Safeguard Your Imaan

[Attari.Rafique]

Assalamualaikum Warehmatullahi Wabarakatuhu

 

Having read the Kalima of Islam does not permit anyone to utter Kufr as much as wanted. The

Kalima is not a shield to protect you from becoming a Kaafir (non-believer) through uttering and

practicing acts of Kufr. It is to be read, and Imaan is to remain on it at all times.

After accepting Islam, to reject any belief of the Deen which is necessary to believe in (such as

monotheism of Allah, Prophethood of the Ambiya, Jannat, Jahannam, Rasoolullah (Sallallahu

Alaihi Wasallam is Khaatamun Nabiyeen etc.) is Irtidaad (one becomes a Murtad) and it is more

severe and worse than original Kufr.

A Muslim is a Muslim until he utters or makes Kufr and a Kaafir is a Kaafir until he brings Imaan

and becomes a Muslim. To deem a Muslim to be a Muslim and a Kaafir to be a Kaafir is also from

the necessities of Deen. [bahaare Shariat ]

Some people argue that any person who recites the Kalima cannot be called a Kaafir. In response

to this, the following indisputable proof from the Holy Qur'an is presented, “Were you mocking

at Allah and His Verses and His Messenger? Make no excuses, you have already become infidels

after becoming Muslims. [surah 9, Verses 65-66] The hypocrites referred to in this verse are called

Kaafirs even though they recited the Kalima, read Namaaz etc. because of them disrespecting

Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Therefore it is in accordance with Allah Ta'ala's

commands that we believe a person to be an infidel if he commits acts of Kufr such as

disrespecting Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), irrespective of whether he recites the

Kalima, performs Salaah, Hajj etc.

 

Allah Ta'ala then further states in the Glorious Qur'an regarding the deeds of such a person who

becomes an infidel after being a Muslim, “And whoever of you turns back from his faith, and dies

while he was a disbeliever, for them their deeds have become worthless in this world and in the

hereafter and they are the inmates of the Fire and they will abide therein forever.” [surah 2,

Verse 217]

 

From this verse we learn that Irtidaad (apostasy) results in the ruination of all of one's good deeds.

Therefore if a pilgrim becomes an apostate and thereafter accepts Islam again, he will have to

perform his Hajj again as his first Hajj becomes null and void. Likewise all good deeds performed

in the state of apostasy are null and void and not acceptable. However, an original non-believer's

good deeds become worthy of reward after he accepts Islam. Furthermore the apostate loses out in

this world in that his wife comes out of his Nikah, he is no longer liable to receive inheritance

from his relatives, all forms of love relations with Muslims are forbidden for him and no

assistance can be rendered to him by a Muslim, and in the hereafter he is beyond redemption and

void of any reward. [Tafseer Noorul Irfaan]

 

Will merely reciting the Kalima then blanket a Shia who says that the Holy Qur'an is defective

and Hazrat Sayyiduna Ali (Radiallahu Ta'ala Anh) receives Wahi? Will it shield a Wahaabi who

performs his five times Salaah yet he believes that Allah Ta'ala can lie and that Shaitaan has more

knowledge than Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)? Indeed not!

Thinking rationally also leads a person to conclude that merely reciting the Kalima and

performing Salaah is not Islam. If it was the case then the person who reads Salaah once and then

prostrates towards idols will remain in the folds of Islam. How can Imaan and Kufr be united?

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (Radiallahu Ta'ala Anh) narrates that Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi

Wasallam) has said, “Sometimes a person says something pleasant to Allah and does not

concentrate on it (meaning it is not something major in the sight of the person) but through it

Allah elevates his rank. Sometimes a person says something unpleasant to Allah and does not

think much of it but is thrown into Hell because of it. The area in Jahannam where he is thrown

into is more than the distance between the east and the west” [bukhari Shareef ]

Many Muslims in this modern day and age utter words of blasphemy without realizing it and

unknowingly lose their Imaan. A few statements of Kufr are mentioned below so that we may be

careful of what we utter.

• Saying “Allah has forgot you” to a person who has become sick or is very old and does not

die or “When Allah cannot compete against you, how can I,” to an abusive speaker are

both Kufr. [Khulaasatul Fataawa]

• To gain the attention of a powerful or rich man or a Haakim some people say, “Allah is

above and you below.” This statement is Kufr and should never be said.

• Saying “No” angrily when told by another to fear Allah or “What can he do besides

sentencing a person to Jahannam” are both statements of Kufr. [Alamghiri ]

• A destitute person reflecting on his impoverishment says, “O Allah! Certain person is

Your Banda and has been blessed by You with much blessings. I too am Your bondsman

but I have been given much hardship by You. Is this fair?” This statement is Kufr.

[Alamghiri ]

 

• Using the name of Allah in a diminutive noun is Kufr. [bahrur Raa'iq]

 

• To disrespect the Ambiya (Alaihimus Salaam), or to assert immorality to them is Kufr, e.g.

connecting Zina towards Hazrat Yusuf (Alaihis Salaam), Ma'azallah.

 

•The person who rejects Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) to be Khaatamun-

Nabiyeen (The Final Prophet), believes that Prophethood can be attained after his time or

refutes the meaning of Khaatamun-Nabiyeen in any way is out of the folds of Islam.

 

• To disrespect or defame anything associated with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi

Wasallam) or to regard it to be defective is Kufr, e.g. to say the clothes of Rasoolullah

(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) are dirty, or deeming an action of his to be unmannerly or

even to dislike calabash for the mere reason that Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)

was fond of it, is Kufr.

 

• Being disrespectful, rude or arrogant towards Hazrat Jibra'eel (Alaihis Salaam), Mika'eel

(Alaihis Salaam) or any angel is a Kufr. Some ignorant people, on seeing their enemy or a

person they dislike say, “The angel of death has come.” This is a statement bordering on

Kufr and should never be said.

 

• To call any Aayat of the Holy Qur'an defective, disrespecting or joking about it is Kufr.

 

• The person who says that some Aayat, Surah or even one letter of the Holy Qur'an has

been added, taken out or changed, is explicitly a Kaafir.

 

• Uttering any statement that conveys rejection of Namaaz being Fardh or degrading it is

Kufr e.g. what benefit is there to read Namaaz, reading or not reading Namaaz is both

equal etc. Similarly uttering any statement that conveys rejection of the obligation of

fasting in Ramadaan or insulting it is Kufr e.g. When Allah has given us food why should

we starve, why should I die starving etc. This is the case of other Fardh Ibaadat as well i.e.

Zakaat and Hajj.

 

• Making fun of, or insulting Laa Howla Wa Laa Quwwata, Subhaanallah or Laa Ilaaha

Illallah or saying something that negates their importance is Kufr.

 

• Teaching a Muslim male or female to make Kufr is Kufr even if done as a joke or in

amusement.

 

• To celebrate Holi, Diwali or Christmas is Kufr as these celebrations are worship of

Ghairullah (other than Allah). Similarly to buy goods on the specific day of these

celebrations for the mere reason that they are celebrations of Kaafirs or to join them with

this reason is Kufr as well. Also, to buy something and send it to the Mushrikeen on the

specific day of their celebration as a gift or to congratulate them with the intention of

revering their holy day is Kufr. [bahrur Raa'iq; Bahaare Shariat ]

We need to live our lives according to the Holy Qur'an and the teachings of Rasoolullah

(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). In this lies our success in this world as well as the hereafter.

Muslims should always be conscious of the deception of Shaitaan who always attempts to lead us

away from Islam. We should not have trust in our obedience and Amaal, but rather have faith in

the protection of Almighty Allah.

May Allah Ta'ala grant us the Taufeeq to remain steadfast on the path of Islam and may He in His

Infinite Mercy grant us death with Imaan, Ameen.