“This is a favor from my Lord by which He wants to test whether I am grateful or ungrateful.” (Qur’an 27:40)
A person has only two choices: either to be grateful or to be ungrateful. Now the question is If he is ungrateful, do we say that he has committed shirk (associating partners with Allah)?
So when one reads the books of the Ibadi scholars and luminaries of the past and they come across the statement that such and such was declared to be a kafir one needs to read this with the correct lenses.
First point. For the vast majority of Muslims the declaration that such a one is a kafir means to expel them from the millat of Islam. In other words to expel them from Islam altogether. This is simply not the case. We use the word kufr as Allah (swt) used it in the Qur’an to describe those who are ungrateful.
Second point. Not every act of kufr is shirk. However, every act of shirk is kufr.
Third point. Kufr does not necessitate a permanent condition. If someone became a kafir by something they did deserving of Bara’ah (shunning/ostracization) that same person can repent, reform and be deserving of Wilayah (friendship/protection/solidarity).
Fourth point. There are different types of Kufr according to Sunni, Imami and Zaydi perspectives.
Kufr al-Amal
Kufr al-Inkar
Kufr al-Juhud
Kufr al-Nifaq
Kufr bi’l-l’rad
Kufr al-Irad
Kufr al-Ni’mah
Kufr al-‘Inad
Kufr al-Takdhib
Kufr al-Inad
WHAT IS A MUSLIM AND HOW IS THE WORD MUSLIM DEFINED?
Muslim =one who submits to Allah. Now ask yourself. Does this mean submit to Allah 50% of the time? Does it mean to submit to Allah 99% of the time?
“Yes, whoever submits his whole self in Islam to Allah while being a doer of good will have his reward with his Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve (Qur’an 2:112)
“So who is better in religion than one who submits himself to Allah while being a doer of good and follows the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth? And Allah took Abraham as an intimate friend.” (Qur’an 4:125)
“So whoever submits his whole self to Allah while he is a doer of good, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold. And to Allah will be the outcome of all matters. (Qur’an 31:22)
WHAT IS IBADAH (DEVOTION)?
In Arabic ‘Abd carries the meaning of both slave and devotee.
“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship (liya ‘buduni) Me.” (Qur’an 51:56)
“Lo! My slaves (‘ibadi) – over them you have no authority. And sufficient is your Lord as Disposer of affairs.” (Qur’an 17:65)
“And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Slave (‘abdina) [Muhammed], then produce a Surah the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allah , if you should be truthful.” (Qur’an 2:23)
Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan has made it a point to drive home the concept of what a slave in Islam actually means. A slave to Allah (swt) is something that we all hope to strive for. May we die as obedient slaves to Allah (swt).
WHAT IS KUFR AND HOW IS THE WORD DEFINED?
“And if We give man a taste of mercy from Us and then We withdraw it from him, indeed, he is despairing and ungrateful (kafarun)(Qur’an 11:9)
“Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful (kafuran)“
(Qur’an 17:27)
It is important to understand here that Satan knows the truth. He knows the unseen. Being chief of the Jinn he knows allot. He even made du’a to Allah (swt) not to punish him immediately!
“He said, “My Lord, then reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected.” (Qur’an 15:36)
Satan also made the following pledge.
“Then I will surely come upon them from before them and from behind them and from their right and from their left, and then You will not find most of them (shakirina) grateful.” (Qur’an 7:17)
“Indeed, Allah defends those who have believed. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone treacherous and ungrateful (kafurin)” (Qur’an 22:38)
“Indeed, We guided him to the way, be he grateful (shakiran) or be he ungrateful (kafuran).” (Qur’an 76:3)
“And We had certainly given Luqman wisdom [and said], “Be grateful (ush’kur) to Allah.” And whoever is grateful (yashkur) is grateful (yashkuru) for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful (kafara) [His favor] – then indeed, Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.”
(Qur’an 31:12)
“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)
“O my sons! Go you and enquire about Yusuf (Joseph) and his brother, and never give up hope of Allah’s Mercy. Certainly no one despairs of Allah’s Mercy, except the people who are ungrateful (l-kakiruna) .”
“And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful (shakartum), I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you are ungrateful (kafartum), indeed, My punishment is severe.
(Qur’an 14:7)
“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)
“It is the duty of all men towards Allah to come to the House a pilgrim, if he is able to make his way there. As for the (kafara) ungrateful, Allah is All-sufficient nor needs any being.” (Qur’an 3:97)
We can see from the above text that kufr is of two types.
Kufr Ni’mah
Ni’mah means: favour, ease, blessings, grace.
Kufr Ni’mah is not the ingratitude of disbelief, but the ingratitude of not recognizing Allah’s blessings, grace, and favour, by going against his commands, prohibitions, guidance.
Kufr Shirk.
Shirk/Mushrik means: To give worship to something other than Allah, along with Allah.
Kufr Shirk is the ingratitude of not recognizing and acknowledging who Allah (swt) is. As well as not directing one’s devotion to Allah (swt) and Allah (swt) alone.
So for us kufr is ingratitude. Rather than disbelief.
“Say: O ungrateful (l-kafiruna) ones! I will not be a devoted slave (a’budu) to what you are a devoted slave (ta’buduna) to. Neither are you devoted slave (‘abiduna) to Him whom I am devoted slave (a’budu) to. Nor will I be devoted slave (‘abidun) to that which you base your (‘abadttum) devoted slavery. Nor are you going to be devoted slave (‘abiduna) to Him who I am devoted slave (a’budu) to. To you is your way of life (worldview),and to me, my way of life (worldview). (Qur’an 109:1-6)
WHAT IS EMAAN? (BELIEF)
“Indeed, those who believed (amanu) and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans [before Prophet Muhammed] – those [among them] who believed (amanu) in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness – will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.” (Qur’an 2:62)
“And when it is said to them: Believe (aminu) as the people believe (amana) they say: Shall we believe (anu’minu) as the fools believe (amana)? Now surely they are the fools, but they do not know.” (Qur’an 2:13)
“These are the verses of Allah which We recite to you in truth. Then in what statement after Allah and His verses will they (yu’minuna) believe“? (Qur’an 45:6)
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
“Faith has over seventy branches or over sixty branches, the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is no god but Allah, and the humblest of which is the, removal of what is injurious from the path: and modesty is a branch of faith.”
Source: https://sunnah.com/muslim:35b
So even an agnostic or an atheist who removes an obstacle on a path they have some faith.
Remember, Iblis himself was a devoted Muslim until…
“So when We said to the angels: Prostrate to Adam they did prostrate, but Iblis (did it not). He refused and he was proud, and he was one of the ungrateful (l-kafirina).” (Qur’an 2:33)
At this moment, this one act of defiance, made Iblis go from being a devoted slave (‘abdina) to being in a state of Kufr Ni’mah.
Heaven is not a place for the ungrateful!
“Get down from here! Here is no place for your arrogance, Get out! You are the lowest of creatures!” (Qur’an 7:13)
“Like the Shaitan when he says to man: be (uk’fur) ungrateful, but when man is (kafara) ungrateful, he says: I am surely clear of you; surely I fear Allah, the Lord of the worlds.” (Qur’an 59:16)
Iblis is not said to be a disbeliever in Allah (swt) nor in his last day. Yet, this one sin (kufr niama), this one act of transgression was enough to bar him from paradise and to have him to burn in hellfire forever. There is absolutely no indication anywhere that Iblis will repent.
“He said, “My Lord, then reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected.” (Qur’an 15:36)
Allah! There is no god but He. The Most Merciful, The Most Gracious! Can you imagine! Iblis wants respite, not to make repentance, not to turn from his waves, not to show himself a devoted slave of Allah (swt) but a persistent and continuous rebel until the very end!
Look at how Merciful Allah (swt) is to humanity! We have been given chance after chance to make tawbah, to repent, to amend, to reform, to turn towards Allah (swt) as devoted slaves.
The Hadith Evidences.
Brothers and sisters there is no verse in the Qur’an anywhere that believers will enter the hellfire. This is a trap and false belief that clashes with stronger evidence.
Hadith such as the following:
Narrated ‘Ubada:
The Prophet (saw) said, “If anyone testifies that None has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone Who has no partners, and that Muhammed is His Slave and His Apostle, and that Jesus is Allah’s Slave and His Apostle and His Word which He bestowed on Mary and a Spirit created by Him, and that Paradise is true, and Hell is true, Allah will admit him into Paradise with the deeds which he had done even if those deeds were few.” (Junada, the sub-narrator said, ” ‘Ubada added, ‘Such a person can enter Paradise through any of its eight gates he likes.”)
Source: ( Sahih al-Bukhari 3435 Book 60, Hadith 106)
‘Itban bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) said in his long Hadith cited in the Chapter entitled ‘Hope’ reported:
When the Prophet (saw) stood up to offer As-Salat (the prayer) he asked, “Where is Malik bin Ad-Dukhshum?” A man replied: “He is a hypocrite. He does not love Allah and His Messenger.” The Prophet (saw) said, “Do not say that. Do you not know that he said: La ilaha illallah (there is no true god except Allah),’ seeking His Pleasure. Allah has made the fire of Hell unlawful for him who affirms that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah.”
Source: (Riyad as-Salihin 1529)
Prima Qur’an Comment: It is becoming readily apparent that those hadith need to be taken contextually. First of all the hadith about Allah (swt) making hellfire unlawful for those who say “la ilaha illallah seeking His Pleasure” cannot simply mean just saying the testimony of faith. This is obvious as it is attached to “seeking his Pleasure.”
This goes directly against the following verse:
“Do people think once they say, “We believe,” that they will be left without being put to the test?” (Qur’an 29:2)
“So 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. For them We have prepared a painful torment”. (Qur’an 4:18)
This idea that Muslims can just do what ever they wish and say the testimony of faith and they will be absolutely fine has no basis in the Qur’an. It is a dangerous belief. Not only this but how many times have we seen kufr ni’mah become kufr shirk? Virtually every apostate I have ever encountered was involved in some major sin and then they slipped away into darkness. When in reality the problem was sin to begin with.
When the believer commits sin, a black spot appears on his heart. If he repents and gives up that sin and seeks forgiveness, his heart will be polished. But if (the sin) increases, (the black spot) increases. That is the Ran that Allah mentions in His Book: “Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering of sins and evil deeds) which they used to earn.” (Qur’an 83:14)
Hadith quote:
Source: (Sunan Ibn Majah 4244 Book 37, Hadith 145)
The Hadith Evidences That Support Our Position.
The hadith evidences that support our position are numerous. The following should suffice.
Narrated Ibn `Umar:
I heard the Prophet (saw) saying, “Do not revert to disbelief (kuffaran) after me by striking (cutting) the necks of one another.”
Source: (https://sunnah.com/bukhari:7077)
It is well known that the companions certainly did fight among each other and killed each other. So the question is; Was their kufr an act of Kufr Ash-Shirk or Kufr An Ni’mah?
It is narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah b. Mas’ud that the Messenger of Allah (saw) observed:
Abusing a Muslim is an outrage and fighting against him is (kufr)unbelief. Zubaid said: I asked Abu Wa’il: Did you hear it from Abdullah narrating if from the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him)? He replied: Yes. But there is mention of the talk between Zubaid and Abu Wa’il in the hadith narrated by Shu’ba.
Source: (https://sunnah.com/muslim:64a)
It is well known that the companions certainly did fight among each other and killed each other. So the question is; Was their kufr an act of Kufr Ash-Shirk or Kufr An Ni’mah?
“Abu Hurairah narrated that : the Prophet (saw) said: “Whoever engages in sexual intercourse with a menstruating woman, or a woman in her anus, consults a soothsayer, then he has disbelieved (kafar) in what was revealed to Muhammed.”
https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:135
The one who did intercourse with a menstruating woman, or in her anus are those acts of kufr ash-shirk or kufr an-ni’mah ?
By the way, There is commentary in Arabic on the above hadith. That if intercourse with a woman was considered disbelieve than expiation would not have been ordered for it. However, this is not true. Expiation depends on the type and manner of sin. So there is something strange in the commentary.
It is narrated on the authority of Jarir that he heard (the Holy Prophet) saying, The slave who fled from his master committed an act of infidelity as long as he would not return to him.
Did the slave commit shirk? No.
Did he commit kufr? Yes.
Another hadith evidence that supports our position. I will show you where those who call themselves ‘Salafi’ try to fool those who are not familiar with the Arabic. Then I will show you were the majority Sunni position comes clean and basically their view is in alignment with us.
Narrated Abu Dhar:
The Prophet (saw) said,
“A man who knowingly claims to be the father of someone other than himself has committed an act of disbelief. And whoever claims to be the father of a people when he is not one of them, let him take his place in hellfire.”
Source: (https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3508)
However, notice how the above link renders the Arabic text as:
Narrated Abu Dhar:
The Prophet (saw) said, “If somebody claims to be the son of any other than his real father knowingly, he but disbelieves in Allah, and if somebody claims to belong to some folk to whom he does not belong, let such a person take his place in the (Hell) Fire.”
Notice that ‘he but disbelieves in Allah’ to the English reader gives the indication that this person is on the same level of an Atheist.
We all know those who disbelieve in Allah are bound for hell. So knew information is being presented. So we know that ‘he but disbelieves in Allah’ is not a rendering of the Arabic text. The new information being presented is: “if somebody claims to be the son of any other than his real father knowingly..”
Now notice the interesting observation the followers of majority Sunni Islam make here:
However, the scholars explain that the term kufr in this hadith has two interpretations.
“The first interpretation applies to someone who considers such an act permissible. The second interpretation is that it refers to ingratitude for blessings and kindness, as well as violating the rights of Allah (Most High) and the rights of his father. However, the intended meaning is not disbelief that takes one out of the fold of Islam. This is similar to when the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) mentioned “disbelief” concerning women and then explained it as their ingratitude for kindness and their ingratitude toward their husbands.” [Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim]
Now notice something dear readers. Context is important. The above hadith that promise someone paradise is dependent upon all the other text (Qur’an and Sunnah) that put terms and conditions.
The same is true for the above hadith about affirming that the one who makes such a statement would take his place in hellfire. This too is dependent upon all other text (Qur’an and Sunnah) that mention the acceptance of those who sincerely repent.
‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with them) reported that:
The Prophet (saw) said, “Allah accepts a slave’s repentance as long as the latter is not on his death bed (that is, before the soul of the dying person reaches the throat)”.
Source: https://sunnah.com/riyadussalihin:18
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 disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful torment. (Qur’an 4:18)
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:
The Prophet (saw) said, “When (a person) an adulterer commits illegal sexual intercourse, then he is not a believer at the time he is doing it; and when somebody steals, then he is not a believer at the time he is stealing .”
Source: https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6782
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (saw) said, “An adulterer, at the time he is committing illegal sexual intercourse is not a believer; and a person, at the time of drinking an alcoholic drink is not a believer; and a thief, at the time of stealing, is not a believer.” Ibn Shihab said: `Abdul Malik bin Abi Bakr bin `Abdur-Rahman bin Al- Harith bin Hisham told me that Abu Bakr used to narrate that narration to him on the authority of Abu Huraira. He used to add that Abu Bakr used to mention, besides the above cases, “And he who robs (takes illegally something by force) while the people are looking at him, is not a believer at the time he is robbing (taking).
Source: https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5578
All the above acts: Fornication, Adultery, Stealing, Drinking, none of these acts are committing shirk. Yet, the people who do such are not to be described as believers at the time of doing such actions.
Narrated ‘Ikrima from Ibn ‘Abbas:
Allah’s Messenger (saw) said, “When a slave (of Allah) commits illegal sexual intercourse, he is not a believer at the time of committing it; and if he steals, he is not a believer at the time of stealing; and if he drinks an alcoholic drink, when he is not a believer at the time of drinking it; and he is not a believer when he commits a murder,” ‘Ikrima said: I asked Ibn Abbas, “How is faith taken away from him?” He said, Like this,” by clasping his hands and then separating them, and added, “But if he repents, faith returns to him like this, by clasping his hands again.
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6809
Taking the life without right is not committing shirk. Yet, the people who do such are not to be described as believers at the time of doing such actions.
Not every act of Kufr is Shirk.
However, every act of Shirk is Kufr.
May Allah (swt) continue to bless us and guide us and keep us on the straight path. May Allah (swt) cause us all to die as devoted slaves, as Muslims.
Please also see the following:
” And when your Lord made it known: If you are (shakartum)grateful, I would certainly give to you more, and if you are (kafartum) ungrateful, My chastisement is truly severe.” (Qur’an 14:7)
“This is a favor from my Lord by which He wants to test whether I am grateful (a-ashkuru) or ungrateful (akfuru).” (Qur’an 27:40)
“Truly, those who were ungrateful (kafaru), and they died and they were ones who are ungrateful (kuffarun), those, on them is a curse of Allah, and the angels and humanity, one and all.” (Qur’an 2:161)
” And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is those who are the disbelievers (l-kāfirūna).” (Qur’an 5:44)
While the immediate context is a reference to the Jews it would be a strange thing to say that Jews who do not judge by what Allah has revealed are kafir while Muslims get a free pass.
You may wish to read the following:
May Allah forgive the Ummah.
May Allah guide the Ummah.
Prima Quran 