Bismillah Ar-Rahman
Ar-Raheem
Takfir, Ignorance, and Aiding the Kuffar
All Praise and All Thanks are for Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala to whom we
shall all return to be judged on The Last Day.
"From each and every direction He has the power to deliver
misfortune to you - to sow confusion and dissension among you. Thus
do We reveal our Signs, that you might understand them." 6:65
Interpretation of Meaning
What is Takfir?
Takfir is declaring an individual, previously known to be or considered
to be Muslim, to be a kaffir, an unbeliever. Takfir can also be
declared upon a group. Thus, the individual or group are no longer part
of the Ummah.
Caution Regarding Takfir:
Takfir is a serious issue, since it was authentically reported that the
Prophet (salla
Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:
"If someone accuses someone of Fusuq or Kufr, such an
accusation will be returned to be upon he [who so accused] if that
accusation is false." Narrated Abu Dhar. Bukhari: Vol 8, Book 73,
number 71
Thus, for such a declaration, there must be proof. According to Sheikh
ul-Islam Ibn Taimiyyah (Rahimullah):
"The person will only be outside Islam when there is no
doubt because
there is proof against him." [Majamu Al-Fatwa 12, 467.]
Furthermore, for a Muslim to become a kaffir, it is agreed that the
person either commits one of the acts which expels the Muslim from the
Ummah - such as mocking the Prophet (salla
Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) - or that the
person must have chosen kufr (refer to al-Qurtubi: al-Jamia li
Ahkamul Quran, 7/6128) in which case if a Muslim of little or no
knowledge does something out of
ignorance then that Muslim does not become a kaffir, for Allah
Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says:
"There shall be the Mercy of Allah upon those who err from
ignorance if they, and swiftly, regret such error." 4:17
Interpretation of Meaning
Thus, if a Muslim we know makes some mistake, or errs, then Adab
Al-Islam requires us - gently and with humility (and if possible in
private) - to draw the attention of that Muslim to such a mistake or
error. It was reported that the Prophet (salla
Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:
"There is no Believer who does not make an error sometimes,
or who does not make some mistake which they persist in and
do not abandon until they leave this world. For, in truth, the Believer
was created to be frequently tried and tested: someone who often
regrets (then) forgets, again. But when corrected, they correct
themselves." Reported by at-Tabarani in al-Mujamul Kabir (no.
11,810); hasan.
Issues Regarding Takfir - Aiding the Kuffar:
1) For takfir to be declared, the nullifiers of Islam must be known.
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says:
"Allah does not lead a people astray after His guidance has
been given until He makes clear to them wherein error lies." 9:
115
Interpretation of Meaning
Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahab - Rahimahullah - gathered ten actions
that negate one's Islam (Nawaqid ul-Ashr), the eighth one of which
states: "Assisting the disbelievers (against the believers)
(Mudhaharatul Mushrikeen) and supporting them against the believers is
one of the actions that negates of one's Islam..." Thus, it is
generally and widely known that one of these nullifiers of one's
Islam is supporting, aiding or allying with the kuffar against the
Muslims. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says:
"Obey, follow and give allegiance only to that brought to
you from your
Sustainer, and do not obey, nor follow nor give allegiance to those who
are
Awliya' besides Him." 7:3 Interpretation of Meaning
"You will not find any people who believe in Allah and the
Last
Day, making friendship with and loving those who oppose Allah and His
Messenger (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam), even if they are their
fathers or their sons or their kindred..." 58:22 Interpretation of the
meaning
In addition, as Sheikh Abdullah ibn Humaid said:
"Whoever
expresses Tawalli towards the disbelievers (Tawalli Kuffar) and
supports and helps them against the believers, then such constitutes
apostasy by one's (proceeding) actions. It is obligatory to apply the
rules of apostasy upon such a person as is proved by The Book, the
Sunnah and the consensus of the scholars." Ad-Durrar 15/479
Furthermore, Sheikh Abdul
Latif bin Abdur Rahman bin Hassan Aal-Sheikh said:
"Whomsoever helps the
disbelievers or brings them to the country
of Ahl Al-Islam, then that person is clearly an apostate." Ad-Durrar
8/326
Also, as Sheikh Safar
bin 'Abdir-Rahmaan al-Hawaali said:
"Aiding the Non-Muslims over Muslims
- no matter
which form of aid or co-operation it be, even if it is merely in speech
- this is clear Kufr and sheer hypocrisy. The one who does this has
perpetrated one of the actions which negates Islam, as has been
specifically stated by the Imams of the Dawah and others, and such a
person is not a believer in the Aqeedah of al-Wala and al-Bara."
Thus, we should be in no doubt that if a Muslim chooses to aid, ally
themselves with, the kuffar against the Muslims then they have negated
their Islam.
2) Since we judge someone by what is apparent, it is apparent that
if a
Muslim joins the Armed Forces or the Police of the kuffar, and wears
the uniform of the kuffar, then they have sworn allegiance to the
kuffar and/or to some Taghut of the kuffar - such as a President, some
nation-State, or some kaffir leader - since such allegiance is a
necessary part of joining and belonging to such kaffir organizations.
In addition, a Muslim pledges thereby to uphold the fallible
manufactured laws of the kuffar and to obey the kuffar.
Thus, by doing such things the person in question has made a knowing
and willing choice, for they know and accept that such kaffir
organizations have aided and do aid the kuffar over and above Muslims;
that they place and
value kaffir manufactured laws above Shariah, and have imprisoned
Muslims, invaded and occupied Muslim lands; killed and tortured and
humiliated Muslims. Furthermore, for a Muslim, allegiance, submission
and obedience can only be to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, for that is
Eeman, which is manifest by:
"Those who believe in Allah and His Messenger, who are
steadfast, and who strive with their wealth and their lives for the Way
of
Allah." 49:15 Interpretation of Meaning
However, instead of only striving for the Way of Allah, to raise the
Word of
Allah, those individuals who ally themselves with the kuffar are
striving in the way of the kuffar, for the Taghut of the kuffar, in
order to establish the Taghut of the kuffar - such as "democracy" and
the
nation-State and the implementation of manufactured kaffir laws in
place of Shariah. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says:
"Allah is the Wali of those who believe: from darkness, He leads them
into the light, while those do not believe have, as their Wali, their
Taghut so that they are led from light into darkness. For them, there
is the Fire, where they shall dwell forever." 2: 257 Interpretation of
Meaning
"Those who believe, fight in the Cause of
Allah, and those who
disbelieve, fight in the cause of Taghut. So therefore fight against
those friends of Shaitaan." 4: 76 Interpretation of Meaning
"Their way is to refer matters to a Taghut. " 4:60 Interpretation of
Meaning
3) Thus, we can state that takfir can - and should - be made upon those
who have given their allegiance to the organizations of the kuffar, for
these organizations are based upon Tawagheet and are striving through
force, or persuasion, or both, to have people submit to such Tawagheet,
just as such organizations demand loyalty to such Tawagheet, judge by
such Tawagheet, and just as they are striving against Deen Al-Islam and
Muslims who, in obedience to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, refuse to bow
down to and accept such Tawagheet.
"The words of your Rabb are complete, perfect -
manifesting truth,
justice, and nothing shall ever abrogate them." 6:115 Interpretation of
Meaning
May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala protect us from all forms of Al-asabiyyah
Al-Jahiliyyah, forgive us for our mistakes, and guide us to and keep us
on the Right Path.
Abdul-Aziz ibn Myatt
1 Safar 1428