness. So the one, who turns away from keenly hearing the message is a Kāfir. And the one who doesn’t understand what is commanded with in it, is a Kāfir. And the one who knows what was commanded thus he doesn’t admit its obligation and does it, is a Kāfir. So Allāh criticizes the Kuffār with this.” (Majmū’ul Fatāwā 23/147)

Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab said: “Whoever denies such and such, and upon whom the Hujjah has been established” and you are doubting about these Tawāgheet and their followers. Has the Hujjah been established upon them? This is something strange! How do you doubt in it (while) I have verily explained it

clearly to you many times?! For verily the person upon whom the hujjah is not established is the one who is new in Islām (newly revert), and the one who grows up in a faraway place or if it is a hidden matter of Qadr or tasarruf. The Proof is the Qur’an. So whomever the Qur’an reaches, the Hujjah is established upon him. But the base of the problem is that you don’t differentiate between establishing the hujjah and understanding hujjah. So verily many amongst the Kuffār and the Munāfiqeen from the “Muslims” have not understood the hujjah of Allāh with its establishment. As Allāh said “Or think you that most of them listen or understand?

They are only like cattle; nay, they are worse astray in Path.” (25:44) So establishing the hujjah is one thing and understanding is another and how it (hujjah) would be established upon them. Their understanding it is another thing and their Kufr (is valid) with its ruling even though they don’t understand it…And when you have known this; then verily the thing upon which you are is Kufr.

People worship the Tawagheet and make enmity with the religion of Islām, and they think that it is not apostasy because maybe they did not understand the Hujjah? All this is clear.” (Al-Durar Al-Saniyah, 10:93-95)

Sheikh Ishāq bin Abdurrahmān said: “Our matter is worshipping Allāh Alone, who has no partner, and barā’a (rejection) from worshipping everything besides him. And verily whoever while worshipping Allāh associates another (in worship) with Allāh, he has committed Shirk akbar (major shirk) which takes the person out of the fold of Islām and this is the base of the fundamentals. And with it,

Messengers were sent and books were revealed. And the hujjah has been

established upon the people with the Messenger and the Qur’ān. And this is how you would find the answer from the Imāms of the religion in this fundamental regarding the takfeer upon who makes Shirk with Allāh. For very (such a person) is asked to repent, or else (if he doesn’t repent) he is killed. And they did not mention that one should be explained the fundamentals of the religion. But they mention the explanation of hidden matters, which sometimes its proof remains hidden to some of the Muslims, like the matters by which some of the innovative groups like ‘Qadariyya’ and ‘Murjia’ have debated. Or like a hidden matter of

‘Tassarruf ‘(power to change matters/ go to detail in this matter to learn the exact meaning) and Qadr.” (Hukm Takfīr Al Muayyan wal farq beina qiyāmil Hujjah wa fahmil Hujjah, page 171)

The Sheikhs Adullāh and Ibrāhīm, the sons of Shiekh Abdullatīf and Suleimān bin Sahmān said: “As for his saying-one of the debaters on the behalf of the

Mushrikeen, and those people did not understand the Hujjah. And this is what indicates his ignorance. And that he did not differentiate between understanding the Hujjah and reaching the Hujjah. So understanding it is a type and reaching it is another type. Hujjah is verily established even if the person (who commited kufr) doesn’t understand it”( Al-Durar Al-Saniyah, 10/433)

Ibn Qayyim said commenting upon the verse of Allāh “They will further say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we should not (now) be among the

In document Kufr in Taghut (Page 31-38)