Declaring Muslim scholars as disbelievers is a grave sin
Fatwa No: 91777

Question

What do you think about a person who declares the scholars, like Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy on him, as non-Muslims?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

It is confirmed that the Prophet said: "Any person who calls his brother (i.e. in Islam): "O non-Muslim!" This statement will be applied to one of them, either his brother is truly as he says, otherwise it will apply to him." [Muslim] Therefore, this narration is a deterrence from declaring the general Muslims as disbelievers, and this is enough a deterrence for a Muslim not to declare other Muslims as disbelievers or as misguided people. There is no doubt the matter is even more serious and of greater sin if one declares the Muslim scholars who are the pioneers of this religion and the heirs of the Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, in addition to other excellences which Allaah granted them with, especially scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah. So, this person who declares the Muslim scholars as disbelievers, is in great danger and we fear that he will totally go out of the fold of Islam, and dies on this evil deed if he persists on it and does not repent. Those how despise scholars will be punished by Allaah. Whoever belittles, debases, insults, slanders and backbites the scholars Allaah will afflict him with the death of his heart before the death of his body.

Allaah Knows best.

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