بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
NAWAQID AL-ISLAAM
Know O Muslim brother that Allaah has obligated all of His servants to enter the fold of Islaam, to hold tightly onto it and to beware of those things that oppose it. And He sent His Prophet, Muhammad (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam), to call the people to that, informing us that whoever follows him is guided, whereas whoever turns away from him is astray. In many ayaat (verses) of the Qur’aan, He has warned us about the things that cause one to apostate as well as all the rest of the types of Shirk (polytheism) and Kufr (disbelief).
The scholars, may Allaah have mercy on them, have mentioned in their chapters on the “Ruling of the Apostate”, that a Muslim may apostate from his Religion through various types of Nullifiers (of Faith), which cause his life and wealth to become permissible (as it has come in sahih hadith and clear ayat) and which causes him to leave from the fold of Islaam.
And from the most dangerous amongst them and those that occur most often are ten nullifiers [1] that we will mention to you in the following lines, in a summarized manner, so that you may beware of them and warn others about them, hoping that Allaah will protect and safeguard us from them. We will also mention a few short clarifications after them.
First
Shirk (associating partners) in the worship of Allaah. Allaah says:
“Verily, Allaah does not forgive that partners be associated
with Him in worship (Shirk), but He forgives what is less than that
to whom He wills.”[Surah An-Nisaa: 116]
And He says:
“Verily, the one who mixes partners in worship with
Allaah (Shirk), then Paradise has been made forbidden for him and
his final abode will be the Hellfire. And the wrongdoers will not
have any helpers (in Hell).”[Surah Al-Maa’idah: 72]
What falls into this is supplicating and invoking the deceased, seeking assistance from them, as well as making oaths to them and offering sacrificial animals to them.
Second
Whoever places intermediaries between himself and Allaah, asking them to intercede on his behalf, and relying on them, has committed disbelief according to the unanimous agreement of the scholars.
Third
Whoever does not hold the polytheists to be disbelievers, or has doubts about their disbelief or considers their ways and beliefs to be correct, has committed disbelief.
Fourth
Whoever believes that some guidance other than that of the Prophet’s (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) is more complete than his guidance and that someone else’s judgement is better than his judgement, such as those who prefer the judgement of the Tawaagheet (pl. of Taaghoot; false deities/religions) over his judgement, then he is a disbeliever.*
Fifth
Whoever hates something that the Messenger came with, even though he may act on it, has disbelieved, based on Allaah’s saying:
“That is because they disliked what Allaah sent down, so He
nullified their (good) deeds.”[Surah Muhammad: 9]
Sixth
Whoever mocks or ridicules any part of the Messenger’s Religion or its rewards or punishments has committed an act of disbelief. The proof for this is Allaah’s statement:
“Say: `Was it Allaah and His verses and His Messengerthat you were mocking? Make no excuses, you have disbelieved after having had faith.”
[Surah At- Tawbah: 65-66]
Seventh
Sorcery, which includes magic spells that causes a person to hate (sarf) [2] or love (`atf) [3] someone/something. So whoever performs it or is pleased with it being done, has committed disbelief. The proof for this is Allaah’s statement:
“And neither of these two (angels) would teach anyone until they had first said to them: `We are only a trial (for the people), so do not commit disbelief.’”
[Surah Al-Baqarah: 102]
Eighth
Supporting and assisting the polytheists against the Muslims. The proof for this is Allaah’s statement:
“And whoever amongst you takes them (i.e. the disbelievers) as allies and
protectors then he is indeed from among them. Verily, Allaah does
not guide a wrong-doing [4] people.”[Surah Al-Maa’idah: 51]
Ninth
Whoever believes that it is permitted for some people to be free of (implementing) the Sharee’ah (revealed laws) of Muhammad (i.e. Islaam), then he is a disbeliever, according to Allaah’s statement:
“And whoever seeks a Religion other than Islaam, it will
never be accepted from him and in the Hereafter, he will be from
among the losers.”[Surah Aali `Imraan: 85]
Tenth
Turning away from Allaah’s Religion, not learning it or implementing it (is an act of disbelief). The proof for this is Allaah’s saying:
“And who does more wrong [5] than he who is
reminded [6] of the ayaat (signs/verses) of his Lord, then turns
away [7] from them. Verily, We shall extract retribution [8] from
the criminals.”[Surah As-Sajdah: 22]
FINAL NOTE
There is no difference, with regard to (committing any of) these nullifiers, between the one who jokes, the one who is serious or the one who does so out of fear. However, the one who commits them due to being coerced (is excused). All of these (ten) matters are from the gravest in danger and from those that most often occur. So the Muslim must beware of them and fear from these acts befalling him.
*What falls into the Fourth Nullifier are those who believe that the man-made laws and constitutions that the people have legislated are better than the Sharee’ah (laws) of Islaam.
- Or those who believe that it is not correct to implement the Laws of Islaam in the twentieth century.
- Or that this is a cause for the backwardness of the Muslims.
- Or that it is limited to only playing a part in the relationship between the servant and his Lord and that it should not interfere in the other affairs of life.
- What also falls under this fourth category are those who hold that carrying out Allaah laws, such as cutting off the hand of a thief or stoning a guilty adulterer is not befitting for this modern era.
- What also falls under this category are those who believe that it is permissible to rule by other than the Laws of Allaah (Sharee’ah) in matters of interactions, penal laws and so on, even if he doesn’t believe that it is better than ruling by the Sharee’ah. This is since by doing this, he will be making lawful that which Allaah has made forbidden, according to the unanimous consensus (Ijmaa’).
- Anyone that makes lawful that which Allaah has prohibited from the matters that one is required to know by necessity, such as fornication, alcohol, interest and ruling by other than Allaah’s Laws, then he is a disbeliever according to the Ijmaa’ (unanimous consensus) of the Muslims.
We seek refuge in Allaah from those things that bring about His Anger and painful Punishment.
والله تعالى أعلم
وصلى اللهم وسلم وبارك على نبينا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه والتابعين
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Zinaid Abu Naser 