Muslims who commit major sins: The Ibadi position.

“And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says: “Now I repent;” nor of those who die while they are ungrateful (kuffarun). For them, We have prepared a painful torment.” (Qur’an 4:18)

“O you who believe! be careful of (your duty to) Allah with the care which is due to Him, and do not die unless you are Muslims.” (Qur’an 3:102)

First I would like to clarify that for those of us who follow The Muslims, The People of The Truth and Steadfastness, (Ahl haqq wal istiqamah) or also known as the Ibadi school of Islam, for us it is not important if our school is right or wrong on the matter.

What is important for us is that we are following the clear evidence as given by the Qur’an and the agreed-upon traditions of the Blessed Messenger (saw)- Al-Sunnah.

The only reason the title is put as such is to make a distinction between what we believe that truth and reality to be as opposed to what our brothers from other schools believe to be true on the matter.

It is important to understand how we understand the word ‘Muslim’ and the word ‘kufr’ and what they mean based on the agreed-upon sources.

There are states or conditions that we are born into that we can lose and those states or conditions that we cannot lose. For example, if you are born a man or a woman for the rest of your life you will be a man or a woman. (though in this day and age some may even scoff at this reasoning!)

There is one’s ethnic group to which you belong that you are born with. If one is born an Arab they will die as an Arab.

So your gender, your ethnicity you are born as such and die as such.

Now a status can change. You could go from being single to married. You could go from being married to single. You could begin a career as an engineer and die as a pharmacologist.

So this is why it is important to understand the word ‘Muslim’ as-a state of being.

You can be Muslim and you can lose your faith in Islam. One of the most obvious examples of this without resorting to proof text is that if a Muslim chooses to leave Islam for another religion or no religion at all. This person has gone out of the Milla of Islam.

“Say, My Lord has guided me to a straight path, and to an upright religion, the religion (millata) of Abraham the upright, who was not of those who associate partners with Allah.  Say. Surely my prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are (all) for Allah, the Lord of the worlds; No associate has He, and this am I commanded, and I am the first of those who submit (l-muslimina)” (Qur’an 6:161-163)

“And those who disbelieved said to their messengers: We will most certainly drive you forth from our land, or else you shall come back into our religion (millatina). So their Lord revealed to them: Most certainly We will destroy the unjust.” (Qur’an 14:13)

“Lo! those who believe, then disbelieve and then (again) believe, then disbelieve, and then increase in disbelief, Allah will never forgive them, nor will He guide them on the way. Give tidings to the hypocrites that for them there is a painful punishment.” (Qur’an 4:137-138)

These verses are very clear that one can leave the Milla of Islam and that one can be upon faith and than kufr and than return to faith and then return back to kufr and than continue on in their kufr.

You want to make sure that when you die you die upon the cycle of iman (belief). Allah (swt) has mentioned several times that we are not to die except in a state of Islam. We should die while upon belief and in a state of surrender, submission, to die as Muslims. Amin for all of us!

“And you do not take revenge on us except because we have believed in the communications of our Lord when they came to us! Our Lord: Pour out upon us patience and cause us to die in submission (muslimina) ” (Qur’an 7:126)

“And the same did Ibrahim enjoin on his sons and (so did) Yaqoub. O, my sons! surely Allah has chosen for you (this) faith, therefore die not unless you are Muslims (muslimuna). (Qur’an 2:132)

“O you who believe! be careful of (your duty to) Allah with the care which is due to Him, and do not die unless you are Muslims.” (Qur’an 3:102)

So we are two points to be taken from the above text.

1. We want to die in a state of surrender in a state of submission. For these commands to be there means it is possible for one not to die in a state of surrender and submission. We seek protection with Allah (swt) from that-for all of us!
2. We want to die while having belief/ faith in our hearts. We make supplication that this happens for all of us!

Notice that of the three verses quoted above that it admonishes:

“Pour out upon us patience.” – In other words, grant us patience in doing what we need to do. & “be careful of (your duty to) Allah with the care which is due to Him.”

So please understand that the word Muslim means action. It is more an adjective that describes a state of being rather than a noun -regardless of anything one says or does.

Muslims are not like our gender or ethnicity. Being in a state of Islam is not something that stays with us no matter what we do. So it is something we must be careful to guard.

So now we come to another point. In Ahl Haqq Wal Istiqamah or known to you as the Ibadi school we have two types of kafir.

1. All mushriks (those who associate partners with Allah) are kafir
2. However, not all kafir are mushriks.

An example of the first point. Mushrik is kafirs.

“Certainly they are ungrateful (KAFARA) who say: Surely, Allah– He is the Messiah, son of Mary. Say: Who then could control anything as against Allah when He wished to destroy the Messiah son of Mary and his mother and all those on the earth? And Allah’s is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is between them; He creates what He pleases; and Allah has power over all things,” (Qur’an 5:17)

“Now, surely, sincere obedience is due to Allah (alone) and as for those who take awliyaa besides Him, saying, We do not serve them save that they may make us nearer to Allah, surely Allah will judge between them in that in which they differ; surely Allah does not guide him aright who is a liar, ungrateful(kaffarun) (Qur’an 39:3)

So what or how do we understand the word kufr?

Now our brothers in the ‘Ahl Sunnah Wal Jammah’ want to make the word kafir to relate to things that bring you out of Islam or in relation to rejecting certain articles of their schools of theology. Often in their books and translations of the Qur’an, you will see words like ‘infidel‘ or ‘disbeliever‘, ‘nonbeliever‘, ‘unbeliever‘.

However, we want to look at how Allah (swt) the lord of all the worlds uses the word and its different forms throughout the revelation that He (swt) has given to us.

“Know that this world’s life is a sport and play and gaiety and boasting among yourselves, and a vying in the multiplication of wealth and children, like the rain, whose causing the vegetation to grow, pleases the tillers (al-kuffara), then it withers away so that you will see it become yellow, then it becomes dried up and broken down, and in the hereafter is a severe chastisement and (also) forgiveness from Allah and (His) pleasure, and this world’s life is naught but means of deception.” (Qur’an 57:20)

Mash’Allah this verse is very powerful. It also has a double meaning on the word kuffar. You can see that people in this life are all about hedonism and narcissism, boasting, and competition. Yet these people are ungrateful. They are compared to tillers who cover the earth. They are happy with their efforts. Yet, as Allah (swt) mentions that the produce itself becomes nothing. That the life of this world is but means of deception. The produce becomes nothing, we see our youth give way to the challenges of old age. Even the wealth and children disperse. How many families fight over wealth and inheritance? How many children, in turn, are ungrateful to their parents for the sacrifices they made to give them a better lifestyle?

So much can be said about this amazing verse! Subhan’Allah.

“And when your Lord made it known: If you are grateful (shakartum), I would certainly give to you more, and if you are ungrateful (kafartum) ,  then My torment will be severe.“ (Qur’an 14:7)

So here Allah (swt) contrasted gratefulness with kafar (ungrateful). He also again warned us that his ‘torment will be severe‘ for those who are ungrateful.

“How is it you are ungrateful (takfurūna) to Allah? You had been lifeless, then, He gave you life. again, He will cause you to die. Again, He will give you life. And, again, you are returned to Him.” (Qur’an 2:28)

“So when they ride in the ships they call upon Allah, being sincerely obedient to Him, but when He brings them safely to the land, lo! they associate others (yush’rikūna) with Him; being ungrateful (liyakfuru) for what We gave them. So let them take joy for soon they will know!” (Qur’an 29:65-66)

So with all these verses in mind, it should be known that in the Ibadi school we understand Kufr -as a denial of truth and ingratitude-either by one’s actions or inaction.

So the second type as mentioned above is kufr ni’mah. So this kufr-ni’mah is when any of us as Muslims commit major sins -persist in those sins and do not repent.

So those Muslims are kafir ni’mah. Ungrateful to Allah (swt) for the overwhelming and manifest blessings that He (swt) has given to them. They show this by their actions or inaction.

Our view is that any Muslim who does this and does not repent before death reaches/him or her will be in eternal hellfire.

So to be clear this is our position. In this life, there are three groups.

1. There are the Mushrik -those who associate partners with Allah (swt).
2. There are the Mumin (those are the believers)
3. There are those who are kafir ni’mah (nifaq).

The one in kafir ni’mah he/she shares with the Mushrik in kufr -not of associating partners with Allah(swt) but in covering up the truth and/or being ungrateful to Allah(swt).

The one in kafir ni’mah he/she shares with the Muslims Islam. They are part of the Milla of Islam. 

Some people may be familiar with the term:

Manzilah bain al-manzilatain (The perpetrator of grave sins is neither a complete unbeliever nor a perfect believer; he is placed mid­way between unbelief and faith an intermediate state)

“The difference between us and the Kharijis is that they oppose us only in that they judge of every punishable act of shirk entailing expulsion from the millah.”-Shaykh Ahmed b. Hamad al-Khalili

As regards the afterlife we believe there are two types of categories and two abodes and the inhabitants of one do not enter the abode of the other.

The two categories are:

1. One is a destination for the kufar
2. One is a destination for the mumin.

The two destinations are:

1. The paradise and the believers do not come out from it.
2. The hellfire and no one comes out from it.

The following three ahadith are something to ponder. Jabir ibn ‘Abd-Allah reported:  The Prophet, (saw), said, “Verily between a man and shirk and kufr there stands his neglect of the prayer.” 

Source: (Sahih Muslim 82 KItab Al-Eman)

It was narrated that Buraydah ibn al-Husayb said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah ( saw) ‘The covenant that distinguishes between us and them is the prayer, and whoever neglects it has disbelieved (become a kafir).’” Abdullah bin Buraidah narrated that his father said: “The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: The covenant that distinguishes between us and them is the prayer; so whoever neglects it, has become a kafir (committed kufr).”   

Source: (Sunan Ibn Majah Volume 1 Book 5 Hadith 1079 English, Book 5 hadith 1132 Arabic) 

The majority sect have their understanding of this and we have our understanding of it, and that is when a person willfully, abandons the prayer he/she/them are kafir ni’mah .

They are in a state of Kufr. We call it, “kufr ni’mah” ungratefulness to Allah (swt), covering or hiding the reality of what Allah (swt) has commanded and prohibited and enjoined upon us.

Muslims who do major sins and persist in this without tauba are in a state of “kufr ni’mah” -they are still part of the Milla of Islam, their children inherit from them. However, if these people die in such a state, without making repentance our position is clear. That person will go to hell fire-where they will neither reprieve nor escape.

“And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says: “Now I repent;” nor of those who die while they are ungrateful (kuffarun). For them, We have prepared a painful torment.” (Qur’an 4:18)

This verse is very clear.

1. Repentance is no use who continue to do evil deeds upon until death faces them (which could be at any moment) mind you.
2. Those who die while they are in a state of ungratefulness (kuffarun).
3. A painful punishment is prepared for such.

May Allah (swt) protect you and me and all of us from being in category 1 or 2 above! Amin!

“Surely as for those whom the angels cause to die while they are unjust to their souls, they shall say: In what state were you? They shall say: We were weak in the earth. They shall say: Was not Allah’s earth spacious so that you should have migrated therein? So those it is whose abode is hell, and it is an evil destination.” (Qur’an 4:99)

“The repentance accepted by Allah is only for those who do wrong in ignorance or carelessness and then repent soon after. It is those to whom Allah will turn in forgiveness, and Allah is ever Knowing and Wise..” (Qur’an 4:17)

So notice that it says even for people who do sins out of ignorance or carelessness that they should repent “soon after” How much more for those who do the major evil sins?

Now, this doesn’t mean if you did something out of ignorance or carelessness that you will be punished. Obviously not, as Allah (swt) does not punish until the information is sent and made clear. Allah (swt) is merciful and to punish someone for carelessness or ignorance wouldn’t be very merciful.

What this verse is stating is that when it now becomes clear to you that what you were doing out of ignorance or carelessness is now made clear that you should repent from it immediately.

“IF (but) eschew the evilest of the things which you are forbidden to do, We shall expel out of ( Saiyiatikum) YOU ALL THE EVIL IN YOU, and admit you to a gate of great honor.” -(Qur’an 4:31)

This verse is conditional. If we do our level best to avoid the major sins than Allah (swt) will remove from us the lesser sins. Allah (swt) forgives sins because he is al-ʿAfūw & al-Ghafūr

“It is right to hope that Allah will pardon them. For Allah is The one who Effaces, The Ever Forgiving..” (Qur’an 4:99)

Even with this in mind, we should do our level best to avoid small sins. We should never despair of the Mercy of Allah (swt) nor should we take for granted the Mercy of Allah (swt). That is the point is that by taking for granted the Mercy of Allah (swt) is in and of itself ingratitude.

As regards the majority of Muslims supposedly not praying or keeping their duty to Allah (swt) that is not your problem nor mine. We love them and hope they quickly amend their ways. Our duty is to save ourselves and our family from the fire whose fuel is men and jinn, whose fuel is men and stones.

So what does taubah mean? It means to return or to turn. Return or turn to whom? Why would you need to return or turn if you are already in a state of surrender?

The matter of rather or not hell is eternal.

This is another reason why I feel the Muslim community is in the state that it is in. Think about it. The majority Muslim position is telling everyone that, “Don’t worry Allah will put you in hell for a while, and then you will come out of it.” “Don’t worry you will only be in hell for 257 million years and then you can come out of it!“

As if hell was a light matter! Not only that but they teach that hellfire is not eternal for the Muslim who commits major sins and does not repent!

Now let me ask you, dear readers. What actually is a Muslim?

What do you think should be the case for the Muslim who says, “I know killing people is wrong but I’ll do it anyway.” “I know drinking alcohol is forbidden, and extramarital affairs are wrong but I’ll do them anyway”

“O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains of interest if you should be believers. And if you do not, then be informed of war against you from Allah and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your principal – thus you do no wrong, nor are you wronged.” (Qur’an 2:278-279)

Can you imagine the condition of such a person? A person who says, “I know that usury is forbidden, and I am in a state of war with Allah and His Messenger and I know that it is wrong, but I will do it anyway.” ?!?

So simple lip service and acknowledging that its a sin and yet continuing to revel it in it the hallmark of a Muslim? What is this based on?

Then you have to wonder about the moral decay in the Muslim community. Even though we could die at any moment the personal reasons, “I can do this and Allah (swt) will just forgive me. Worst-case scenario I’ll go to hell for a while be purified and then released into heaven.” Authubillah min dhalik!

But a Muslim who neglect the prayers from simple laziness or no desire, you have to ask yourself what actually is a Muslim?

What is so hard about doing taubah? Look at all the places it is mentioned in the Qur’an.

https://quran.com/search?q=repentance

I mean if you think about the major sins they are not things that are altogether to difficult to avoid.

Like do you personally find it difficult not to kill people?
Do you have some overwhelming desire to worship idols and associate partners with Allah (swt)?
Do you feel it’s absolutely necessary to cheat on your husband/wife when divorce is open to you?
The prayer takes discipline, but at the end of the day, it’s roughly 5 minutes (25 minutes) out of a 24 hour period.

You can perform it sitting down, lying on your side, you can combine prayers when traveling, shorten it during the conflict, and so forth. 

Look at this hadith. On the authority of Anas (r.a), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say: Allah the Almighty said: O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you, O Son of Adam were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the Earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.”

Source: (Hadith Qudsi hadith 34. related by al-Tirmidhi and Ahmad Ibn Hanbal) 

“The day when neither wealth nor sons shall profit except for him who comes to Allah with a pure heart.” (Qur’an 26:88-89)

“Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering of sins and evil deeds) which they used to earn.’” (Qur’an 83:14)

Can a heart that is filled with ingratitude and hypocrisy be said to be a pure heart?

Look at what the great Shaykh and teacher of spirituality, Imam Al Ghazali has quoted:

“The Messenger of Allah “Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him,” said: “There are four kinds of hearts: a heart which is stripped clean in which a lamp shines and this is the believer’s heart; a heart which is black and upside down, and it is the unbeliever’s heart; a hardened heart bound n its sheath of evil, and it is the heart of the hypocrite; and a broad heart in which there is both belief and hypocrisy. Its belief is like green herbage which pure water causes to abound, and its hypocrisy is like an ulcer which purulent matter and pus cause to spread. This heart is judged to belong to whichever of the two prevails over the other.” This heart is judged to belong to whichever of the two prevails over the other.”

Source: (Revival of Religion’s Sciences (Ihya Ulum ad-din) Volume 3 page 21)

Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire – and never will you find for them a helper – Except for those who repent, correct themselves, hold fast to Allah, and are sincere in their religion for Allah, for those will be with the believers. And Allah is going to give the believers a great reward. Why should Allah punish you if you are grateful and believe? And ever is Allah Appreciative and Knowing.” (Qur’an 4:145-147)

“Allah does not charge a soul except with that within its capacity. It will have the consequence of what good it has gained, and it will bear the consequence of what evil it has earned. “Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us, and forgive us, and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the ungrateful (l-kafirina) people.” (Qur’an 2:286)

“O you who believe! be careful of (your duty to) Allah with the care which is due to Him, and do not die unless you are Muslims.” (Qur’an 3:102)

Oh Muslims die in a state of surrender to Allah (swt) and not in a state of rebellion to Allah (swt) 

One final note. Anyone who dies will in a state of kufr ni’amah will go to hell. Hell is not for the mumin.  So how to avoid this fate? Avoid major sins. If you find that you fall short, repent immediately! Return to Allah (swt). 

Allah is our success! 

You may also be interested in the following articles: https://primaquran.com/2020/08/03/suicide-homicide-bombing-ibadi-view-and-sunni-ashari-view/

As well as https://primaquran.com/2020/08/04/the-blessed-prophet-muhammed-did-not-perform-funeral-prayers-for-muslims-who-killed-themselves/