For the TikTok Aks: Calling Someone A Kafir
Question:
The other day I was out with some of my friends, and we started talking about different groups. One of them said that such-and-such person is a kafir (infidel). Upon hearing this, I told him that was not right. In his defense, he told me that he heard one of this person’s talks and what he said was nothing but kufr. What do I do?
Answer:
Bismillah wa salatu wa salamu ‘ala sayyidina rasulillah.
Sadly, this is the case for some in our community. Frank Luntz mentions in “What Americans Think…Really” that 90% of Americans think they are smarter than other Americans. Unfortunately, it seems that arrogance like this transcends faith and falls into our community as well.
Takfir (declaring apostasy) is not an easy affair. Just like any ruling, it has certain conditions that, if not present, will prevent the ruling, in this case, disbelief, from occurring.
Here are some of those conditions:
- Declaring apostasy cannot be based on probability, meaning if there is a chance that a person may not be a kafir. Imam Malik said, “If I have 99 reasons to believe a person is a kafir and one to believe he is not, I’ll prefer the latter.”
- Takfir is made regarding things that are known by default, like God being one and the finality of prophethood. The Malikis listed 33 issues that fall under the heading malum min al-din bi al-darurah.
- Takfir cannot be based on following an opinion (ijtihad) of a scholar in fiqh (legal verdict). There is no kafir in fiqh because fiqh implies knowledge of things beyond the average person’s scope. For that reason, a person is not declared a kafir who makes tawassul (praying to Allah through an intermediary). Imam Ahmad said, “We do not declare such people as kuffar.”
- Takfir cannot be based on a sincere attempt to interpret or understand a text. Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala (Exalted is He) mentions the followers of Christ saying, “Can God send a table from the heavens?” This is a statement of kufr but they were excused because it was a sincere question and an effort to understand.
- Takfir cannot be based on actions that are due to ignorance. In the Qur’an, we find the followers of Musa alayhi salam saying, “Make for us idols to worship like they (the people of Egypt) had.” Musa’s response was, “You are an ignorant people.” He did not say that they were kuffar. This verse serves as the foundation for the axiom “Al-‘Uthru bi Jahl” (Ignorance is excused).
- Takfir can only be made on an act of pure worship coupled with an intention that is clear kufr. Al-Dhahabi said, “If I saw a Muslim making sujud to a grave, I would not declare takfir until I talked to him.”
- Takfir cannot be made upon an action that was done under the threat of harm. Allah (swt) says, “Except for the one who was forced (to say kufr) and his heart was full of faith.”
- Takfir cannot be made upon an act that was an emotional burst. The Prophet ﷺ (peace be upon him) said that the man who lost his camel in the desert and later found it, said, “God! You are my servant and I am your Lord.” The Prophet ﷺ did not say this man was a kafir even though the statement is kufr. Ibn Hajar notes that this man was overcome with joy, so his statement was an exclamation.
- Just because someone’s group is not from Ahl-Sunna does not mean they are kafir. For that reason, the companions prayed janazah (funeral prayer) for the Khawarij. They did not collect the spoils of war from them but gave it to the deceased’s family according to the Islamic rules on inheritance. Ibn Taymiyyah says that this proves the companions considered them Muslims.
- Making takfir of others without knowledge is a major sin.
- There is no takfir for major sins (only in certain situations).
- Takfir is to be made, in most cases, by a Qadi and not a layperson or even a mufti as noted by Khalil. The reason for this is because, in the classical age, this implied a loss of rights. Secondly, a layperson accusing another of kufr falls under qathf, a major sin.
Allah knows
Suhaib Webb