Takfir, Ignorance, and Aiding the Kuffar
All Praise and All Thanks are for Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala to whom we shall all
return to be judged on The Last Day.
"From each and every direction He has the power to deliver misfortune to
you - to sow confusion and dissension among you. Thus do We reveal our Signs,
that you might understand them." 6:65 Interpretation of Meaning
What is Takfir?
Takfir is declaring an individual, previously known to be or considered to be
Muslim, to be a kaffir, an unbeliever. Takfir can also be declared upon a group.
Thus, the individual or group are no longer part of the Ummah.
Caution Regarding Takfir:
Takfir is a serious issue, since it was authentically reported that the Prophet
(salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:
"If someone accuses someone of Fusuq or Kufr, such an accusation will be
returned to be upon he [who so accused] if that accusation is false."
Narrated Abu Dhar. Bukhari: Vol 8, Book 73, number 71
Thus, for such a declaration, there must be proof. According to Sheikh ul-Islam
Ibn Taimiyyah (Rahimullah):
"The person will only be outside Islam when there is no doubt because
there is proof against him." [Majamu Al-Fatwa 12, 467.]
Furthermore, for a Muslim to become a kaffir, it is agreed that the person
either commits one of the acts which expels the Muslim from the Ummah - such as
mocking the Prophet (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) - or that the person must
have chosen kufr (refer to al-Qurtubi: al-Jamia li Ahkamul Quran, 7/6128)
in which case if a Muslim of little or no knowledge does something out of
ignorance then that Muslim does not become a kaffir, for Allah Subhanahu wa
Ta'ala says:
"There shall be the Mercy of Allah upon those who err from ignorance if
they, and swiftly, regret such error." 4:17 Interpretation of
Meaning
Thus, if a Muslim we know makes some mistake, or errs, then Adab Al-Islam
requires us - gently and with humility (and if possible in private) - to draw
the attention of that Muslim to such a mistake or error. It was reported
that the Prophet (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:
"There is no Believer who does not make an error sometimes, or who does
not make some mistake which they persist in and do not abandon until they
leave this world. For, in truth, the Believer was created to be frequently
tried and tested: someone who often regrets (then) forgets, again. But when
corrected, they correct themselves." Reported by at-Tabarani in al-Mujamul
Kabir (no. 11,810); hasan.
Issues Regarding Takfir - Aiding the Kuffar:
1) For takfir to be declared, the nullifiers of Islam must be known. Allah
Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says:
"Allah does not lead a people astray after His guidance has been given
until He makes clear to them wherein error lies." 9: 115
Interpretation of Meaning
Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahab - Rahimahullah - gathered ten actions that
negate one's Islam (Nawaqid ul-Ashr), the eighth one of which states:
"Assisting the disbelievers (against the believers) (Mudhaharatul
Mushrikeen) and supporting them against the believers is one of the actions that
negates of one's Islam..." Thus, it is generally and widely known that one
of these nullifiers of one's Islam is supporting, aiding or allying with the
kuffar against the Muslims. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says:
"Obey, follow and give allegiance only to that brought to you from your
Sustainer, and do not obey, nor follow nor give allegiance to those who are
Awliya' besides Him." 7:3 Interpretation of Meaning
"You will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last
Day, making friendship with and loving those who oppose Allah and His
Messenger (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam), even if they are their fathers or
their sons or their kindred..." 58:22 Interpretation of the meaning
In addition, as Sheikh Abdullah ibn Humaid said:
"Whoever expresses Tawalli towards the disbelievers (Tawalli Kuffar) and
supports and helps them against the believers, then such constitutes apostasy
by one's (proceeding) actions. It is obligatory to apply the rules of apostasy
upon such a person as is proved by The Book, the Sunnah and the consensus of
the scholars." Ad-Durrar 15/479
Furthermore, Sheikh Abdul Latif bin Abdur Rahman bin Hassan Aal-Sheikh said:
"Whomsoever helps the disbelievers or brings them to the country of Ahl
Al-Islam, then that person is clearly an apostate." Ad-Durrar 8/326
Also, as Sheikh Safar bin 'Abdir-Rahmaan al-Hawaali said:
"Aiding the Non-Muslims over Muslims - no matter which form of aid or
co-operation it be, even if it is merely in speech - this is clear Kufr and
sheer hypocrisy. The one who does this has perpetrated one of the actions
which negates Islam, as has been specifically stated by the Imams of the Dawah
and others, and such a person is not a believer in the Aqeedah of al-Wala and
al-Bara."
Thus, we should be in no doubt that if a Muslim chooses to aid, ally themselves
with, the kuffar against the Muslims then they have negated their Islam.
2) Since we judge someone by what is apparent, it is apparent that if a Muslim
joins the Armed Forces or the Police of the kuffar, and wears the uniform of the
kuffar, then they have sworn allegiance to the kuffar and/or to some Taghut of
the kuffar - such as a President, some nation-State, or some kaffir leader -
since such allegiance is a necessary part of joining and belonging to such
kaffir organizations. In addition, a Muslim pledges thereby to uphold the
fallible manufactured laws of the kuffar and to obey the kuffar.
Thus, by doing such things the person in question has made a knowing and willing
choice, for they know and accept that such kaffir organizations have aided and
do aid the kuffar over and above Muslims; that they place and value kaffir
manufactured laws above Shariah, and have imprisoned Muslims, invaded and
occupied Muslim lands; killed and tortured and humiliated Muslims. Furthermore,
for a Muslim, allegiance, submission and obedience can only be to Allah
Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, for that is Eeman, which is manifest by:
"Those who believe in Allah and His Messenger, who are steadfast, and who
strive with their wealth and their lives for the Way of Allah."
49:15 Interpretation of Meaning
However, instead of only striving for the Way of Allah, to raise the Word of
Allah, those individuals who ally themselves with the kuffar are striving in the
way of the kuffar, for the Taghut of the kuffar, in order to establish the
Taghut of the kuffar - such as "democracy" and the nation-State and
the implementation of manufactured kaffir laws in place of Shariah. Allah
Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says:
"Allah is the Wali of those who believe: from darkness, He leads them
into the light, while those do not believe have, as their Wali, their Taghut
so that they are led from light into darkness. For them, there is the Fire,
where they shall dwell forever." 2: 257 Interpretation of Meaning
"Those who believe, fight in the Cause of Allah, and those who
disbelieve, fight in the cause of Taghut. So therefore fight against those
friends of Shaitaan." 4: 76 Interpretation of Meaning
"Their way is to refer matters to a Taghut. " 4:60 Interpretation of
Meaning
3) Thus, we can state that takfir can - and should - be made upon those who have
given their allegiance to the organizations of the kuffar, for these
organizations are based upon Tawagheet and are striving through force, or
persuasion, or both, to have people submit to such Tawagheet, just as such
organizations demand loyalty to such Tawagheet, judge by such Tawagheet, and
just as they are striving against Deen Al-Islam and Muslims who, in obedience to
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, refuse to bow down to and accept such Tawagheet.
"The words of your Rabb are complete, perfect - manifesting truth,
justice, and nothing shall ever abrogate them." 6:115 Interpretation of
Meaning
May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala protect us from all forms of Al-asabiyyah Al-Jahiliyyah,
forgive us for our mistakes, and guide us to and keep us on the Right Path.
Abdul-Aziz ibn Myatt
1 Safar 1428