Chapter on the nullifiers of Islam (Volume 4)
40- Explaining matters which nullify one's Islam
Q: Can you mention to the listeners the things which take
out a person from the Din (religion) of Islam, make him a Kafir (disbeliever)
after being a Muslim?
A: There are certain matters that nullify Islam. A Muslim is
obliged to be cautious about these things. Scholars have mentioned them in the
chapter of the ruling on the Murtad (apostate). They defined them as the Muslim
who becomes a Kafir after his Islam. They mentioned many things which nullify
one's Islam, for example, invoking the dead, seeking help from them, cursing
the Din of Islam, the Prophet (peace be upon him), or the Qur'an, mocking the
Qur'an, or the Din of Islam, neglecting Salahs (Prayers), denying its
obligation, denying the obligation of Zakah (obligatory charity), denying the
obligation of Sawm (Fast) in Ramadan, denying the obligation of Hajj for he who
has the ability to perform it. Those who deny these obligations are Kafirs.
Also, those who deem as lawful Zina (illegal sexual intercourse outside
marriage), homosexuality are Kafirs. If one says that Khamr (intoxicant) is
Halal (lawful), then he becomes a Kafir. If he says that Riba (usury) is Halal,
he is a Kafir.
There are also many other examples mentioned by scholars in this
regard. They referred to them as nullifiers of Islam, which cause Riddah
(apostasy). May Allah protect us. These times are hard times, particularly in
many countries which are not ruled by the Shari`ah (Islamic law), with many
advocators of falsehood. The deeds which nullify Islam are widely spread. There
is neither might nor power except with Allah.
(Part No. 4; Page No. 102)
Q: A questioner from Egypt says: "What are the things
that nullify Islam? If someone commits these things, how do they go back to
Islam again?"
A: This is a great question as it is an obligation on every
Mu'min (believer) to understand this and take care of it, because things that
nullify Islam nowadays are a lot, and their dangers are grave. Thus, this
question brings great benefit for all Muslims. The scholars have compiled many
books on the deeds which nullify Islam, and they have mentioned in books of
Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) separate chapters about this matter. They named
them the chapter on the ruling on the Murtad, which is he who becomes a Kafir
after being a Muslim. Then they mentioned the matters which nullify and which
lead to Riddah. They are called "Invalidators of Islam" which are
the things that nullify Islam and the causes of Riddah. These invalidators are
many. Scholars have mentioned them in this chapter in the Madh-hab (School of
Jurisprudence) of Al-Hanabilah (the followers of Imam Ahmad's School of
Jurisprudence) Al-Shafi`iyyah, Al-Malikiyyah, and others. Some scholars have
compiled separate books on this matter. Moreover, it is Wajib (obligatory) on
every Mu'min whether a male or a female to be cautious about this, and to
acquire knowledge in this regard in order not to fall into it. This is because
these matters contain Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or
Worship), which is the greatest sin, as invoking the dead whether it be
Al-Badawy, Al-Husayn, or others, seeking their help, vowing to them,
sacrificing for their sake, asking the idols, and seeking the help of the Jinn
(creatures created from fire), the angels or the stars. All these things are
types of Shirk and invalidators of Islam. Moreover, mocking the Din of Islam,
the Qur'an, or the Prophet (peace be upon him) is one of these invalidators of
Islam. Allah (Exalted be He) says: Say: "Was it at Allâh (عز
وجل), and His Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs,
revelations) and His Messenger (صلى
الله عليه وسلم) that you were mocking?" Make no
excuse; you have disbelieved after you had believed. One of the invalidators of
Islam is neglecting Salah. This is because Salah is one of the pillars of
Islam. It is the greatest pillar after the two Shahadahs (Testimonies of
Faith). Thus, if one denies its obligation, then they become a Kafir. But, if
one neglects it out of leniency and laziness, then they also become a Kafir
according to the more correct of the two opinions of scholars. Also, if one
denies the obligation of Zakah (obligatory charity) or says that Sawm (Fast) of
the month of Ramadan is not an obligation on people, then they become Kafirs
according to all scholars. Moreover, if one says that performing Hajj in case
of ability to perform it is not an obligation upon Mukallafs (persons meeting
the conditions to be held legally accountable for their actions), then they
become Kafirs. This is because Allah has obliged Hajj on he who is able. If a
person says that Zina is Halal, and makes as Halal what Allah has made Haram
(prohibited), then he, according to all scholars, is a Kafir and a Murtad due
to his violation of Islam. Also, if one says that Khamr, homosexuality, and
Riba are Halal, they are Kafirs. We seek refuge in Allah against all these
things. Moreover, if one says that ruling according to other than Shari`ah is
permitted and there is no harm in ruling according to positive laws and
neglecting the Qur'an and Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet), they
become Kafirs. Invalidators of Islam are many to the extent that some scholars
said that they are four hundred invalidators after counting them. If a person
reads and understands them, they will find that they are many. It is obligatory
on every Mu'min to be cautious about this and to gain knowledge about his
religion. One should also revise this chapter that deals with the ruling on the
Murtad and understand it fully in order to gain benefit and bring benefits to
others. We ask Allah to grant us well-being and safety. There is neither might
nor power except with Allah.
(Part No. 4; Page No. 103)
If a person commits one of the invalidators of Islam, he is
required to perform Tawbah (repentance to Allah), regret the past sins, and be
sure to never go back to this invalidator. If one is regarded as a Kafir due to
invoking the dead and seeking the help of the dead and the idols, he has to
abandon this sin and repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He). By doing
so, one returns to Islam. If his Kufr is due to denying the obligation of
Salah, then he should admit his mistake and confess that Salah is an obligation
on every Mukallaf. One should also repent to Allah of this sin and regret what
he did and be sure to never return to this sin again. If one does so, Allah
will forgive him. If one neglects Salah, then his Tawbah is to start praying
and regret the past. One is obliged to perform Istighfar (seeking forgiveness
from Allah) for this past sin and be sure that he will never return to such
sin. This is the Tawbah. If one becomes a Kafir due to saying that Zina is
Halal, then he has to offer Tawbah through confessing that Zina is forbidden,
repenting to Allah, seeking forgiveness from Him, and admitting one's mistake.
Allah knows from the heart of the person whether or not he is truthful, and He
will forgive him if he is truthful.
(Part No. 4; Page No. 105)
Q: What are the things which nullify Islam? If a person
falls into this, how do they return to Islam a second time? May Allah reward
you with the best.
A: The things that nullify Islam are the invalidators of
Islam. Committing these invalidators is the avenue leading to Riddah. These
invalidators were clarified by scholars in separate chapters in the books of
Fiqh. They called this chapter "The ruling on the Murtad". They
mention this chapter at the end of the books of Fiqh with the mentioning of the
Diyah (blood money), retaliation, and Hudud (ordained punishments for violating
Allah's Law). You can read this chapter in the books of Al-Hanabilah, Al-Shafi`iyyah,
Al-Malikiyyah, Al-Hanafiyyah, and books of the scholars of Hadith, in order for
you to benefit from these great books. What is meant is that this chapter is a
great chapter where they have mentioned the violations of Islam; the most
dangerous of which is Shirk; invoking the idols, the dead, the stars, statues,
trees, or stones or seeking refuge in them, vowing to them, sacrificing for
their sake. These are acts of major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His
Divinity or Worship that takes the Muslim out of Islam). One of the
invalidators of Islam is cursing the Din of Islam whether by cursing,
criticizing, or mocking it. Moreover, mocking what Allah and His Prophet have
said, mocking the Prophet, or the Qur'an are violations of Islam. Also, if one
deems as Halal what Allah has forbidden by saying, for example, that Zina,
Khamr, or Riba are Halal, he is considered to be a Murtad according to the
Ijma` (consensus of scholars). Similarly, if one denies the obligations which
Allah has ordained by claiming that Salah, Zakah, Sawm of Ramadan, or Hajj for
he who is able to perform it are not obligatory, they will be considered
Murtads. Scholars have mentioned also other types of Riddah.
(Part No. 4; Page No. 106)
Q: What are actions and deeds that bring a person closer to
Jannah (Paradise) and further them away from Hellfire?
A: The deeds and
actions which bring a person closer to Jannah are obeying Allah and His
Prophet, carrying out all what is ordered and legislated by Allah and His
Messenger (peace be upon him), performing obligatory and supererogatory Salah,
observing obligatory and supererogatory Sawm, performing both obligatory and
supererogatory Hajj, paying Zakah and Sadaqah (voluntary charity), much
observing Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah), Tasbih (saying: "Subhan Allah
[Glory be to Allah]"), and Tahlil (saying, "La ilaha illa Allah
[There is no god except Allah]"), performing Da`wah (calling to Islam),
teaching people what is good, visiting the sick, enjoining Ma`ruf (that which
is judged as good, beneficial, or fitting by Shari`ah and Muslims of sound
intellect), forbidding Munkar (that which is unacceptable or disapproved of by
Shari`ah and Muslims of sound intellect), and reading Qur'an. These are all
causes for entering Jannah and getting closer to it. All sins send you further
away from Jannah and bring you closer to Hellfire. We ask Allah to keep us safe
from such sins such as, backbiting, gossiping, laziness to pray in
congregation, praying at home, cutting the beard, growing the moustache, and
lengthening clothes. All these sins bring one closer to Hellfire. We ask Allah
to keep us safe.
